QuestionQUESTION: Barry,
I have been restoring a 1976 MG Midget. I purchased a freshly rebuilt 1500 motor. I have the engine installed but I havent installed the alt, or any of the other accesories such as gulp tank or emissions. I seem to be getting fire out of the dizzy to the plugs but I cant get her to start. My dizzy doesnt have points. Am I suppose to float the dizzy? I read something about this and was courious if this could be my problem. Thanks For taking the time to read my question.
Mike
ANSWER: Hi Mike. I don't claim to be an expert on the 1500 engine fitted to the later Midgets, but my advice is:
So long as there are no air leaks from unplugged hoses etc. the engine should run. If it doesn't run, then something is wrong. You have a spark from the electronic distributor, but it needs to be timed in. Are you sure that the spark to #1 cylinder happens when the engine is roughly at TDC and both the inlet and the exhaust valves are shut? It is possible to install the dizzy 180 degrees out.
Sorry, but I have never heard of the expression `float the dizzy' so I cannot advise on this.
Hope this helps.
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QUESTION: Barrie,
Thanks so much for the quick response, but here is what I have now. The engine is in time correctly now. My battery is fully charged and holding a charge. I put a new one in along with a new starter. When I take out my spark plugs the motor turns over fine with less than 1 to 1.5 decrease in volts reading from my battery and starter is only dropping my battery volt by less than 1 volt when cranking the engine without plugs. When I put my plugs back in "BOOM" when cranking the engine it turns over nicely for 2 to 3 revolutions then it is like my battery is going dead. Starter is only pulling about 5 to 6 volts by this time. Sorry to bother you with this, but I am completely stumped on this one and I refuse to let someone else fire this thing up for me. I started this over project over 6 years ago and I am to close to conquering it. Please advise me if you can.
Sincerely,
Mike
AnswerHi Mike
When you operate the starter with the plugs in, the engine puts a much greater load on the starter motor, so it takes a much bigger current. This normally pulls the voltage down from 13 volts to about 8 or 9 volts. Your figure of 5 or 6 volts is too low.
I would guess that either your battery is weak, or you have a bad earth connection (could be battery-to-earth or engine-to-earth).
You can diagnose the problem by switching the headlamps on, and then using the starter. My guess is the headlamps will go very dim when you operate the key. Next, take a battery jumper lead and connect it directly from the negative (earth/ground) side of the battery to one of the cylinder head nuts on the engine. Now operate the starter. The engine should turn over much quicker and may even fire and run.
If all this makes no difference, then you have a weak battery. It may hold charge, but if it cannot deliver a high current then it needs to be replaced.
