Starting when hot and idle matters

[TomTom]

This just follows on from the last post.

I have just swapped my sloppy carbs for some reconditioned ones, and at the same time put on the plastic air box that came on the last B20 Amazons and the 140.

Although I have more pep, I now have hot starting problems and a rough idle, so rough that when sitting in traffic it just gets slower and slower and then conks out, unless I step on the accelerator. The hot starting is worse the more I drive, i.e. after 2-3 minutes it's OK, after 20 almost impossible to start without pushing right down on the accelerator.

I'm taking it to someone who knows next week, and I'll post any findings. I hope it's not a part of the carb that needs replacing, but more the need for a good tune and balance.

Tom

[stuart131]

Im sorry that I cant be more help at the moment ,have been racking my brains .Im copying your post and will ask around this weekend for you .I still think its fuel related ....are you sure the fuel filters arent blocked ? ie slower and slower tick over ,left for few minutes and the fuel seeps through again giving enough to start up again?On the move there may be enough pressure to keep it flowing ?? I have had this happen on my Consul (with the essex V6)

Any other suggestions Ill post on Monday or before .
best regards

[TomTom]

Hi Stuart

I've already checked with the main Amazon specialist-garages and got some tips, but if you're talking to owners then this might bring up some useful suggestions. THanks,

Tom

[stuart131]

just wondered how you got on ? all sorted ? what was it ?

[TomTom]

Thanks for checking. The garage that eventually took this on said that the carbs were adjusted much too rich. They leaned them down, did a tune up and the dying/hot starting problem has not resurfaced.

However, as with all good improvements, another problem cropped up immediately, which is that the choke pulled on in the morning does not make the engine revs go up enough. The engine gurgles and starts to die.

I am informed that this is because the fast idle is not set properly and it is not bringing the revs up. I have to push the choke fully in once started. This is OK, but makes for poor pulling in the first few minutes. I did try to adjust the fast idle screw (pointing up at an angle on the carbs) but this produced an extremely high normal idle when warmed up, so I adjusted it back again.

I hate it when I have some knowledge, but not enough to tinker successfully. Oh well, at least it's running.

Tom

[stuart131]

Hi Tom and thanks for reply ,
Glad its pretty much sorted ,like you say at least its running so a few moments of gas before driving off is small price to pay I suppose .Dont worry bout the knowledge thing ,you know far more than I do !luckily Ive got a "friendly" garage bloke locally whose brain I can use instead of mine . Comments like "what the **** do you want this time ? a bulb changing?" and worse dont put me off as he knows his stuff and the car always comes away fully cured and tuned up as a matter of course (he doesnt charge for the tune up either so cant be all bad ) .

Glad you are on the road again

best regards

[Stuart Read]

Tom

There's a separate adjusting screw for increasing the revs when the choke is on. The choke cable pulls up a cam which acts on a screw to increase the idle. If the screw is too far away from the cam, it won't increase the idle. This is completely different from the normal idle adjusting screw.

Hope this adds a little. . .

Regards

Stuart