Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.
|
Author |
Message |
kevin2306
Joined: 01 Jul 2013 Posts: 1359 Location: nr Llangollen, north wales
|
Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2014 7:25 pm Post subject: |
|
|
What about doing a compression test (both hot and cold)
Kev |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Jason
Joined: 12 Nov 2008 Posts: 623 Location: Todmorden, Lancs.
|
Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2014 7:39 pm Post subject: |
|
|
a long shot, but is the cooling system functioning correctly?
cylinder 2 could be getting hot and burning the soot off, hence you thinking that cylinder 2 is ok and the other 3 are running rich.
as I say a long shot but I had this on the Alvis in cylinder 4 when the water jacket was blocked. _________________ "people with money buy a Rolls Royce, people with taste buy an Alvis". |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Rdover
Joined: 26 Nov 2007 Posts: 413
|
Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2014 2:29 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Keith managed to get a couple of hours to play with it and fixed most of the oil leaks, leaving just enough to confirm that it is old and British.
Whilst playing with the timing he noticed that the adv/retard control collar on the dizzy was sparking to the mag coil conversion gearbox. Turns out it was not earthed properly. He's fitted a decent earth wire to the same wire that comes from the battery and it is running a whole lot better. This should allow me to get the jetting spot on.
The valve clearances were fine as were all the other settings including compression.
The VCC Scottish Section main event is based in Inverary in 2 weeks time and we'll be driving 70 miles per day each day so that'll be the real test.
Collecting tomorrow and getting some miles done each evening. _________________ Richard |
|
Back to top |
|
|
excels
Joined: 19 Apr 2010 Posts: 16 Location: East London, South Africa
|
Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2014 4:41 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Glad that all is sorted! Always a small gremlin somewhere in the works! Enjoy. Regards Tom _________________ 1914, 1918, 1923 Ford "T"; 1928 Ford "A" Roadster + Phaeton, 1922 Maxwell, 1926 Chrysler, 1927 Velie, 1928 Chevrolet, 1928 Whippet 96, 1935 Armstrong Siddeley 17HP, 1950 Morris Tourer, 1951 Morris, 1953 Morris,1958 Morris (All Minors), 1957 Austin A95 |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Rdover
Joined: 26 Nov 2007 Posts: 413
|
Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2014 4:58 pm Post subject: |
|
|
And the results are in ....
2 problems affecting each other, as usual:
1. poorly earthed distributor. Not a problem at tickover but caused problems at higher engine speeds. Solved by fitting an earthing wire from case to battery negative (same one as earths the mag/coil conversion itself). I suspect this was a minor problem compared to
2. Spark plugs were too cool. I replaced the Champion D16s with new ones and I used D16s because that is what the car had when I got it. I just got it back from Keith and he had fitted NGK AB-6s which are a grade hotter (ie retain more heat) than the D16s.
After 50 miles test running it is running beautifully. It pulls from 10mph to 37mph in 4th gear, the plugs are not getting fouled although they are still a little black, especially cyl 4, so I'm definitely on the right track. I now suspect that my problem last month was the plugs being killed by being fouled. I shall order a set of D12s (AB4) and see how they go.
I am very happy and confident that I will have 4 days of smooth running in Argyll week after next on the SVCC main event.
Now to spend some time cleaning, fettling and polishing. _________________ Richard |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Rdover
Joined: 26 Nov 2007 Posts: 413
|
Posted: Fri Sep 12, 2014 7:40 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Some photos after a wash and polish and some new dressy HT leads
Note the dizzy earth lead ...
_________________ Richard |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Rdover
Joined: 26 Nov 2007 Posts: 413
|
Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2014 4:08 pm Post subject: |
|
|
After a rather nice long weekend based in Inveraray eating too much food and driving some unfeasibly old cars on the Scottish VCC main event (which is still on, I had work to get back to) I'm pleased to report that the Alldays ran brilliantly.
On Sunday we drove the 40 mile round trip to the Cruachan Power Station in glorious warm sunshine and enjoyed the lovely scenery. Apart from being a pig to get started (as it was totally cold) the car ran up and down all but the steepest of hills in 4th gear and did around 13mpg.
The Event started on Sunday evening and Monday saw us leaving at 9.30am in a rush to get to the coffee break in time. We headed on an 80 mile loop and again enjoyed lovely views although it was overcast. Lunch near the Crinan Canal and a straight run back. The car was almost fully loaded and by keep the speed to 30mph we got 15mpg.
Tuesday was colder and damper and again the car was harder to start than if it'd been in a garage all night but once running it was perfect. The run south west took us to Strachur and Otterferry including a serious climb up a 1 in 5 hill which was completed mainly in 1st gear. Again 15mpg was achieved and after some discussions it seems that it's still running a little lean.
Tuning
It is apparent that the car trips along at 30 mph on the flat with barely any throttle and to climb the long hills I only need to give it some throttle to manage them okay. When I brave full throttle I can really feel the difference meaning that the compensating jet is doing most of the work and could do with being richened up a touch. The D16/AB-6 plugs are fine but its also clear that using the Champion D21s (hotter running) will get into the self-cleaning phase quicker and run less risk of plug fouling.
Over 200 miles run in 4 days and more miles done in 5 weeks than in either the first 4 years of ownership. All in all I am very pleased and equally relieved
_________________ Richard |
|
Back to top |
|
|
kevin2306
Joined: 01 Jul 2013 Posts: 1359 Location: nr Llangollen, north wales
|
Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2014 4:14 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Hurrah, guess we will call that a success story then
any nice pics take on the run out?
Kev |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Rick Site Admin
Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22477 Location: UK
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
Rdover
Joined: 26 Nov 2007 Posts: 413
|
Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2014 5:37 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Of course, now it's running really nicely it has shown up the seriously loose steering box and the near terminality of the gearbox.
I know what I'm doing this winter _________________ Richard |
|
Back to top |
|
|
roverdriver
Joined: 18 Oct 2008 Posts: 1210 Location: 100 miles from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
|
Posted: Fri Sep 26, 2014 10:50 am Post subject: |
|
|
Congratulations Richard. I am glad you have something(s) left to do to keep you amused as the snow settles!
I do fear that once gearbox and possibly diff are all as good as they should be, you will wonder what to do with your time. _________________ Dane- roverdriver but not a Viking. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Rdover
Joined: 26 Nov 2007 Posts: 413
|
Posted: Sat Sep 27, 2014 9:53 am Post subject: |
|
|
Thanks
No fear of running out of jobs, once the last big jobs are done I still have
new brake linkages
repaint chassis properly
make new brass kick plates with engraving
re-engineer tank to have a gauge (glass viewing pipe)
pram hood and sticks
CD/DVD player
NOS
........ _________________ Richard |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Rdover
Joined: 26 Nov 2007 Posts: 413
|
Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2014 9:38 am Post subject: |
|
|
So I'm sat with my morning cuppa comparing the photos of the gearbox I took 7 years ago (exactly 7 years ago - to the week!) with the ones I took last night and I'm pretty comfortable that whilst in good nick for over 100 years old 3rd gear is even more wrecked both on the ends (where it wears changing gear) and on the meshing face - there is quite a lot of slop. 1st and 2nd are worn but not anything as bad as 3rd and 4th and reverse are fine.
Photos ...
3rd gear in 2007
3rd gear in 2014, 1200 miles later
I'm not sure the grease should be quite so glittery
I'm guessing that 1st & 2nd are within serviceable limits but 3rd is in desperate need of being replaced. _________________ Richard |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Peter_L
Joined: 10 Apr 2008 Posts: 2680 Location: New Brunswick. Canada.
|
Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2014 3:23 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Rdover wrote: | Thanks
No fear of running out of jobs, once the last big jobs are done I still have
new brake linkages
repaint chassis properly
make new brass kick plates with engraving
re-engineer tank to have a gauge (glass viewing pipe)
pram hood and sticks
CD/DVD player
NOS
........ |
and when you have done all that, there is always the
Inertia Seat Belts
Heated Seats
Anti-Lock Brakes
Collision Warning
Traction Control
Blind Spot Indicators
Rear Camera
Without which (these days) it is all but impossible to drive to the nearest store.
oh! and of course Snow Tires.
..... I have followed your threads since the very early days, great stuff. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Rdover
Joined: 26 Nov 2007 Posts: 413
|
Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2014 4:00 pm Post subject: |
|
|
To be fair, Peter, I don't drive the car in cold weather so snow tyres are unnecessary but I have a collision warning system although she's a little over sensitive and needs regular maintenance after a 'close shave'. The increasingly shocking price of vodka makes me ever more careful
The gearbox is about to get a serious cleaning and then dropped off to a local specialist who will dismantle and inspect. I'm expecting to have to replace 2 gears and the whole cost should be less than £1,000 and if it is I'll get busy with the steering box. _________________ Richard
Last edited by Rdover on Tue Oct 21, 2014 4:27 pm; edited 1 time in total |
|
Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
php BB powered © php BB Grp.
|