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Have I been a idiot?

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burgundyben

Jedi Hopeful
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So I got the 1800 and five speed running a dream, went like the clappers too.

The first 3 or 4 journeys were of ten minutes max.

Yesterday we went to a drive, 25 mins in and developed a miss fire, miss fire became a breakdown.

Several breakdowns in fact.

Each time I whipped the dizzy cap off, cleaned the points, she fired up again so we carried on.

As we carried on the stops became more frequent.

This morning I pulled the dizzy out, I thought I had been clumsy with the blob of grease on the points heel and its was getting flung around. I washed it all out, cleaned and gapped the points.

She ran fine.

For about 20 minutes.

Then the same thing.

I changed the condensor.

I changed the coil, twice.

I moved the coil somewhere cooler.

Its now got so bad she wont go at all.

Now...the foolish bit...the 18V motor should have a little earth wire in the dizzy with 2 ring terminals, one on the condensor screw, other on the bse plate screw, a direct earth lead for the condensor....I have this missing, would this be the cause?

Its late now, I'll make up a new earth lead for the dizzy tomorrow and try that.

Arrgghhh! had 17 breakdowns now!! Must be a record.

I'll be kicking myself if it turns out to be the missing earth lead I know about....
 
umm... short answer is "yes" Ben. The plate the condensor rides on is NOT securely earthed. It has been getting the "last leg" of the circuit thru the pivot point where it rides on the main baseplate, apparently. Use a light multistrand wire for it or it will restrict the advance function, BTW.
 
I think there is an upstanding fellow BCF member in another location who shall keep that record! Of course he is upstanding because his car is always sitting down on side of the road! :laugh:
 
Ben,

A similar tale of woe in my A.... ran great, then quit.... fussed with the dizzy, ran great, then quit... ad infinitum - ad nauseum...

Per the recommendations from Doc, among others, I traced the fault to the small grounding wire in the dizzy. I replaced the dizzy with a new one... 'tis now a non-problem...

Just like the old Timex slogan - takes a lickin' - keeps on tickin'--
 
So I had work make me up and earth strap, fitted it and the car was dead.

I checked out all the LT and could find no problem.

I checked for a spark at the coil lead and there was.

Check the plug leads, nothing.

Careful inspection of the dizzy cap showed the spring for the brush in the centre to be weak, I fiddled with it a bit and got it running, went and fetched a new cap and she now seems to be running great.

Taking it the 40 miles to work today.

Fingers crossed.
 
Whew! Glad ya FOUND it, Ben!
 
Ben,

Glad you made it -- and back again I hope....

Although -- to throw cold water on it ...

Refer to the post '10 ways to tell if you are an MG owner'. Specifically number 1 -- 'The feeling of impending doom when the car is running really well..' :devilgrin:
 
You jinxed me you git!

Broke down again a mile from home.

Ignition switch seems to have given up. Some wiggling got me going again but now it wont go off, battery disconected until new switch arrives.
 
:lol:

Sorry to hear the car quit tho. If it's the old style one, ~sometimes~ you can prise it apart and make repairs. Depends on what "fell apart" in there. Worth a go, it's a<span style="font-style: italic">lready</span> broken! :devilgrin:
 
OMG Ben... I am soooo sorry that I jinxed you...

I'll be there in an hour to help... hold the phone... you are in England.. the home of our LBCs.... make that 'next time I travel' I'll bring a wrench... :cheers:
 
I wish we had sent you all the bloody LBC's...

So I fitted a new ignition switch and now I cant turn it off!

I think a lot of this stems from when the car was converted from LHD to RHD.

When I get back from my holiday in France (not in the bloody MG) I'll have to have a sort out under the dash.
 
Ben,

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:]So I fitted a new ignition switch and now I cant turn it off!
[/QUOTE]

The above situation is likely a mis-wire on the switch. You can't turn it off because the distributor is always hot.

If you are going on Holiday... PLEASE ... disconnect the battery before you leave.....

When you get back, check the poles on the switch to make sure that the hot line is on the opposite side of the switch from the feed to the distributor...

Stay the course...We are here to help as we can...
 
Yes, battery is disconnected.

I think its not as you suspect, with the car not running the charge light is on and the fuel pump is clicking regardless of where the ignition switch is.

Defo did not mis wire the switch as I did one side at a time :smile:

And this particular symptom (opposed to all the bloody others...) was prevalent with the old knackered switch.

I took the knackered switch apart, its was pretty messy in there, but not conclusive.

On the good side, with the 1800, 5 speed box, 3.9 diff and my modified head it goes like the clappers!
 
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