Please help!!!
My 1984 metro turbo(newly aquired) has been sat for over 10 years. it runs for about 2 min's but will not idle and eventualy dies. After fitting new plugs the car again ran for a few min's but then died. on removin the plugs again found them to be black (very sooty) I have been told that the carb is running too rich. I have a rebuild kit for the carb but would prefer not to have to strip it down(I would prob make it worse) The car has 19k on the clock.
Any advise is greatfully recieved
Thanks
Eric
|
I'd remove the dashpot and check the needle and jet for signs of wear or sticking. Another possibility is the float is stuck or otherwise allowing too much fuel into the float chamber - could even be punctured if it's not foam filled. Also check for the correct grade oil in the dashpot.
Steve.
|
|
|
|
After standing for 10 years it could be a few things. I take it you've fueled her up with fresh petrol? If you haven't it will help a lot, an oil and filter change won't harm either. Then take her out for a good run.
|
It is highly probable too that the piston rings are gummed up after standing all that time. Try leaving some Redex in the cylinders overnight and then warm up carefully and give it a blast.
I don't think SU carbs are all that difficult to strip and clean, if that's what it's got. But if the piston is gummed up the thing can't work properly. You should keep the dashpot at the top full of the recommended oil too, to provide a damping action for the piston. I've never known that oil to last long in an SU, it has to be topped up often.
|
From memory there is a gasket/diapragm in the choke that perishes and splits allowing unmetered fuel to get past the carb. I would remove and clean the carb as a matter of course if it had sat for that long.
Andrew
|
I had a '83 Y plate Turbo, good fun, ran it from mid 85' to mid ?89, took it from 15k to about 75k IIRC. Other than a rebuild to replace a stuck cam follower (a strange problem on an A Series that was already in its third decade as a design) it was reliable, however suffered fuel vapourisation (proximity of turbo to carb) when hot if left between around 5 mins and 30 mins before restarting.
I agree re rebuilding the carb, that should be the starting point.
Remember the carb float bowl is pressurised to manifold pressure, it has a bleed solenoid on the bulkhead that needs to be in good order, this makes a ss, ss, ss, ss, ss noise at motorway cruise.
EDIT: Of course it is an MG not an Austin!
Edited by cheddar on 23/09/2008 at 17:53
|
|
|
|
Eric,
The car will not run if you've still got 10 year old petrol in it. Petrol will 'go off' after about 9 months so you will need to fill the tank with fresh fuel. It's unlikely the carb will need stripping - the SU is pretty bomb proof. The only thing you will probably need to do is to unscrew the dashpot damper, apply some oil to top it up (at this time you can see if the central tube will pull up and down freely) and then screw the top back on. The vehicle should run ok after its warmed up.
Let us know how you get on.
Hope this helps
|
To complete my story my dad owned it for the previous 2 years. in that time we destroyed two fuel pumps due to rust in the tank. after the second had blown we removed the tank and cleaned it out we then fitted a new racing spec pump and fitted two new filters. one before the pump and a new filter in the engine bay after the fuel pressure regulator. I wont get to play with it till the weekend but i will keep you all updated.
Thanks again for your advice
Eric
|
You might find this chap useful
www.su-carbs.co.uk/
He is 200 yards from where I live and is a really approachable and helpful man and has loads of spares and diagrams re SU and Zenith carbs
|
|
|
|
