Just wanted to thank everyone on the list for all of their responses with
BTDT's and items to check. A couple of listers did mention correctly that
the car did run as late as the end of December (when I took it for a short
little test run). Now a timing question. If the car was running a month ago
(meaning the timing had to be OK), and nothing was done to the car since,
how could the timing change? I'd think the distributor itself would need to
be moved for the timing to be thrown off a lot. I replaced the plugs (even
though the old ones did show spark and looked OK but a little black) and
also the fuel filter (preventative maintenance just in case more crap from
the tank gets into the fuel line). When I crank the car, oil pressure does
build up fine (according to the gauge). Inside of the distributor cap is
clean and does not show signs of cracking or excessive wear (but I will be
replacing that too when the parts arrive). Plug wires also look OK for now
(will be replaced too). But I am starting to think my problem maybe not
ignition related (I did confirm spark at all 4 cylinders). Any way to check
easily if the carbs are clogged with gas tank debris? I do have a Haynes
manual, but there is not a good description or diagram on how to do this. I
know I have fuel to the carbs, and have smelled fuel on the plugs when I
pulled them (new and old plugs). So basically I am still stumped. BTW, if
anyone out there has a unusable old distributor lying around and would like
to sell me one of those 2 clips that hold the cap on, please let me know (my
cap is missing one, and a wire tie is not a long term solution!). TIA.
Craig
'71 B
http://www.angelfire.com/pa3/niederst/71MGB/71MGB.htm
----- Original Message -----
From: Craig D. Niederst <niederst@telerama.com>
To: MG List <mgs@autox.team.net>
Sent: Thursday, January 20, 2000 6:13 PM
Subject: '71 B, still no start
> Well, still cannot get the B started. I thought before that It may have
been
> something in the distributor (only had spark at #2), but after a little
> cleaning I now have spark at all cylinders. One thing I did notice about
the
> distributor is that the lower of the 2 clips that hold the cap on is gone
> (thus why there was a wire tie holding the assembly together put there by
> the DPO). Any way to fix this (without buying a whole new distributor)? I
> have already verified that I get fuel to the carbs. I am currently at a
loss
> on why the car will not turn over. It cranks fine, just will not start,
> sputter, etc. I was thinking that the carbs could possibly be dirty and
> blocked from old gas, etc. I did pull the fuel line from the carbs and
> allowed the fuel pump to pump about 1 liter of gas out of the system
before
> trying to start the car. The first few squirts were a bit dirty, but it
was
> clean after that. But who knows if the DPO tried to start the car and may
> have let some of the dirty gas into the carbs. When I pulled the plugs
after
> a little cranking, they all did smell of gas (so it looks like gas is
> getting to the combustion chambers). Any ideas on where to look next? TIA.
>
> Craig
> '71 B (still in the street and covered in snow)
>
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