Robert J. Guinness wrote:
> As usual, I am mystified by my MGA. On a recent trip, it began to
> sputter and die. I could start it again, and go a short distance by
> pumping the gas pedal in unison with its dieing sputters. Now the car
> will only intermittently start. If I rev the engine and hold the gas
> pedal constant, the engine will run rough for a few seconds and then
> the revs will drop steadily until it dies.
>
> I changed the spark plugs which were black and went to a hotter plug
> (Autolite 63 gapped to .35). I re-timed the engine (twice). I had
> replaced the points,and rotor about a month ago. The car ran great
> when I installed the new points so I know I installed them correctly.
> The condenser is from last Spring. I had reported to the list
> recently that the cam block on the points on this car had worn in
> just a few months so that they hardly opened. Barney Gaylor suggested
> testing the coil to see if it was a ballister type, which it was not.
> I replaced the ground wire on the distributor about a year and a half
> ago and inspection shows it is in good condition.
> I had problems last year with a reconditioned head that the machine
> shop had failed to lap the bronze guides. The problem seemed to work
> itself out.
>
> I am getting gas. And my rudimentary spark plug tested from HF says
> the plugs are sparking. Compression shows all four cylinders within 5
> lbs of each other (@125)
>
> This is a 1963 MGB 3-main engine with the original MGA carbs.
>
> For what its worth, the "rear seal" on the engine has began to leak
> about 4 months ago. I attributed this to a really nackered U-joint
> messing up drive shaft.
>
> How should I go about diagnosing and repairing this problem. Could it
> be the condenser? The camshaft? Valves? Bearings (rear seal leak)?
> Vengeful gods?
Some things to look for:
Failing coil
Failing flex ground wire in distributor (goes to plate)
Failing needle valve in float chamber(s) (too rich)
-The Roxter
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