Its a bit of a ritual now, I was giving this chick a lift and the only love in my life decides not to wake up again. I was driving her during the day and she was fine. The revs were very low and she was flattering a bit, but I didnt change anything coz I was gonna go to Castle Hill Thurs anyway and I wanted them to see her in the exact state of tune, w/o me changing anything.

Well anyways, tonight I start the engine with some choke it revs normaly for a few seconds then revs fall and it and dies out. Second and third time the same thing and fourth no start at all, the started just spins through. I checked the fuel and its fine and there seems to be spark. Sit in again start rev her up its all cool for a long few seconds then I take the pressure off the accelerator and cant get the revs up again - engine dies out, wont start again the starter is just spinning. It goes like for like 30 minutes, once I was able to drive the car about 50 metres, but then revs go right down again. Eventualy the engine wont start att all just turn over.

I'm pretty suspicious its the dizzy, coz its similar to the case where the dizzy button from a new cap was playing up and evetualy fell into the dizzy. There seems to be lots of movement (up and down - into the dizzy and back) in the rotor arm too. I ended up abandoning the car on a street next to uni, gonna have to pick her up tommorow.

Any ideas?

... i just hope you made the most of "parking your car"

If the dizzy post moves more than 1 or 2mm in and out, its new dizzy time. You may want to take the rotor button off, then check the flat head screw that holds the post down - make sure its tight.

Other than that, try the doctor.

I hope its in a safe location.....

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[NATHAN] -- Sold everything mini related and am back in big beautiful BMWs

Check your points gap- when car acts weird like this it's often 'coz they've nearly closed right up. This results in very strange ignition- mine once would only run properly from 4000-7000, which was great fun in weekday traffic...not!

I can recommend getting a Pertronix ignitor or a Pulsar dizzy. No more points wear...

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

this'll sound a bit simple, but i had a very similar problem and it turned out to eb that the choke was sticking on....and hence flooding it ALL the time

like i said its a bit simply, but worth a look

I had a similar problem once and it was coz the fuel feed line from the float bowl to the jet had a kink in it. You could start the car and rev it up a bit then it would die. Doubt this is your problem however I don't think they kink all by themselves!

These problems always boil down to points it seems, that's why I've got electric ignition now. That was money well spent! The ignitor system is definately worth it, and is very simple to install (easier than installing new points).

Anto.

do you have a PCV?
i had a problem similar to yours, it would turn over but would be very hard to start
if you got it started, you had to keep your foot on the accelerator to keep it up (with a cracked diaphragm)
you cant even start it with the PCV disconnected

if you dont know what a PCV valve is, is the cone shaped UFO thing with two hoses
one coming from behind the engine, the other towards the inlet manifold
new diaphragm $7

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Inconspicuously Conspicuous
Appreciation without Depreciation
forever chasing clearer skies...