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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Wrong crank pulley?

Eventually got to try the new engine in my Frog tonight. All timed up, spun up ok, oil preasure ok, it coughed a bit but no joy.
Checked for spark, ok. Checked for fuel, ok. No joy. Varied the timing both ways but no joy apart from the occasional cough.

Took the rocker cover off and turned the engine till cylinder 1 was on compression, took it to TDC and found the crank pulley timing mark at about 11 am.

Wrong pulley? Maybe off a mini?

Rob
Rob aka MG Moneypit

Looks like your going to be searching for a TDC. Before you can start it. To bad you cant buy those off ebay

Its grimlin season, make sure your hunting lic is up to date

Prop
Prop and the Blackhole Midget

I can find TDC but like everything in my garage it seems to be in the wrong place!!

The real problem is how to do static timing when the mark on the pulley is not in the same place as the indicator on the timing case cover. Just have to guess I suppose. Maybe I should print out one of those timing bar code stickers and fashion a pointer myself.

Mind you it has it's advantages. With TDC indicated at 11 o'clock I can do the timing standing up rather than on my back with head under the car.

Rob
Rob aka MG Moneypit

turn to tdc, whip pulley off, cut small slot in edge of V, fill with tippex.

I got majorly confused with my A crank pulley, which had very confusing dents drilled in it to balance it and the timing notch on the outer edge had been smeared off...
Rob Armstrong

Alternately, bolt a pointer to the timing chain case and then find TDC and mark/cut a groove on the pulley opposite that pointer. This then enables you to check the timing from above rather than crawling about on the floor.
Chris Hasluck

Hi Rob

You have used the crank pulley off of a late a+ engine with tensioner they have a timing mark at 11 oclock which makes timing on your own much easier all you have to do is set the car to tdc and make a mark on the chain cover with bright coloured paint and away you go.

Gary
G.J. Puxty

Hey rob,

My appologies.... what chris said is what I did, I just assume everyone can read my mind

I did your the timing tape on the pulley with a pointer and a dial back timming gun...it works great

Prop
Prop and the Blackhole Midget

The latest on this is the guy who built my engine used the pulley to set the engine at TDC and inserted the distributor drive accordingly. Unfortunately, because the pulley is wrong, the distributor drive is in the wrong place so the rotor arm points to the wrong cylinder. No wonder it wouldn't start!!!!

I should get some time on it tonight with a bit of luck.

Rob

Rob aka MG Moneypit

Just got a few minutes in the garage, long enough to comfirm that with the engine positioned with number 1 cylinder at the top of the compression stroke the rotor arm points to plug 3 instead of 1. So instead of firing 1-3-4-2 it was firing 3-4-2-1

Should start easily tomorrow.

These things are sent to try us!!!!

Rob
Rob aka MG Moneypit

Rob: I'm suffering from a similar problem - A+ pulley with "odd timing mark". I did find that there was still a notch in the back edge tying up with the "underneath" timing marks, although with old pullies they seem to have notches everywhere. The correct notch is always a so and so to locate.
G Williams

Great news. Engine running and sounds wonderfull. Distributor is in a weird position and the plug lead order looks odd but it starts easily and runs smoothly.

I might clean the garage up today to celebrate!!!

Rob
Rob aka MG Moneypit

Can gratz rob

Thats great news, this bbs is getting all kinds of projects resolved

In the end, it just takes perseverance and patiance to kill off these little grimlins

So is this the 1st time this engine has ran .... obviously it didnt run when the PO sold it to you, and hadnt scence it was modified to this state

Prop

Prop and the Blackhole Midget

Hi Prop, the engine was an ex-racer bought from David Smith who sometimes frequents the BBS. Don't know how competitive it was as David hadn't run it himself having bought it from someone else. Got the brakes bled, and the clutch. Took me about 4 hours to get the air out the clutch but only 1/2 hour to bleed the brakes, go figure.

The engine feels very lively but should be even better as I think the carb is running weak. The engine dies as soon as the piston is raised a minute amount.

Had it running up and down the drive, all of 20 feet but it feels great.

Need to get the bonnet on and a seat in it, insure it and give it a go on the open road, maybe next weekend.

A bit worried about the skinny rubber (Kormoran brand?) on it at the moment, well over 10 years old 'cause that's how long we have owned it.

Rob
Rob aka MG Moneypit

so far so good then Rob
<breathes sigh of relief>
David Smith

Yes, engine seems ok. Tappets opened up after about 10 mins running so I'll re-torque the head soon. revs very well and smooth to. Idle a bit lumpy, not sure what cam is in it, any idea?

Looking forward to trying it out soon.

Rob
Rob aka MG Moneypit

shot in the dark says a 276. You can download a 360 degree protractor disc, and should be able to measure it with a bit of care and the rocker cover off.
David Smith

An easy enough job to re-position the distributor driving dog so that the offset is 180 degrees away from the current set up. I've found on previous cars (Morris Minors) when replacing a recon dizzy that they tend to be fitted whichever way they come to hand, not necessarily the correct way! Just punch out the pin, turn the dog 180 degrees and refit the pin. The rotor arm will then be pointing at No. 1 rather than No. 3 at TDC.
Dominic Excell

Dom

It sounds like it's currently 90 degrees out, not 180.

Easy enough to pull the dissy drive and refit, though.
Dave O'Neill2

I will post a picture as soon as the paint is dry on the panel under the windscreen. Some minor chips and scratches removed around the wiper holes.

Ordered a BDL needle to replace the BGW currently fitted. BGW seems to produce a mixture that is too weak.

Anyone tried www.mintylamb.co.uk and the SU needle comparison facility? Looks like a great tool with hundreds of needle profiles available except the BGW (just my luck)

Rob

Rob aka MG Moneypit

Yes, I have used the mintylamb comparison chart and find it extremely useful, but I also use this spread sheet. I don't know where I downloaded it from so I apologise if I'm treading on anyone's toes.

<https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/12063893/SU%20Needle%20chart.xls>

Peter
Peter Blockley

This thread was discussed between 29/04/2014 and 08/05/2014

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