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Re: [Fot] Engine Problem

To: "Gary Horstkorta" <vintage.racer@comcast.net>
Subject: Re: [Fot] Engine Problem
From: Bill Babcock <Billb@bnj.com>
Date: Tue, 7 Apr 2009 21:27:55 -1000
I'd say the problem started off as a bad ground, either the condenser  
or somewhere else, and after you fiddles with stuff it became  
something else.
On Apr 7, 2009, at 2:45 PM, Gary Horstkorta wrote:

> Hello:
>
>
>
> OK, here's a TR4 engine situation I'd like to receive some feedback  
> on.
> During the winter layoff, no major engine changes just routine  
> maintenance.
> Engine always started quickly and ran smoothly up and down rpm range  
> while
> in the garage.  However, at this past weekend's vintage race at  
> Infineon
> Raceway, I encountered the following:
>
>
>
> 1.       Saturday's first practice session, the car began hesitating  
> at
> 4,000rpm and reluctantly would edge its way up to 5,000.  Engine oil
> pressure and water temp normal
>
> 2.       In paddock, checked fuel pressure with a gauge, it was high  
> at 3.0
> lbs for my 1.75" stock SU carbs.  Reset to 2.0.
>
> 3.       Saturday's race, same problems.  Checked fuel level in carb  
> at the
> needle jet orifice without the "dome" on and fuel pump running.   
> Level was
> uneven, one carb flooding the other low.  Reset floats so even fuel  
> level
> just below the orifice opening.
>
> 4.       Sunday morning practice the problem was worse and now the  
> engine
> would almost die around left hand turns but run strong around right  
> hand
> turns.  Checked everything from fuel pickup in fuel cell all the way  
> up
> through the carbs, all seemed OK.  However, the car would barely  
> start, run
> badly then die.
>
> 5.       Out of desperation we turned to the ignition system which is
> Mallory dual point dizzy and coil.  Replaced coil - no change;  
> replaced
> plugs - no change; checked timing - OK; replaced distributor with  
> stock
> Lucas, engine started and ran fine.  Huh??
>
> 6.       Road test up a steep hill at full throttle and down a road,  
> no
> problem except acceleration was not crisp.
>
> 7.       Ran race and engine was steady around all corners but car  
> was down
> on power and after three laps, water temp was higher than it  
> normally runs
> but stable at 200 degrees.  Four laps later sudden fluctuation of  
> water temp
> gauge meant I'd lost water.  Shut the engine off
>
> 8.       Towed pack to pit, able to start the car and put it into the
> trailer, running OK but with a "rattling" sound from the engine.
>
>
>
> Back in the garage, inspection of the valve train showed nothing  
> obvious.
> Removed plugs which were all black and sooty, turned engine over by  
> hand
> then by the starter, no obvious problems or sounds.  Ran a  
> compression test
> with the following numbers:  cylinder #1  160; #2  155;  #3   210;    
> #4
> 170.  Also noticed a different mechanical sound from down in the  
> engine when
> cranking for #3 compression test, not present when testing other  
> cylinders.
>
>
>
>
> OK, so that is where I am right now.  We (myself and two friends -  
> one a
> long-time Triumph racer/builder and a the other a British car  
> mechanic)
> initially felt this was a fuel problem, however, after the problem
> disappeared by changing the distributor, we're all a bit baffled.   
> Next step
> is to remove the head and pan for inspection.  Anyone experience a  
> similar
> set of problems, ie, seemingly a fuel problem but turns out to be
> electrical?  What would cause a dizzy to work around some turns and  
> not the
> other?  What would cause such a high number on cylinder #3?  Thanks.
>
>
>
> Gary
>
> 1962 TR4
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Bill Babcock
Babcock & Jenkins
Billb@bnj.com
503.936.7660
www.bnj.com

Editor
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