Hi guys,

I think the timing on my mini is out.
Does anyone know somewhere I can take it. I'm in the Croydon/Welland area.

In reality you can take it to any mechanical workshop that has a mechanical who has worked servicing older cars - it doesn't have to be a mini specialist as the principles are the same on cars right up to when the computerised cars become popular.

But the problem might not just be the timing out unless you have played with it. The mechanic may want to check and replace a number of items before he is prepared to time the car. This could be spark plugs, rocker clearances, points etc etc.

It could also be worn bushes in the distributor that is causing too much movement at critical times.

Having said that - their are mini specialistas in your area.

Mike

I suggest you take it to Blair Athol Auto Repairs on Churchill Rd at Kilburn. This family owned business have been Mini specialists/wreckers for 40 years and know them inside out.

Interestingly a workmate of mine who has a 1973 Holden 253 V8 Kingswood as his daily driver had a timing chain break the other day He got it towed to K Mart Auto at Glynde who fixed it for a cool $1,000. Apparently all the young apprentice mechanics there were eager to work on such an 'unusual ' vehicle and none of them had ever seen a carburettor before.

_________________
Slide
1965 Mini Van (1360)
1970 Mk2 Cooper S (1310)
1978 Rover SD1 V8 (4.6)
1996 Land Rover Discovery V8 (4.0)

Morris Mania in Kent Town highly Recommended!

Cool, Kent Town or Kilburn is close enough! I just cant make it as far as somewhere like mini sport.

What are the symptoms?

Timing too advanced causes pinging (pinking), a rattling sound when under load.

Timing too retarded will make the engine sluggish.

Pete

Well you push the accelerator and it's all spluttery and doesn't rev up well, then it lets off some loud pops.

I've changed the sparkies already.

I bet it ends up being a points, fuel supply or carby problem.

Mike

The fuel is still going through ok.

I don't think it's the carby as that was only looked at recently. ( But I wouldn't put money on it)

It could be something to do with the distributor as that's been giving me the shits lately.


The car will run fine all day then when I'm sitting at some lights it randomly decides to run like a kicked crap.

fouled plugs? sounds carby

Which plugs are we talking here? I'm quite new to cars let alone mini's.

Super-M would mean spark plugs but you've already changed those.

'randomly decides to run like a kicked poo poo' sounds more like carby.

A timing problem would normally be consistent.

My guess - worn spindle, jet not centred, float level not right?

Pete

I thought he meant sparkies, but I said i changed them already, hence confusion. Thanks for clearing that up.

I've only had the car a couple of weeks.
This is what I've had done so far.

- Ball Joint MS
- Lower Arm Bush
- Susp bush - tie bar - Mini
- Bump rubber
- Tie rod end
- Mount exhaust/gearchange(rear)
- Genuine engine mount
- RC40 fit kit
- Poly engine stay kit black
- Wheel alignment
- Carby bell & needle
- Rest Timing 7 Rectify rich mixture

The problem is pretty consistent now. Haven't been able to get it back to normal since Sunday. Been driving my partners centro around...

Just need to get it running enough to get it back to minisport so they can see whats the deal-e-o.

Maybe just get it towed?

Assuming you had the bell and needle fitted by someone who knew what they were doing it is less likely that is the culprit. It's a fiddly job and has to be done right or the needle can stick and it will run like a kicked poo poo.

You could try fiddling with the timing to see if it runs any better?

Undo the clamp and turn the dizzy a little either way with the engine idling and and see if it runs any better. You don't have anything to lose. Setting timing is pretty easy.

If you can get it running a bit smoother you should be able to drive it with the timing not 100% right but just not for extended periods on the freeway.

As you advance the timing (turning the dizzy clockwise from memory) the idle should rise, too far advanced and it will ping (rattle) under load. If it is retarded it will have a sluggish response to the throttle.

Pete

PM'd you about the work.