So, a couple of months ago i had trouble with getting the van started and running. With the help of a mechanic friend it got sorted with some fine adjusting of the timing. So it has been running ever since(2 months, starting, sitting idling/ fanging around the paddock, its not registered). Last weekend i start it up, back it out of the shed and let it sit idling for about 5 mins. I notice that the revs were very low to the point of stalling, and it then stopped. hhmm. I checked fuel, all good. It fired up again, idled, then died. I checked spark plugs and they were very black, so i adjusted the mixture, checked the timing stactically and the end result is no starty. I'm stumped and feel like a retard. There is plenty of spark, fuel and timing is as my mechanic friend set it. WTF is wrong that it wont start?

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Dog Food! Most kids like it more than Broccoli.

If you "adjusted the mixture" because the plugs were black, I assume you leaned it off?

If you did, and got it anywhere near where it should be, then it will need choke to start from cold. Does the choke work?

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Simon

The adventures of an owner builder in the Tallarook Ranges

Yes choke works, and i have also been applying a little acceleration pedal whilst trying to start it. Mixture wise, say i was to put a brand new carb on, where would i set the mixture screw? Half way? being its the only thing i changed during this senario I'm wondering where abouts to have the screw that i might have the best chance of getting a result. I have tried several positions

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Dog Food! Most kids like it more than Broccoli.

Where did you check the fuel, at the tank, filter or carb? How old is the fuel, have you given the carbs a clean out recently, how is the fuel filter? Air filter. Usual story that you need three things to fire, spark, fuel and air. If you have ruled out spark (and timing for the sake of argument) then that leaves the other 2, im betting its fuel related. Did you clean the spark plugs out of interest after noticing they were sooty? Also have you tried squirting some engine start (ether) through the filter to try and kick it over?[/b]

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So... I'm Seifer

When you noticed the plugs were black, did you clean them up a little? If they're caked right up, maybe they're not sparking?

What type of carb is it? If it's an SU, do the mixture nut fully 'up' (anti-clockwise looking from above the carby) and then back it off 12 'flats'. Should give you a point to start from. I'd be inclined to think it's just too rich and wetting the plugs perhaps. If it still doesn't start and it's doing the same thing as before try leaning it off another flat or two...

Once you've got it started, use the lifting pin on the left of the carby to see if the revs rise or fall. If they fall, richen it up, if they rise and stay risen, back it off. Only do it a flat at a time and give it a few seconds between each adjustment before trying the pin again. You want it to rise slightly and then drop back to normal revs.

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'77 Leyland Mini Van

Fouled up plugs won't be helping it ( too much idling ) , try a new set of plugs to start with .

Yep i cleaned up plugs, and after kicking it over a few times i found plugs 3&4 to be getting sooty. Fuel is fresh and is getting to carb, air filter is off. Gotta_Van thanks for the mixture tip i'll give it a go, from memory i think its clockwise to tighten up, anyways i'll nip it up and back it off 12. thanks

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Dog Food! Most kids like it more than Broccoli.

Got it going! not sure what i did, plugs were clean, i set the mixture screw as Gotta_Van suggested, then just kept cranking her over. Slowly fired to life, spluttering and bearly idling. At this point i jumped to the dizzy and turned it clockwise which improved idle but it is still missing. Anyway its running and i no longer have to push it out of the shed. Now to sort out the brakes, seems the booster has busted

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Dog Food! Most kids like it more than Broccoli.

do this ^^ get some new plugs

I bet if you make it run, then turn it off and pull the plugs out, you'll find one or two of them wet with fuel

Best, fastest and easiest way to clean oily or dirty plugs is heat em on the end with an oxy/acetylene or LPG or even a butane flame. The black crud flicks off the electrode and they are `new' again.

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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.

Excellent. I knew there was a reason I bought my girlfriend a butane torch to make creme brulee with. "But I can't make creme brulee!" "Shh, I'm sure it'll come in useful for something else..."

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'77 Leyland Mini Van

I try to refit the plugs while they are still hot (without burning fingers) and the car will start very easily.

Just on a side note, I got slammed on another forum for suggesting to clean plugs with a gas burner. They said that it was very dangerous to use a gas torch on fuelled up plugs as there could be an explosion. Stupid Americans.

I've done about 100 plugs this way over the years, still waiting for an `explosion'.
You could soak them in fuel first, and they still won't go up.

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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.

They suggested that the cylinder full of petrol vapour in a garage plus an open flame would cause a Hindenburg scale disaster.

They are the same people that fit spin on filters to Auto boxes....

With the run i've been having lately, i bet if i tried it i would prove that the americans are absolutley, positivley, globably right. So i shecked the plugs and they are clean. The van started today but ran like an american congress, as ruff as guts. Seems the brake booster as crapped itself aswell, so it will come out and then maybe i'll have a some what reasonable brake pedal travel as opposed to slightly touching it and stopping dramactically

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Dog Food! Most kids like it more than Broccoli.