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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - 1500 slow to turn over starting

OK I'm finally at the point of firing her up!! Got fuel, got oil pressure however even with a jump battery she is extremely slow to turn over... I'm thinking too slow to actually fire up... Any ideas as to why this may be?
S J Dodd

Do you have an earth strap from the engine to the body?
Dave O'Neill 2

Yep, I've even tried disconnecting the battery, jumping from another car directly to the positive lead and a bolt on top of the engine. It helped but still isn't right... I'm now getting a fuel leak from the rear carb where the pipe goes out to the front carb which isn't filling me with confidence!
S J Dodd

ignition timing.? try turning dizzy a bit one way or the other.
bob taylor

how does it turn over with the plugs out?
If very fast then it's just compression and tightness of a new engine. If still slow-ish then it's either earthing or an on-the-way-out starter motor.
David Smith

Also, is there a good connection between the starter mounting bracket and the backplate? Is there any paint preventing the motor from earthing properly?
Dave O'Neill 2

Just repeating (what David Smith said!), things to look at:
(1) Remove plugs, and spin engine over. Is it faster?
(2) If still slowish, problem could be any/all of:
(i) poor earth strap (engine to chassis);
(ii) poor starter solenoid;
(iii) poor battery;
(iv) poor starter;
(v) poor cable connections for the above.

Andy Hock

Sorta rehashing what others have said, but there's possible clue.....

<<jumping from another car directly to the positive lead and a bolt on top of the engine. It helped but still isn't right...>>

Can't help feeling that maybe points to a poor connection somewhere on the starting cct.

Solenoid? (Secondary side, not primary - you already know that's working).
Starter?
Earth strap?

Does your speedo cable get hot while cranking? (Sure sign of a poor earth).

As David suggests the starter may be getting old and lazy too. They do that, the rascals. Plus it's a bit obvious, but are the starter mounting bolts tight?
Greybeard

OK new battery arrived, not sure what else we've done but she fired on one cylinder once ;) Giving up for the day now though. Gonna go back at it tomorrow and hopefully have her firing up.

Thanks for the tips everyone :) Much appreciated!
S J Dodd

Sometimes these sorts of problems need a systematic methodology to follow, such as this one. ;-)

GuyW

My starter was really slow, and the earth strap was the culprit.

I moved my from the normal under the car position where it gets all cacked up. It now runs from the alternator bracket to one of the shock absorbed bolts. Better protected from the elements and easier to check and clean.

Malcolm
Malcolm Le Chevalier

She has fired up now although I'm pretty sure she isn't running on all cylinders yet but progress is progress!!! Found I've got a water leak from the heater tap now though so I've ordered one of the Ashley Hinton repair kits.

I've also got a bloody big hole in the front of the exhaust so I'll have to get the welder out on that and plug it back up :(

Getting there though!
S J Dodd

This thread was discussed between 22/03/2016 and 24/03/2016

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