Valve clearances, points gap/dwell, plug gaps, timing including vacuum (no
leaks!) and centrifugal advance mechanisms. Carbs last - balance then
mixture. "90% of SU problems are caused by electrics" as someone once said.
Set the static timing to about 10 degrees BTDC to start with unless you know
the correct specs which depend on the engine number and distributor serial
number (see the web site below and click on 'Spanners' and 'Dizzie Curves'
if you have these). Where the timing marks are visible from the top they
are at 5 degree intervals. Make sure you get the plug leads in the right
order (1342 anticlockwise) and the rotor points to No.1 on its compression
(not exhaust) stroke. SUs have a starting point for mixture adjustment, I
have no experience of the ZS and none is mentioned in Haynes. Check the
spark at each plug lead unless it fires up right away. If it doesn't fire
up within about 10 secs take out a plug. It should not be bone-dry and have
no fuel smell (no fuel) or be soaking wet (too rich). But too much cranking
on a correct cold-start mixture will wet the plugs. Adjust it till it
*stops* pinging, I would have said.
----- Original Message -----
From: "MonteMorris" <mmorris@nemr.net>
To: "MG list" <mgs@autox.team.net>
Sent: Tuesday, April 09, 2002 3:55 AM
Subject: time or tune first?
> After a 7 month sit I should be ready to restart our 79B in the next few
days.
> It has not been started since I've converted from electronic ignition to a
> points dizzy and rebuilt the ZS carb.
> Hopefully the dizzy and the carb needle are situated where the car will at
> least start. If not, which one do I start "messing" with first to get it
to
> start?
> If it does start, which do I adjust first the timing (my guess) or the
carb?
> During the carb rebuild, I adjusted everything to the settings set forth
in
> the carb manual, but the dizzy I just dropped in until the drive dog
matched
> up to the internal notch.
> Several listers have suggested that the timing be set more advanced than
the
> manual says (13 degrees BTDC, I believe). Could some of you VKP's (Very
> Knowledgeable Persons), confirm this. I have a new Tach/Dwell meter and a
> cheapie timing light but have never used either one. Can I use these to
tell
> if I'm at 13 degrees since the timing notches on the flywheel (?) are
every 5
> degrees, or do you just guess. Frank, AKA the "Swamp Yankee", suggested
just
> experimenting with the timing by driving and adjusting until it starts
> pinging.
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