Some ideas:
The gas gauge on my 78 is inaccurate, it won't go below 1/4, so
that is a possibility, especially since both times it happened with
the gauge reading 1/4, you needed to add gas before Bitsy would start.
Watch the trip odometer and see how many miles you are getting to a
tank, over 200 miles and you're probably running on fumes.
Do you hear a whooshing sound when you open the gas cap? If so,
you probably have a blockage in the evaporative system which causes
a vacuum in the gas tank. The gas may not pump out, especially if
your fuel pump is getting weak.
Back to basics: next time it happens, pull the fuel line off the
carb and crank, are you getting spurts of gas? Ground an ignition
wire - are you getting spark?
FWIW, 20 years ad 200,000 miles of spitfiring and I NEVER had vapor
lock. (Knock on wood!!!)
Good luck!
Greg Rowe
>From: Ben Miller <no1-bronco-fan@home.com>
>
>Listers,
>
>The problem:
>This is really frustrating. I was driving from Salem, Or. back to
>Corvallis this evening with the most wonderful feeling of contentment. I
>got almost into town and Bitsy started lugging and stalling, acting like
>she was out of gas. This is not the first time it's happened. The first
>time the gauge read 1/4 tank. I figured that maybe the gauge wasn't
>working right. After all she is 21 years old. After walking to the gas
>station and back, I added some fuel and got her to start, after cranking
>for a bit to pull the fuel through the system. The second time I was
>idling (with a half tank), waiting to turn back on to the highway after
>going through a drive-thru. After about 30 minutes I got her to start,
>again after some cranking like you have to do after adding fuel after
>you run out. This time the gauge again read 1/4. I decided, after
>pushing her about 3 miles (God am I glad she's light) to get a soda and
>some fries and let her rest. After almost an hour, I tried to start her
>and this time, no joy. I pushed her to the closest gas station
>(fortunately only a couple blocks), got some gas and she started on the
>third try.
>
>The first attempt at a solution:
>I read on the message board at triumphspitfire.com that this could be an
>overheating problem with the carb causing it to vapor lock. The symptoms
>were exactly what I was experiencing so I added a fan that blows between
>the carb and the exhaust manifold. The jury is still out whether this is
>helping or not as I don't know if I ran out of gas or not the last time.
>
>The questions:
>First, how can you tell how much gas is in the tank without a gauge? I'm
>not sure mine is reliable.
>Second, if the gauge is ok, does anyone have any ideas what this might
>be. She acts exactly like she's out of gas.
>Third, could it be the Lucas ignition system? I've been told by a fellow
>spitfire owner that it might be the ignition.
>Fourth, could it be the carb itself, even though she runs and idles just
>fine at all other times?
>
>Help, please. This is driving me crazy.
>
>Thanks in advance,
>Ben Miller
>'79 Spit - "Bitsy"
>Corvallis, Or.
>
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