Restoration-Mini

General Discussion => The Lounge => Topic started by: 94touring on October 19, 2017, 08:36:47 AM

Title: And I broke down
Post by: 94touring on October 19, 2017, 08:36:47 AM
Headed to my shop this morning (well right now) I died.  Stopped to get gas because I was running on E and stumbling.  Got a few more miles after filling up and the car started popping through the carb. Pulled over and found the wire from thr coil was arcing. Secured the wire, arcs stopped, drove a few more miles and died for good.  Once triple A gets me to my shop I'll begin digging in to see what the problem is.
Title: Re: And I broke down
Post by: BruceK on October 19, 2017, 08:59:36 AM
Sorry to hear that.  Fried coil perhaps?
Title: Re: And I broke down
Post by: Willie_B on October 19, 2017, 09:11:48 AM
At least you look to be a safe place and the weather looks nice.
Title: Re: And I broke down
Post by: 94touring on October 19, 2017, 09:36:21 AM
Weather couldn't be better!

Back at the shop.  Compression is 120, 140, 0, 140.  Is that bad?  Lol
Title: Re: And I broke down
Post by: BruceK on October 19, 2017, 10:32:21 AM
Quote from: 94touring on October 19, 2017, 09:36:21 AM
Weather couldn't be better!

Back at the shop.  Compression is 120, 140, 0, 140.  Is that bad?  Lol

Well, when you were in Texas in the Spring you mentioned it was a tired engine.   
Title: Re: And I broke down
Post by: 94touring on October 19, 2017, 10:35:37 AM
Notice anything unusual here?
Title: Re: And I broke down
Post by: BruceK on October 19, 2017, 10:41:07 AM
Quote from: 94touring on October 19, 2017, 10:35:37 AM
Notice anything unusual here?

When your #3 cylinder ran away it took part of the distributor cap with it?
Title: Re: And I broke down
Post by: MiniDave on October 19, 2017, 10:48:31 AM
Supposed to be a button in there in the middle......but I doubt that will affect the compression much......
Title: Re: And I broke down
Post by: BruceK on October 19, 2017, 10:58:28 AM
Quote from: MiniDave on October 19, 2017, 10:48:31 AM
Supposed to be a button in there in the middle......but I doubt that will affect the compression much......

I didn't actually mean the cylinder compression had anything at all to do with the distributor cap, because it clearly doesn't.   

I was just saying they both went AWOL.
Title: Re: And I broke down
Post by: 94touring on October 19, 2017, 11:32:29 AM
I took the dizzy out, inspected it, put a button from another cap in, and the car fired right up and drives like it usually does. Probably been running on 3 cylinders since I've owned it.

Ahem Dave I need my new motor  ;D
Title: Re: And I broke down
Post by: MiniDave on October 19, 2017, 11:34:37 AM
Ahem...it's been done for months, just need to start it and run it in.....and come get it.
Title: Re: And I broke down
Post by: 94touring on October 19, 2017, 11:42:50 AM
I can get it whenever.  Might shoot for the end of the month.
Title: Re: And I broke down
Post by: MiniDave on October 19, 2017, 11:48:49 AM
If you mean the 31st I'll be home, if you mean the weekend before I'll be out of town (26-30).....but that's fine with me. Remind me to send Mark's coilovers down with you......
Title: Re: And I broke down
Post by: 94touring on October 20, 2017, 03:01:18 PM
Other notable problem found was on the dizzy, the vacuum diaphram if you've ever taken one apart has a rod that runs down through the dizzy body with a nut on the opposite end that's threaded. Along side this is a spring looking piece that hooks to the inner workings of the dizzy.  When you adjust the nut it retards or advances the dizzy.  Suck on the vacuum port and you note the same movement. Anyhow the rod on mine had come loose from the top part of the assembly, essentially retarding the timing significantly. Explains the backfiring through the carb.  It was easy to fix.  I found a new dizzy cap locally (see mini compatible parts thread) and I'm back on the road running 3 cylinders strong.
Title: Re: And I broke down
Post by: BruceK on October 20, 2017, 03:09:25 PM
Glad to hear your are back on the road even if your 998 engine is just a 749 engine.

I wonder if it is valves, seats, or rings or a combination of all three things that have failed on number three.  Technically, I suppose a hole in the piston could also be in the running. 
Title: Re: And I broke down
Post by: MiniDave on October 20, 2017, 03:15:19 PM
Burned valve is the usual culprit.....
Title: Re: And I broke down
Post by: 94touring on October 20, 2017, 03:46:47 PM
Yeah probably a valve. It actually makes about 20psi.  We'll know soon enough once I yank it out.
Title: Re: And I broke down
Post by: Bahowe1 on October 21, 2017, 06:56:07 AM
Sorry to hear of your troubles, but you seem to take it well!  I will say, the exact thing happened to me a few years back on my mini and that was the first time I realized I had been running on 3 for as long as I had owned it. Mine was burned valve and once I got 4, it was a very fun car.
Title: Re: And I broke down
Post by: 94touring on October 21, 2017, 08:17:40 AM
I do have a spare head I could slap on, but not really worth the hassle since the new motor will go in soon enough. Till then it still serves as my airport car lol.