My Nippy sat for a few months while I was dealing with a heart valve operation.
When I finally got to drive it, (two weeks before the Doctor \'suggested\') it ran very well.
The next day it wouldn\'t idle. It quit at every stop, but would start up instantly.
I checked and cleaned the jets on the bottom of the float bowl...twice.
Checked for a loose ignition wire, found none.
Used my high-tech I/R pistol-type thermometer to verify the spark plugs were the same temp, and therefore all firing.
I\'m sure I can find the problem eventually, but I figure you guys can save me a lot of time.




.........................................if I can translate it to \'American\'.

Location: Orlando

Check if the carb is properly tight to the manifold. I had a similar problem and it turned out I hadn't tightened it enough. It was only a minuscule adjustment, but it made a difference...Worthwhile checking, anyway!

Location: Herefordshire, land of many Fs

Thanks Slowbasil!

It sounded like just the thing and I ran out to the garage just as soon as I got home from the Doctor's office.

Didn't help.

Should have changed clothes first.......

Many thanks anyway!

Location: Orlando

Are you sure the petrol has not gone off during its long stay in thr tank Gordy?

Location: Bristol

Gordy,
Is the butterfly spindle worn? Has the butterfly come loose in the spindle? A recent problem I have had is the rotor arm being a sloppy fit on the distributor shaft causing backfiring and not ticking over. Cured with insulation tape to take up the slack between rotor arm and shaft.Another recent problem was worn distributor gears causing erratic running(worn to a knife edge.)
Cheers,
Dave.

Location: Sheffield, the home of Hendersons Relish.

Hi Gordy. If I understand it, it was OK for one day after its hibernation, then not OK the next day. That would seem to rule out anything that deteriorates gradually. The idling circuit in the carb has some pretty tiny passages, so some dirt or a flake of corrosion may have got lodged somewhere other than the main and progression jets which you have already cleaned. I suggest it may be worth removing the idling mixture adjustment screw, and having a blow through all the accessible holes with a garage air line before replacing the screw. Count the turns as you remove it, so you can get back to more or less the original setting. Be aware that many people (including myself)find that the idle mixture adjustment on these carbs makes little or no difference to the running, and some have even cast doubt on whether they did much even when they were new !

Location: New Forest, UK

Hi Ian!
(We have to stop meeting this way!)
It certainly could be bad gas. Maybe this one time where petrol sounds better.
I only have 1/4 tank now, so topping it off should make it good enough. Easiest way would be to drive to the gas station and top it off.
...................I may be missing something.



Dave,
It HAS been backfiring more lately!
The rotor does seem a bit loose.
Tried the electrical tape thing. Didn't change anything, but I'm not convinced that that isn't the problem. I'm not ruling out the distributor just yet.

John,
I agree with you that working well one day and not the next suggests the carb. I DO have a 25 gallon (very noisy) compressor. I just ran out and turned on the A/C in the garage. Not really pertinent, but I'm just so happy to have a garage, and now it's air conditioned!

Thanks guys!

Location: Orlando

John,
You win a pint of Guinness the next time you're in Orlando!
I went through the carb cleaning everything. also, I noticed some idiot left out a number of gaskets and/or sealer.
The car runs nicely now.

Thanks!

Location: Orlando