Despite wanting a mini for as long as I can remember, the Morris Mini Minor that I bought earlier this year is my first taste of an older car. She was used daily when on the Gold Coast but has been nestled in my garage in Victoria for approximately 6 months now whilst I sold my other car.

She was firing up perfectly fine a couple of months ago but now seems reluctant to go. I've recently changed the oil filter to a spin on type, done an oil change, replaced the spark plugs and charged the battery but no luck. She turns over fine but doesn't fire in to life

With being more used to modern engines, I'm looking for any advice or recommendations as to what I should be looking at / a logic order to do so.

Thanks in advance

If it was running fine when parked and then left for some time, then the first thing to do is put fresh fuel in it - even if you just take the lid off the carby float bowl and fill it with fresh fuel and see if it starts.

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did I tell you that I won a trophy?

also check that you have spark, I just ran into the same issue.
the points had corroded while it was sitting.

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Bad fuel will run poorly but it will run. It won't have degraded enough in six months to be completely useless.

More likely is points/condenser in your distributor have corroded as greyghost has suggested.

Check for a spark by removing one spark plug, leave connected to the spark lead, and take a length of insulated wire, strip an inch off it and wrap it around the threaded section of the spark plug. Take the other end of the wire and hook it to the body somewhere to earth it.

Rest the loose spark plug on a thick rag somewhere in the engine bay and have someone else turn the ignition key to run the starter motor.

If the distributor's points and condenser are working properly and you are getting good spark you will see it firing a blue spark as it sits on the rag you've laid out.

Don't hold the spark plug by the spark lead or you'll get a shock (if it's working properly!)!

Fresh fuel, and new spark plugs, modern fuels leave a film, and wont let the car restart, even of you try cleaning the plugs, they just dont work

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Electric or mechanical fuel pump? If it's electric, you should hear it prime - if it's SU type, or chatter if it's an electronic unit. You can always drop some fuel down the throat of the carbi and see if it kicks, or better yet as Simon says, take the top of the float bowl and see if there's any fuel in it, if not, fill it up and see what happens. If it starts then stops shortly after, it will be fuel pump - whatever type it is.

But my guess will be points.

or clean the old plugs and same with the points whilst checking the gap etc...

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"Show me the Mini!"

Sadly modern fuel when it goes off, doesnt allow for cleaning

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I regularly stand my cars for 6 - 12 months without driving and the fuel is fine. "Old fuel" needs to be OLD.

Thanks for the advice all, really appreciated

I have something to go on now and will start with checking for a spark as has been suggested. If that turns out to be fine, I will then move on to potential fuel issues.

@clip - Off the top of my head, I'm actually not sure which is in it but will endeavour to find out!

I regularly clean fouled spark plugs, I just burn them clean with a gas torch.
It works very well especially on 2 stroke motors like Victa mowers.

Do you have any pics of your Mini Minor

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1965 Morris 850
1966 Morris Mini Minor
1967 Morris Cooper 'S'
1977 Leyland LS

Hee hee...reminds me of an old mechanics trick, put your cleaned plugs on the gas stove burners and heat em up then quickly throw them in to the recalcitrant engine...and watch it burst into life

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"Show me the Mini!"

I often do that too.

this is very familiar. A ciggy lighter doesn't work as well. LOL

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The bitterness of poor quality (or Crappy Workmanship) remains LONG AFTER the Sweet Taste of Low Price is forgotten.