14-05-2019, 04:41 PM
(This post was last modified: 14-05-2019, 04:44 PM by Mick Hanna.)
Fellow Austineers,
I'm not sure if I should be embarrassed or ecstatic, but working through all the advice and suggestions you have offered over the last few days, the Ruby now runs without choke and sounds (almost) normal!
'What did you do?' I hear you ask - 'Was it my diagnosis that proved correct?'
I checked for leaks on the carb. induction side using the oil/WD40 test for leaks - although nothing showed up I replaced the SU carb to adapter gasket and adapter to manifold gasket and checked the exhaust manifold nuts for tightness.
Since my initial problem was sooty black plugs leading to an engine that wouldn't idle without choke, I thought I should begin by adjusting the jet as described and swapping the needle to a richer one (AN), skipping the in between EN needle.
But before starting on this I decided to check the condenser (Yes, I know, it had been suggested by a few of you). In my head I had rejected this idea because the car was fitted with the electronic unit which confused matters by failing - I subsequently refitted the original manual distributor with its fairly new condenser. I had saved the old one and decided to swap them anyway, just to see - I didn't want to rule anything out. This is where the embarrassment comes in - it started and ran without choke.
Many people have told me not to fiddle with things if they're working alright, but the mixture on the SU was still not right so I've changed the needle (as above) because it was running weak. It needs a road test to set it up properly (fingers crossed), but being cautious this will involve running the car round the block in ever increasing circles until I'm confident I can get back to the garage.
In conclusion, so long as this is not a random and happy blip in events, I might make it to Autokarna this year!
Many, many thanks everyone.
PS. That should read EB needle, not EN
PS. That should read EB needle, not EN
PS. That should read EB needle, not EN
PS. That should read EB needle, not EN
I'm not sure if I should be embarrassed or ecstatic, but working through all the advice and suggestions you have offered over the last few days, the Ruby now runs without choke and sounds (almost) normal!
'What did you do?' I hear you ask - 'Was it my diagnosis that proved correct?'
I checked for leaks on the carb. induction side using the oil/WD40 test for leaks - although nothing showed up I replaced the SU carb to adapter gasket and adapter to manifold gasket and checked the exhaust manifold nuts for tightness.
Since my initial problem was sooty black plugs leading to an engine that wouldn't idle without choke, I thought I should begin by adjusting the jet as described and swapping the needle to a richer one (AN), skipping the in between EN needle.
But before starting on this I decided to check the condenser (Yes, I know, it had been suggested by a few of you). In my head I had rejected this idea because the car was fitted with the electronic unit which confused matters by failing - I subsequently refitted the original manual distributor with its fairly new condenser. I had saved the old one and decided to swap them anyway, just to see - I didn't want to rule anything out. This is where the embarrassment comes in - it started and ran without choke.
Many people have told me not to fiddle with things if they're working alright, but the mixture on the SU was still not right so I've changed the needle (as above) because it was running weak. It needs a road test to set it up properly (fingers crossed), but being cautious this will involve running the car round the block in ever increasing circles until I'm confident I can get back to the garage.
In conclusion, so long as this is not a random and happy blip in events, I might make it to Autokarna this year!
Many, many thanks everyone.
PS. That should read EB needle, not EN
PS. That should read EB needle, not EN
PS. That should read EB needle, not EN
PS. That should read EB needle, not EN