MG Car Repair: 1971 MG Midget, bright sun light, car coasts

Question
Hello sir.
My 71 Midget will start up, run anywhere between 20 seconds to 5 minutes, then stalls out. Even when i give it gas it will chug and then stall. It starts no problem, i just had to carbs cleaned out and that didn't fix it. Any idea what it could be? Thanks

Kyle

Answer
Hi Kyle,
When an engine stops running it has lost either compression, fire or fuel so it is your job to determine which is lost at the exact time it shuts down.
First test the compression on a warmed up engine. It should be from 135 to 180 PSI with little difference between cylinders. (be sure the throttle is opened during the tests)

Connect a "T" in the fuel line close to the front carburetor and run a long hose out from under the hood and put the pressure gauge under a wiper so you can read it when driving. It should read from 1.5 to 3 PSI at the time of failure. (be sure to put clamps at each joint)

Connect a timing light to the coil wire (not a plug wire) and run the timing light out from under the hood and place the timing light under a wiper arm and if it is bright sun light, tape a piece of cardboard over the end of the light so you can see the flash when driving. Tape the trigger down so the light will flash all the time and note when the engine cuts off if the light keeps flashing as the car coasts to a stop.

This will narrow your problem into a smaller area so it might be found as your present symptom only narrows your problem to about one million things.
Howard