[Healeys] Carb Adjustment Help Requested - BJ8 MkIII

[John P. New]

Attached is a better image for the needle position, from page 6 of "S.U. Service Sheet AUC 9622 B"

The accompanying text is: "Fit the correct needle and lock it in position so that the shoulder on the shank (A), or the lower edge of the groove (B), is flush with the piston base. "

John P. New
London, Ontario, Canada
'67 BJ8

On August 14, 2017 12:30:49 PM Bob England wrote:
> Thanks Bob
> 
> Attached PDF file is what I went by, but what you say makes sense.  Lowering the needle will lean out the mixture (if I have my theory right), particularly with the jet sitting slightly lower than the diaphragm shaft when it is as high as it will go (see photo).
> 
> When you say you'd try a smaller gap, are you thinking the "0.028" previously mentioned (i.e. between stock "0.025" and the larger "0.035" I had mentioned)?
> 
> I really appreciate all the help I am getting from everyone on this question.  Truly amazing.  The PO, a very good friend (who I was too embarrassed to call on this as I figured I'd screwed up his car!) has offered some insight and I'll find out more from him this evening.
> 
> BobE
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Bob Spidell [mailto:bspidell at comcast.net] 
> Sent: August 14, 2017 10:01 AM
> To: Bob England; healeys at autox.team.net
> Subject: Re: [Healeys] Carb Adjustment Help Requested - BJ8 MkIII
> 
> Where did you set the needles in the vacuum pistons?
> 
> BOTTOM GROOVE ON NEEDLE JUST ABOVE BOTTOM OF PISTON (SO YOU CAN'T SEE THE GROOVE).
> 
>  >>> I think this may be the problem.  I don't have my SU books handy, but IIRC you should set the top of the groove level with the bottom of the piston.  I remember doing just this and it made a difference, esp. 
> at idle.
> 
> ON THE JAGS, I SWITCHED TO A 35 GAP WITH THE SPORTS COIL OVER A 25 GAP AS THIS SEEMED TO BE THE RECOMMENDED APPROACH.  DO YOU THINK A LARGER GAP WOULD HELP?
> 
>  >>> I'd try a little smaller gap, just to see.  Also, if you have the original coil and it was working, I'd slap it back in.
> 
> Bob
> 
> 
> On 8/13/2017 9:47 PM, Bob England wrote:
> > Bob
> >
> > See notes in CAPS below ....
> >
> > Thanks.
> >
> > BobE
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Healeys [mailto:healeys-bounces at autox.team.net] On Behalf Of Bob 
> > Spidell
> > Sent: August 13, 2017 6:31 PM
> > To: healeys at autox.team.net
> > Subject: Re: [Healeys] Carb Adjustment Help Requested - BJ8 MkIII
> >
> > How do you know you're running rich; is the car blowing black smoke, 
> > even when warmed-up with the choke off?
> > YUP.  IF I SET THE IDLE UP AROUND 1200rpm, BLACK SMOKE STOPS.
> >
> > Where did you set the needles in the vacuum pistons?
> >
> > BOTTOM GROOVE ON NEEDLE JUST ABOVE BOTTOM OF PISTON (SO YOU CAN'T SEE 
> > THE GROOVE).
> >
> > Sounds to me like your floats are set too high; take the dashpots off 
> > and see where the top of the jets are relative to the jet bridge, and 
> > where the fuel level is inside the jet with the pump on (don't leave 
> > the key in the 'on' position for long when the engine isn't running 
> > lest you fry your Pertronix).
> >
> > FLOATS COULD BE HIGH.  I THOUGHT THEY WERE LOW SO I ADJUSTED THEM 
> > HIGHER (USING 7/16" TEST BAR).
> > WHERE SHOULD THE FUEL LEVEL BE INSIDE THE JET WITH THE PUMP ON?
> >
> > Did you inspect the jet diaphragms when you had the carbs apart?
> >
> > I DID INDEED.  THEY LOOKED GOOD.
> >
> > If the car sat for a long time they could have cracked; if so you'll 
> > never get the mixture set right.
> >
> > FWIW, I have a BJ8 with DWR-1 cam and Pertronix and the idle--at 750 
> > give-or-take--is a bit lopey but solid (I gap my plugs at 0.028").
> > There were some bad Sports Coils going around, and I'd stick to 
> > Champion or NGK plugs.
> >
> > I MAY SWITCH TO THE CHAMPION.  I'VE HEARD THAT FOR SOME REASON 
> > CHAMPIONS ARE A SWEET SPOT FOR THE CARS.
> > ON THE JAGS, I SWITCHED TO A 35 GAP WITH THE SPORTS COIL OVER A 25 GAP 
> > AS THIS SEEMED TO BE THE RECOMMENDED APPROACH.  DO YOU THINK A LARGER 
> > GAP WOULD HELP?
> >
> > I THINK, LOOKING BACK, WHEN I PICKED UP THE CAR IN MAY THE IDLE WAS 
> > LOPEY AS YOU DESCRIBE.  ON A RECENT 500km ROUND TRIP, BY THE TIME I 
> > GOT HOME THE CAR WAS MISSING (HENCE THE START OF MY JOURNEY TO ADJUST THINGS).
> >
> > Timing for a BJ8 is set at 15deg BTDC at 600RPM with vacuum advance 
> > pipe disconnected and port on carb plugged (doesn't make much difference).
> >
> > Bob
> >
> > On 8/13/2017 4:20 PM, David Porter wrote:
> >> what are the compression numbers? Timing is set at 750RPM and 6 
> >> degrees BTDC. Is it better or worse with chokes engaged? DP
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> On 8/13/2017 3:23 PM, Bob England wrote:
> >>> I've had a rough idle in the car since we picked it up in May and it 
> >>> seems to have gotten worse ever so slightly since then.
> >>>
> >>> I've putzed around trying the easy stuff and finally got the bullet 
> >>> and pulled the carbs yesterday (that was fun!) as one of the carb 
> >>> pistons was sticking ever so slightly.  Stripped the carbs except 
> >>> for the throttle shaft and found the floats were set a bit low.  Put 
> >>> it all back together and still having an issue as she is running 
> >>> quite rich, hence the call for help.
> >>>
> >>> Car: late '64 build BJ8 MkIII
> >>> Carbs : HD8 (I think they were new about 15 years ago - not original 
> >>> to car).
> >>> Cam : Dennis Welch DWR-1 (installed about 15 years ago).
> >>> Distributor : stock with Petronix Ignitor (Petronix installed last 
> >>> weekend in the hopes it would help).  New rotor.
> >>> Coil : Lucas Sportcoil
> >>> Plugs : new Autolite gapped at 25 (installed a couple of weekends
> >>> ago) Timing : 15 degrees with strobe (my attempt at static timing 
> >>> was a dismal failure!).
> >>>
> >>> I set the carbs as per the manual - 3.5 turns open on the idle trim 
> >>> screws and 2.5 turn rich on the jet adjusting screw.  Fast idle 
> >>> adjusting screw completely off of the cam lobe.
> >>>
> >>> The best I can get it is with the jets totally lean (i.e. not 
> >>> sitting on the cam lobe) and the fast idle screws setting the idle speed.
> >>> Idle trim screws backed way out with little impact on idle.  Carbs 
> >>> are still running rich.
> >>>
> >>> I think I have memorized the adjustment procedure from the manuals I 
> >>> read them so many time - (Bentley, BMC, and Haynes), and Norman 
> >>> Nock's wonderful collection of papers.
> >>>
> >>> Should I be going to a leaner needle in the carbs?  Or am I just 
> >>> screwing up somewhere?  This is my first attempt at adjusting SU's 
> >>> and I'm not too happy with what I have done so far.
> >>>
> >>> Any and all suggestions appreciated (except maybe if I have to yank 
> >>> the carbs again).
> >>>
> >>> Thanks in advance.
> >>>
> >>> Bob England
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >
> >
> 
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