Didn't think it was just an air leak

[jreacock]

The car had been going really well for several months, and I'd driven it at Shelsley and Prescott hill climbs, and to plenty of car meets. However, just before the last event at Shelsley, the idle had become increasingly difficult to maintain, and I also noticed the carbs were spitting more than usual - with a tendency for the exhaust to pop and bang on over-run.
I balanced the carbs with an air meter and while doing that, I noticed that fuel was pulsing out of the accelerator pump jets at tickover. I also noticed that the throttle shafts had some distinct play in them.
I wasn't sure how long the fuel had been pulsing, but the air leaks I guessed, must have been quite a slowly developing issue. Around this time, I had also noticed a reduction in performance and a slight change of exhaust tone.

I got in touch with the guys who had last worked on it - Light Car Co. in Faringdon and arranged to take it down. This was a few weeks ago.

I got in touch last week to see how they were getting on - and sure enough, they confirmed play in the shafts (no bushes in these carbs) and a worn o-ring in either one of the mixture screws or idle adjust holes. I'd asked them to check the timing as well - because of the reduction in performance. Felt like it was retarded to me.

A few days later, the guys contacted me and said they'd found an issue with the weights in the distributor - and sent a few pics.



They were solidly wedged, so there was no timing adjustment happening at all.





The new parts in the rebuild kit for comparison:



I'm just wondering how slow the decline was - and whether it's actually been working properly since I've had it (which is around 6 months now of actual driving).

Anyway - I thought it would amuse some of you to see just how bad this was, but amazingly, the engine still ran sort of ok.
They've fitted a 123 in the short term until the dizzy gets rebuilt - and George commented that it now 'really goes', so I'm hoping it's back to or better than 'normal'.

Hope to see some of you at the LMC National Rally next Sunday. Hopefully, in the Stratos.

Justin.

[hollytree]

Fantastic to hear stories like that in this "disposable" age.
I hope it goes like a rocket

[tomsredstratos]

Wow, in thirty five years of working on engines with this type of distributor I have never seen one wear right through and come completely off. I can only guess over the years the points in the upper chamber were replaced and the bottom was never removed to check weight condition and greasing. This is where the distributor machine comes in, as you can bench test dwell and advance.
It will certainly run better with the new weights, the originals must have been playing up for a while.
Tom

[ProtoTipo]

How on earth did it keep running?
Will you be at the LMC meeting Justin?

[jreacock]

How on earth did it keep running?
Will you be at the LMC meeting Justin?

Hi Chris.
I'm booked in on Sunday - in the Stratos all being well. I'm off down to Oxfordshore tomorrow to pick it up with every reason to think that it's running fine.
It's also booked in to Classic Nostalgia at Shelsley next Saturday - just for a coulple of demo runs which should be good.

Looking forward to seeing you and others on Sunday.

PS. Here's a pic of the hill run we had a few weeks ago at the Gumball 3000 / Piston Gin event at Shelsley. This was one of the last times it was used after I'd noticed the running issues - and the reason why we only had one slow run. It still went well enough for everyone to hear it though - with a few pops and bangs unfortunately.



Here's the associated video - the sound is muffled from the camera's mic being wedged up against the firewall, but you can hear the popping occasionally:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSNh1TBfoB8

[ProtoTipo]

Looking forward to seeing you and others on Sunday.

I don't think I'll be there Justin, but I know Ken Tomblin will be particularly interested to see your car. (Ken has the Rothmans Pregliasco U.M. car)

[jreacock]

It's a shame you won't be there Chris. However, the weather's not looking great, so it may be a wise move.

You asked me for a pic of the front grill a few weeks ago, and I didn't get round to taking one before the car went away. Presumably though, if Ken goes to the national rally - he can take as many pics as he needs.

I went to collect the car earlier today from Oxfordshire, and it seems to be going well - it sounds and feels much smoother. However, my ears are still ringing...

[ProtoTipo]

You asked me for a pic of the front grill a few weeks ago, and I didn't get round to taking one before the car went away. Presumably though, if Ken goes to the national rally - he can take as many pics as he needs.

Thanks Justin, It's more likely to be Ian Hassall with a camera. He took me some great photos of one particular part on the Omicron car, last year.

[hollytree]

Chris .Ian will also have a rag with his camera to Polish the inner front arches of Paul's car