[Mgs] MGA sputtering engine

[Simon Matthews]

Did you try replacing the condenser again? I think these often fail
when almost new (that's why I don't normally replace them).

Simon

On Mon, Nov 9, 2009 at 2:21 PM, Robert J. Guinness
<guinness at stclegal.com> 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?