So recently my lil mini has been having all sorts of 'glitches'.
Last time i drove it (last week) it made it merely 5km before becoming
undrivable. Started missing and sounding like it was running on two cyclinders.
Have had issues in the past with spark plugs fouling, so i stopped and did a quick change, but no avail..... still missed like a australian cricketer and i couldn't let the revs drop near idle with out it cutting out.
only just made it home, via back streets and hill starts!

I had a few ideas on what it could be (carb out of tune, ignition or fueling)
until today i went to start her up.... quick tap to the starter, she turned over
a few times....and then she started. Ran for a minute or so then stopped!

Tried to restart and just kept turning over & over & over..... quick look under the bonnet and i noticed the fuel filter is half empty?!? Not quite sure if this is the problem or what?

can anyone shed some light....?
thankyou

It is difficult to say for sure, without seeing your fuel filter, I don't think that is the problem if you plugs are fouling.

Look to see that your choke is coming right off, although I tend to think is may just need adjustment of the points.

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thanks for the advice mowog.

i dont use the choke to start.... the only reason i ask about fuel filter
is now when i'm trying to start it, she sounds as if shes outta petrol.
just keeps turning over and over.....

as to the running problem with misses and stalling, i thought it had to be an ignition or timing issue for sure. but now she wont even kick over at all!?

cheers for your response

Your welcome miko.

A quick check to see if your getting fuel, you can disconnect the fuel line from the carb. Turn it over just one kick. There should be fuel blurting out the hose.

You will only see fuel going through the filter when it's useing fuel. It won't hardly use any when starting, so you probably won't see it going through.

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Do you have normal points ignition?

If so check everything in a systematic manner, eg, check points, condensor, rotor, cap, leads, etc etc. I had an annoying misfire problem on the 1100 recently that turned out to be a crook ignition lead - only one of the 5 was bad, so just shows you need to check it all carefully...

cheers

Jacob

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'72 Clubman Van - 1022cc, 295 head, 731 cam - Daily Driver
'69 Morris 1100 S - Dinged by a bus, in shed under repair
'64 Morris 1100 - Early 1100, long term project

thanks vulcan...

i believe shes running an electronic dizzy, but not 100% what type it is?

and mowog, i'll check out the fuel issue like you said tomorrow.
thanks.

side note....
anyone know a good mini mechanic round sydney east or CBD?

oh and mowog why i ask about fuel filter is.....

the top half is empty?!
bottom half has fuel.

seeing as the hose to the carbs comes off the top of the filter,
made sense to me thats why she wont kick over.....

saying that, my mini mechanical knowledge is rather minimal.

thanks again to all for your time and advice

That's not unusual, they never seem to fill right up.

Actually, I would be worried if the top half had fuel and the bottom half was dry

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hehehe
cheers.

so then if thats normal (filter wise), then what should i check next?

Cause she kicked over this arvo, started and ran fine.... for a minute.
then dead. on restart just kept turning over and over but no fire up.

where should i look now?

And as Jacob suggests, the rest of you ignition system, but I'd start with the points

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Make sure the wire connectors from dizzy onto coil are tight. Bolted terminals are better than spade connectors, which come loose and get dirty.

I just went through this with 4myego's Pulsar dizzy- he had spade connectors, and the symptoms were identical. All good now.

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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.

i'll look into it....
thankyou

Fuel filters are dirt cheap, just change it!

ummm hate to be a noob, but what are spade connectors mr dr mini?

i did check all my leads to the plugs and distributor, but not the coil.
not sure what type of connection i've got. i really really hate asking these
vague noob questions.... but i just want to drive it again. grrrrr

Spade connectors- there is a brass terminal about 6mm wide on the coil or whatever, and the cable has a `lug' on the end which pushes over it.
If you use them, they must be tight and checked regularly.
Erratic running such as yours has is often due to a loose connection here, or a frayed wire.

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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.