Do you have a multimeter?

If you do, using the ohmeter check for continuity (the "beeper" function works well) at the points to the dizzy housing.

With the points closed they should "beep" indicating continuity. When the points are open there should be no noise as the points are not contacting. (The points are basically a switch). If you have a constant beep regardless of the points being open or closed they are constantly earthing. So they cant switch the primary side of the coil so no voltage is induced in the secondaries so you dont get a spark.

This is easiest to do on the bench. Mark your dizzy, loosen the clamp and remove it. If you do it on the car make sure the car isnt running or the ignition is on as it will damage the ohmeter. So you will have to rotate the engine by hand.

Check the wires arent broken to the dizzy or the little "pig tail" in the dizzy.

Have you got power to the coil?

Matt

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That's a point - check the wire going into the distributor. From memory, I don't think it had a proper spade connector, just the two wires twisted together under tape. It always worked fine, but if you've disturbed it and it is no longer making a connection?

Anto, if it wasn't considered weird, I'd kiss you. lol. I pulled those wires apart, cut them and rejoined them, hit the key and she fired up! Amazing. Can't believe it was such a simple annoying thing.

To everyone else who gave me advice, thanks heaps! Next time something dies, I'll know about 15 different avenues to try. Once again, I really appreciate all the advice you guys have given me.

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88 Rover 1.3i "Reggie"
99 Rover 1.3i “Grover”
12 Mini Cooper S "The shitter"
17 Mini Clubman JCW “Noddy”

Glad you fixed it!

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Yes I was going to put proper terminals on that connection, but didn't have any handy when the engine went back in.

Glad its fixed. Minis are much more fun to drive than work on!

Too true anto! Been out driving it this morning, timing is WAYYY out. Coughs and splutters etc, but at least it moves. I don't suppose there is anyone out in the eastern suburbs who would mind coming over for a drive with a timing light and showing me how to time out? or better yet, doing it for me? for a fee of course? Maybe even tomorrow?
We wanted to take it to wattos big day out, but doubt very much she'd make it there in its current state.

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88 Rover 1.3i "Reggie"
99 Rover 1.3i “Grover”
12 Mini Cooper S "The shitter"
17 Mini Clubman JCW “Noddy”

I actually had it too advanced, was fine, went well, until you hit a decent hill and it lacked power. The owner then retarded it, but set it using a strobe light. But I don't know what he set it to. It ran fine just a little hesitant down low, eg when pulling from a T-junction in second gear.

Have you actually changed the timing since you got it? If not then it should be fine, all it needed was a little fine tuning. It got you to Melbourne for example. If you haven't changed the timing and it is has started running badly, then I would suggest it could be something else causing it.

<edit>Could be worthwhile checking that the pinch bolt that holds the dizzy in place isn't loose - it isn't unknown for them to work their way loose, then the dizzy will slowly retard making it run worse. I've had it happen to me before on my blue Mini, took me ages to figure out the problem!

Yeah its very sluggish down low, the 850 beats it off the mark by miles. Then it backfires (but thats just the manifolds that have come loose that I can fix) but as for the timing, I have no idea. We havn't adjusted it, just now that we are actually driving it around melbourne,we notice how sluggish it is. Goes fine at 100kms an hour cruising down the hume.

I tended to drive it in 80 zones and above most of the time, so maybe the tuning is more apparent with the driving you are doing. Checking the timing with a strobe light isn't difficult, the timing is marked with whiteout on the flywheel from memory. I would be timing it to 12* at 1000rpm and work from there, see what difference it makes. (I would suggest checking it and writing down what it is currently timed out, may help out troubleshooting if needs be)

Before the engine was taken out it ran like a train, and the timing is about the only thing that would have changed - dizzy and carby weren't touched otherwise. I hadn't checked the tappet clearances for a while, so check them next service. But it wouldn't be causing it to run badly.