Another Episode in the Series: this time she's personal...

Ok, Bessie is fast turning into an Enigma.

On Thursday having enjoyed almost a week of "pop" free motoring, and at the end of a 70-80 mile round trip, she broke down.

I stopped at a garage to pick up touch up paint. When I restarted her, she proceeded to back fire continuously all, which got worse and worse until I stopped.

Eventually I called the AA to get me home, as she wouldn't restart easily and won't stay running.

The accelerator is useless, if she starts, making no difference to the right lumpy "running" and I hesitate to even call it running.

I've replace the coil, the AA guys used a fuel pump primer and test leads round various parts of the car. I fiddled with the Dizzy back and forward to see if I could even get the old dear running enough to work on it, but to no avail.

Recent additions have been a new coil, plugs, timing, condensor, points, carb stripped and cleaned (and will do that again just now), have added a fuel filter just before the carb, as I don't trust the one at the pump and can't get the fookin thing off! Noticed a lot of air going into the carb through the clear fuel filter and not much crap. Is air a problem?

Erm...what else, points gap is fine, as was/is timing. But it just won't keep running or even come anywhere close to running smoothly when started. It's almost like all the leads have been mixed up.

Any ideas guys?

I had the same problem - had to replace dizzy in the end - and it was a "noo" one on there when I bought "The Dibnah". I had previously tried all of wot yu had..

Well, we've been to Halfords (they've given me a trade discount card now LOL), and we've replaced all the leads, put a new dizzy cap on. We've also taken each spark plug out and there's somewhat of a spark to each cylinder but no noticeable difference in the engine when the lead from 2 & 3 are removed in turn.

When the spark plugs are removed and kept connected to their leads, the blow back from 2 & 3 cylinders is considerably more "violent" than 1 & 4. Is that significant?

Next I think we'll try having the head off for a look.

Any other help or suggestions will always be welcomed!

get yerself a new lift pump - and then a compression tester, a think you'll be looking for some new rings and a bit of bore fettling soon

I was worried about that! I've had burnt out valves before with my first ever car (1975 Avenger - called Purdey, naturally enough).

There's not a huge amount of smoke and I'm not using MAJOR amounts of oil, but do you think I'm looking at that serious a trouble?

I'll start to stock up on these bits then, I think some major work can only help the old dear.

Oh, nearly forgot, what's a lift pump? I was thinking of a new fuel pump completely as I can't get the finger nut loosened on the fuel pump but there's some crud working it's way through. Still, the pump gave us a mug full of petrol quite quickly, but the AA man that towed me home, suggested it might be weak.

All ideas gratefully received!

Sounds like condenser, but you say you've changed that, but is the screw tight? For the cost it might even be worth trying another in case it was a dud.

The other possibility which springs to mind is corrosion in the inlet manifold, below the carb, resulting in a hole between the inlet & exhaust manifolds.

Cool, that's something I hadn't thought of!

WELL!!! A new condensor, new points, were fitted tonight, and the Enigma that is Bessie roared into life....for while. Now without doubt that's the best she's run since last week, but No 2 cylinder is not happy, and refuses to do anything to the engine tone when the lead is pulled off. No 3 is a wee bit like that too, but not as bad.

So we're partially through a strip down at the moment.

I'll let you know how it all progresses, but your help, all of it, has really really helped.

Thanks

i assume you've not got a dead plug ?

Ah----HA!

I knew it!

Have a look at the wee problem with the head gasket. I think this has a lot to answer to, with regard to no obvious spark in No. two and No. three cylinder!

At least I've saved garage bills!

Getting the head de-coked and cleaned and all shiny and buffed! Hope this helps it all.

The piston bores themselves felt smooth and not worn or pitted, so they seem ok so far.

ciao4now

Hello all fellows!

Many thanks for your inspiration and help!

Bessie's running very well now.

Thanks!