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help and advice!
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Finch661



Joined: 19 Feb 2009
Posts: 163
Location: Edinburgh, Scotland

PostPosted: Tue Jul 14, 2009 10:52 am    Post subject: help and advice! Reply with quote

i am going to orkney this weekend and taking the midget. it a 300 mile journey. i am very worried about both breaking down or running out of fuel. as a precaution, i have fitted a new fuel tank, pipes (needed replaced badly), tuened the engine, replaced the ignition components, oil change, have packed a tool kit with some spares, got a jack and tire iron. also have a jerry and a protable jump starter can in the boot.

any advice on petrol and breaking down would be helpful.

also i jumped into the mg and tried starting her. she started but was idling very low (no fast idle) if the choke is on full the engine dies. its like the car is running super rich. if i put half choke on there is no change in the idle, as with no choke. the car runs but it back fires through the carb. once warm though, the car is great. i dont really want this just before going on holiday.

any advice would be great!
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1985 Mini Mayfare (1275)
1976 Mg Midget 1500
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PAUL BEAUMONT



Joined: 27 Nov 2007
Posts: 1281
Location: Barnsley S. Yorks

PostPosted: Tue Jul 14, 2009 1:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

A couple of comments, some maybe more use than the others!
Your car should do at least 30mpg so you should not need more than 1 gallon of fuel to get you to a service station.
As to breaking down - join Green Flag. That will give you peace of mind and ensure that the car does not let you down! Laughing
As for your current issues, I suggest that you start by making sure that the choke etc is all returning properly at the carb. More rich running problems than enough are simply caused by an incorrectly adjusted choke cable, or one that's sticking.
Once it has had a run, a quick look at your plugs should give you an idea of the mixture strength.
Have a good trip!
PAUL
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Finch661



Joined: 19 Feb 2009
Posts: 163
Location: Edinburgh, Scotland

PostPosted: Tue Jul 14, 2009 3:49 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

cheers for the advice. just getting a little bit scared as the day approaches. i have never driven that far in an older car!

i will have a look at the choke and see if its workign correctly. it is one of those "it was working perfectly yesterday" situations!
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1985 Mini Mayfare (1275)
1976 Mg Midget 1500
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Finch661



Joined: 19 Feb 2009
Posts: 163
Location: Edinburgh, Scotland

PostPosted: Tue Jul 14, 2009 9:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

i had a look at the choke mechanism, and found that when it was raised (as with full choke) it didnt lift the throttle cam (the fast idle screw wasnt even touching the cam. i have adjusted the screws and all seems well Cool
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1985 Mini Mayfare (1275)
1976 Mg Midget 1500
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Penman



Joined: 23 Nov 2007
Posts: 4751
Location: Swindon, Wilts.

PostPosted: Tue Jul 14, 2009 9:47 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi
If you are going up to Thurso/Scrabster for the ferry, make sure you don't get caught behind one of these on the hill out of Helmsdale.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEnI9lwR0Ls
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Bristols should always come in pairs.

Any 2 from:-
Straight 6
V8 V10
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Finch661



Joined: 19 Feb 2009
Posts: 163
Location: Edinburgh, Scotland

PostPosted: Wed Jul 15, 2009 9:56 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

wow! we are getting the gills bay ferry (cheaper than the scrabster one). that would be very annoying to get stuck behind, though i am surprised that it could go on that road!

the last time i went up, the girlfriend did the driving in her 10yo vw polo, it struggled up the hills....im wondering what the mg will be like Smile
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1985 Mini Mayfare (1275)
1976 Mg Midget 1500
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Penman



Joined: 23 Nov 2007
Posts: 4751
Location: Swindon, Wilts.

PostPosted: Wed Jul 15, 2009 11:13 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi
Even ordinary artics have to use both sides of the road on the hairpins.

At least you know what is in store for you if you know the road.
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Bristols should always come in pairs.

Any 2 from:-
Straight 6
V8 V10
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Nic Jarman



Joined: 05 Oct 2008
Posts: 1031
Location: Stoke by Clare, Suffolk

PostPosted: Wed Jul 15, 2009 11:26 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

My Midget pulls like a train, I would not be worried about any hills. I have just spent £1200 on the old girl and she drives like a new car. I kept it as a rolling restotation and the last thing I did was replace all the suspension mounts and shimmed the rear mounts - what a difference. It feels like a go-cart, far too much fun. Have a great time!
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1936 Morris 8 Series 1
1973 MGB roadster
1977 MG Midget 1500
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Finch661



Joined: 19 Feb 2009
Posts: 163
Location: Edinburgh, Scotland

PostPosted: Wed Jul 15, 2009 1:00 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

my old girl is a work in progress. i spent some time getting here road worthy (mot worthy) and have slowly replaced bits here and there! in a couple of years i will strip her down again and work on the body (new pannels will be needed) and giver a fresh paint job!

i will post some pics of here in orkney to prove i made it!
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1976 Mg Midget 1500
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roverdriver



Joined: 18 Oct 2008
Posts: 1210
Location: 100 miles from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

PostPosted: Mon Jul 20, 2009 11:47 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

If your older car is in reasonably good condition and properly maintained, then driven with respect, it will get you any distance that you like.
Have a look at this.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_TfYlVUnrQ

That is my (then) 47 year old car on part of a 5,000 mile trip through parts of the country where there were 200 plus miles between any form of settlement.
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Dane- roverdriver but not a Viking.
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Finch661



Joined: 19 Feb 2009
Posts: 163
Location: Edinburgh, Scotland

PostPosted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 3:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

hi there, just to let you know that i made it (and back) safely from orkney in the mg. great fun driving it, i even had her up to 90 *cough cough*

heres a wee pic




i found that i coud get up to 60 no bother, but after that, she really struggled, i think i need to adjust the timing.

more strangly, i managed at one point to get 44mpg.... Cool
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1985 Mini Mayfare (1275)
1976 Mg Midget 1500
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Nic Jarman



Joined: 05 Oct 2008
Posts: 1031
Location: Stoke by Clare, Suffolk

PostPosted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 3:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

You are a credit to the Midget fraternity. Mine is a bit faster with the top up and I think I have a speedo like yours. My rev counter goes smoothly to 3500 then jumps to 4500. Don't you just love it!
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1936 Morris 8 Series 1
1973 MGB roadster
1977 MG Midget 1500
Dax Rush
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