I've previously posted to the mods folder that our 72 998 clubman (with single HS2 1.25" SU) has been playing up in the cold weather, stalling when you approach roundabouts, stop signs, basically behaving dangerously!

The car is absolutely fine on acceleration and at top speed etc

I had the carby serviced not so long ago but I'm near sure he didn't touch the throttle shaft bushes. When the car idles, if I move the throttle linkage side to side etc the throttle speed changes, is that meant to happen?

The car has an erratic idle and just can't 'hang on' to it's revs when you slow down, sometimes it does and it stays alive, but most times the alternator light comes on and it conks out.

In my mind I'm thinking the piston is either being held in the open throttle position, or throttle shaft wear is causing erratic idling or a vacuum leak.

What's the best way to check for a vacuum leak?

Apologies for the erratic sentences- I'm tired and I've had a busy day wrestling with a mini that's nearly had me run into a hundred times!

Please help with any suggestions so I don't have to go out and buy a suzuki Alto (the other half is threatening)

Now that would be a disaster!

Seems to me the throttle butterfly & shaft may be contributing to your problem. The side-ways movement you describe may be causing dramas in regard to achieving a correct setting with the idle stop screw ie the wear means sometimes the butterfly is completely shut (hence the stalling) and other times, its not. A leaking spindle will also cause a leaning of the mixture so it may be a combination of several problems.

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1967 Cooper S - new front bearings to do.
1965 Cooper S shell - Slow progress. No time or money!
1966 Deluxe- next rustoration!
Mk 2 & XJ6 Jags. Less said the better.

G;day, just a thought but without getting too technical , you sound fairly concerned about the problem,would it be easier to get hold of another carby from a running engine
and try it, they shoudn't be too hard to find and they aren't a hard job to change over.
Have you done a search on here to maybe find an answer to the problem? I'm sure there are plenty of others that have had similar problems, one thing you could check re; the errattic idling and cutting out is the idle screw might be set too low and might just need a nip up.
Colin.

Carefully spray some carby cleaner around he throttle spindle shaft on either side while the car is running. If the revs change, then you have vac leak.

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http://www.youtube.com/user/Hanras

check your float level and give it a clean. My car was doing basically the same thing because the float level was to high...


Leaky shafts will make it idle a bit funny but will not cause it to die in the ass.

Also, at what position does the fuel line point to on top of the float bowl?
theres three options for orientation, try em and see if it helps. ( I think there is a specific way but it escapes me..)

All this only takes a minute or two

edit, setting your idle mixtures easy as, do that too

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Butterfly shaft, it has to be, sounds just like what mine was doing, i rebushed it and she runs sweet now

Blardy SUs... great carby but crappy shaft setup.

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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.

Ahhh I would come and give you a hand but I am off this morning(yes I am still awake!!)to QLD to get married. I have DREAMS access so will drop into the DRN while I am on leave to see how you are going. I reckon the piston is sticking but see if the vacuum leak is in the shaft - I reckon get a 1.5 SU and go from there. If you need to redo the shaft, you will have to get the new shaft bearings reamed to get the right fit - just as easy to find a good 1.5 without too much give.

Good luck

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Rob Forsyth
Miniot!!

had the same problems to a T. had mine rebuilt also.

carby was sticking the passenger side one.

i bet it;s the same thing.