I was adjusting the float level on the 45DHLA before the cruise to try and battle the running rich problems I always had. Now after raising the float slightly she seems to be more fuel efficient but a) the engine wouldnt hold revs at idle b) the car would usualy start very easily on the first try, now I'm having to pump and pump the pedal then turn her over over and over again till she starts - all in a pretty unpredictable fashion.

I've increased the revs at idle but any ideas on the starting thing?

Hey Mike, Happy new year!

Although kev says not to, I use the "choke". It's as easy as pull the choke, crank and start first time, then push it back in, rev it and way we go... She won't start any other way. I don't even bother to pump the pedal, she just won't crank without the choke open. Am I doing something wrong? even with electronic dissy it won't do it easily without choke.

My idle is set to around 1200-1300rpm, any lower and she shakes like an overweight belly dancer

How come it's running abit rich? why can't you just adjust the idle mixture screws a little leaner? that's what I did, the spark plugs look fine now on mine (not too rich, not too lean). It was running perfect on cylinders 1 and 2 and abit rich on 3 and esp on 4. In fact the plugs were gunked up on 4th so much so that they were not firing after 2-3 runs! this happeened 2-3 times. Now it's running great. Idle's abit rough but I think the plug gaps are wrong, or the timing is not right, one of those...

How do you adjust the float level?? Am I missing something??

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Lillee - 1969 Morris Mini K

To adjust Dellorto DHLA float level-

Reading from the blurb in repair kit, and I quote:

"Check that the float has the actual weight marked on it, is not damaged and is also free to swivel on its pivot.
Hold the carburettor cover vertically so that the float arm is in light contact with the needle and with the spring in the needle not compressed.
In this position, check that both the half-floats are at the correct distance from the float chamber cover, measured to the gasket fitted to it.

Float 7298.1, 14.5-15.0mm
Float 7298.2, 16.5-17.0mm

So, kiddies, float level is critical, set it right then don't mess with it.

<edit> Also important is the full droop setting of 25mm, not mentioned in the blurb.
With cover horizontal, that is the distance the float can drop to. Adjust by bending the little tag near the pivot pin.

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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.

Oh Yeah, i remember you doing this when we installed it Kev Good thing one of us knew what we were doing

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Lillee - 1969 Morris Mini K

Well it took some deductive thinking but its all solved now.
I had the dellorto flooding so many times when I just put it in that I could recognise flooding pretty easily ( a look at the plugs confirmed it) so reduced the droop so as to reduce the flow of petrol into the carb. The car starts immediately with 1 or no pumps so all's good atleast untill the proper tune and kit being put through pretty soon.