Series 2a 2.25 petrol struggling to start

You could try running it from a jerry can, the fuel pick up pipe in the tank could be blocked. I bought an old Lightweight once that had been stood in a scrap yard for years, the very bottom of the tank was full of cr@p, luckily I could get my hand in the tank to clean it out through the filler opening as it was an under-seat filling tank.

What are the plugs like immediately after you have tried a start? ie are they damp with fuel.
Does the exhaust smell of fuel when it has tried to start?
Is the carb to manifold /seal and manifold to head gasket good thinking sucking air from either.

I had a look in tank and the pick up pipe looks clean as does the tank bottom.

The plugs are blackened after trying to start but not damp, the exhaust definelty smells of fuel though.

Did you try pouring a few millilitres of petrol into the top of the carb? If so, what happened did it run for a few seconds.

Col

Have you adjusted the air mixture screw at the base of the carb? The approximate correct adjustment is to tighten it up fully then turn it back about 1/12 to 2 full turns. If it then starts and runs, make a fine adjustment by tweaking it a fraction of a turn. When the engine runs at a fast tickover, then adjust the tick over setting on the linkage.

Col

I haven't touched the carb adjustments as was reluctant to change too many variables in one go while trying to start it. Il try the fuel straight in the carb again one last time. Cheers

When I bought my series 3, I couldn't get it to run properly and went through the things you have done, e.g. Changing electrical components. Eventually, I mucked about with the air screw and got it right. My clue was the plugs were black.

Col

Well worth a try, thanks. Il try that later today. When I poured fuel straight down carb it made no difference.

A spray of easy start or similar can be better than petrol as it's already a vapour

Tried a tiny bit of easy start too, no luck either. I think il try the carb adjustment in the chance that someone before me might have moved it or adjusted it when trying to previously start.

Series 2a Mark said:

Tried a tiny bit of easy start too, no luck either. I think il try the carb adjustment in the chance that someone before me might have moved it or adjusted it when trying to previously start.

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try more if i doesnt fire its an ignition issue

Screw the idle screw in until it's just snug and offers resistance, don't over tighten. Then unscrew 1.5 turns and that should give you a decent starting point. I forget how the throttle should be set to give a reasonable idle speed

jamesmartin said:

try more if i doesnt fire its an ignition issue

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Unless it's already far too rich

Does the choke work?

Yeah choke seems to work fine. Is thistle screw adjustment the one at base of carb?

Yes it should be an obvious screw protruding from the body, with a spring under it

Cheers again for the advice, I have tried that with the adjustment screw and still nothing. I brought it out 1.5 turns then 2 and tried that. No further forward. New leads on too now.

It's worth trying to start tonight when it's dark. See if you can see any sparks jumping about, either from the distributor area, coil or any of the leads and plugs

I will. You mean as if it's earthing out onto somewhere else? I take it that would detract from current getting to spark plugs.

Yes. Any part of the HT side can 'leak', on a dark night you'll see flashes or arcs if there is any damage or earth problem