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MG Midget and Sprite General - We have startage!!

Joyful news! After much fettling, and the discovery of revolting old fuel in the float chambers, and by feeding him clean fuel through a syringe - Fidget sprang into life!! So - carbs need stripping down and cleaning in a big way, but everything else that was supposed to work - does work - spark/timing etc.

Video uploading - complete with joyful squeal. Will upload it once it's cooked!

I'm not ashamed to say that I had a tear or two to brush off my cheeks!!
Ally

Well done and best of luck in future
Robert (Bob) Midget Turbo

http://m277.photobucket.com/albumview/albums/allygau/VIDEO0012.mp4.html?o=0&newest=1
Ally

Great job Ally,

Now thats how you start .off a saterday morning

I wouldnt blush over the tear... I to cried like a little girl on new years eve when i got my new engine running and driving down the road for the 1 st time

Seriously i thank it happens far more often then many will admit.

Agian congrats....there is nothing like that moment when it 1st comes to life esp after along struggle.



Enjoy the day and your victory

Prop
Pro P

Here here, I got my midget engine running a week or so back after a rebuild. Didn't cry but was very pleased. It made a fight out of it until the old mechanic I work with walked in, twisted the distributor to where it should have been and it sprang into life. I was beaming like a cheshire cat.....until he took it for a test drive and told me the diff is knackered....now I feel like crying. lol
J White

Ally - no video showing for me here in deepest Devon
Dave - bits arrived to refit head but kids now playing up - Price
Dave Price

That's great news Ally!
Simples! Innit?

Thought you said that had already put fresh petrol in?
Guy

Well done. Motivation no doubt restored.

Doubt it was much to do with a just few months old fuel.

What was the prime cause? Blocked jet fuel line?
Lawrence Slater

There was fresh petrol as far as the fuel line into the carbs - but the stuff in the float chambers was ancient. Once we'd removed it, cleaned out one of the carbs, and forced fresh stuff in there - it fired straight up. Going to strip down both carbs and give them a good scrub, and buy a a new section of pipe to replace the t-shaped bit, which was rock hard, and disintegrated as we fiddled.

Still not 100% sure what and where the blockage is - but at least we've narrowed it down a bit now!

Ally

Is there a specific name for the t-shaped bit of pipe, or is it just a case of buying a length of pipe and making it up to the right configuration. See image if I'm not making sense!

Ally

If the float chambers were already full, then putting any amount of fresh fuel into the tank wouldn't have been introducing new yummy fuel into the cylinders for starting. The Start Ya Bastard would probably have got it fired up and once running, the fresh fuel would then begin to come through. A easy alternative may have been to empty the float chambers with a plastic syringe - a useful addition to the toolbox for this and many other uses on the car. But, job done anyway, so well done with that!

I think that the T piece and pipes that you are referring to is part of the pipe system for the oil vapour breather between inlet manifold and rocker box cover. Nothing to do with fuel delivery, but not a bad idea to replace them anyway if they are that bad. Pipes often go hard with the heat from the manifold + age.
Guy

We did syringe out the old stuff, then introduced the good stuff - at which it leapt into life!

That was the bit I meant (shows you exactly how clueless I am really!) - it snapped anyway whilst we were fiddling, so needs to be replaced.
Ally

Ally,
I quite like using Susses Classic Cars for on-line ordering. Mainly because they have such good clear photos of the parts so you can see exactly what the bit is like and compare with the broken part in your hand! And Greg there is also always helpful if you phone him.

This looks like what you want:

http://www.sussexclassiccar.co.uk/shop_factory_hazel/contents/en-uk/d862_01.html

Guy

Laughing - I was on exactly that page, looking at the same bits! Sussex Classic car parts is my favourite place for new bits!
Ally

yes, definitely a good firm to deal with and the pictures really help!

Couldn't get to see your video though?

Guy
Guy

Nice one Ally,good to hear your getting there.
Keith Davies

Guy,

I live near(ish), sussex classic cars, and mean to take a trip there to see what's what sometime.

Do they stock quality parts, --- generally?
Lawrence Slater

Lawrence - I've used them for a long time for bits for my F, and always found them very reasonably priced, and the parts are good quality, delivered very quickly. I object violently to using another well known supplier of MGF parts, for a number of reasons - and Sussex get my vote for the range of parts and the service. Even more so now I have the Midget as well and know they cater for both.
Ally

Thanks Ally, that's good to hear.

I'll check em out soon then, as I need a few things.
Lawrence Slater

great news Ally



now IT starts

(the rest of the game)

And IT is worth doing as you will see when you get "him?" out and about

Happy weekend :)
Bill1

A different link to the same video - this might work better!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hmrFqPU2bU

I'm all psyched up for another day of Fidget Middling. As well as business end stuff, I was looking underneath it yesterday while the wheels were off for the last bits of welding, and it looks very sound, but scruffy. I feel a couple of cans of smooth black hammerite and a wire brush coming on!
Ally

Hmmm.

Might I suggest sacking the producer and cameraman/woman? :)

It would have been far more interesting, if the plastic petrol can slowly slid out of view or something. lol

Sounds pretty good though.
Lawrence Slater

That Noah Vs Rainex video was entertaining though.
Gary & Gaps

I know my camera work was shoddy Lawrence. Can I claw back some credibility with the attached - an atmospheric little number - even though I do say so myself!

Noah v Rain-x has been a minor sensation Gary - mainly amongst those who know Noah, and how badly that will have dented his pride. Am currently uploading "Waking up the neighbours" which will probably get me arrested!







Ally

Better your car gets probed by ET then you, it hurts...hahaha

I loved the sound qaulity of the vid, but the petro cans theatrical performance could have been better...was it his 1 st movie acting gig

Prop
Pro P

Ha ha. Yes, a ghostly midget rising from the dead. :)
Lawrence Slater

Any tips for getting the nasty burnt on blackness off the carbs. Been scrubbing away at them for 2 days now, and am not getting very far. The internal are all sparkly now, but I'm starting to get all OCD about the outsides. If a jobs worth doing etc etc...
Ally

Have you tried the commercially available spray-on carb cleaners? They usually work pretty well.
Guy

Yes - but admittedly - the Halfrauds own brand one. It does an excellent job of burning like fire in all the war wounds on my hands from the weekends activity - but is having little effect on the black bits!

Perhaps I need to invest a little more coinage into something a bit more effective.
Ally

There is a metal cleaner made for alloy wheels - I think it is a Swarfega product. Its pretty effective although quite fierce! I have only ever seen available from motor factors in 5 litre cans as its really a trade product. Just don't leave your carbs submerged in it overnight or you will wonder where they have gone in the morning!
Guy

Use a simple wire wool brillo pad, and or a coarse pan scourer.

You could just use plain wire wool (the type plumbers use), but Brillo is good because of the impregnated soap.

Then if you really want a metal polish. But ally oxides and to retainb the shine you'll have to re-polish or coat with a clear heatproof laquer.
Lawrence Slater

Thanks chaps. I've got brillo pads, so will try them tonight, and have ordered some Swarfega metal cleaner and restorer. There's so much crud everywhere on the car, that 5l seems like a perfectly sensible amount to have!
Ally

Ally,
Check what it is you have ordered.
Swarfega do an Alloy cleaner - which is what I was referring to. They also do something called "Metal cleaner and restorer". I have cans of both in the garage. The label on the Metal cleaner and restorer says DO NOT use on Magnesium Alloys ...

Sorry if my message wasn't clear I see I did refer to a metal cleaner, but did also say "for alloy wheels".

From what you have said, you may want the metal cleaner for other jobs anyway. It is an acid (probably phosphoric acid) which dissolves rust and also removes grease and oils so pretty good for immersing rusty steel parts prior to painting. Just not for your carbs! - it will eat the alloy and brass bits and do them no good at all!
Guy

Well spotted Guy! I'm trying to multi task - and failing miserably. You were perfectly clear - I just found the metal cleaner and restorer and thought it looked like the right sort of stuff.

Have ordered the alloy stuff as well - all I need now is that can of Start Ya Bastard, and my noxious chemicals shelf will be complete!
Ally

Beginning to wish I hadn't started this particular job!

Ally

Put them in the dishwasher
Guy

They have been in the dishwasher!! The one one on the right is how they both looked when they came out - and is a huge improvement on how they were before!

Hoping and praying for no meetings this week! My nails are not acceptable for any self-respecting PR person!
Ally

LOL !

I would soak them in paraffin, rinse under a tap and then put them back in the dishwasher for another hot wash. It can't do any harm and should loosen up some of the remaining crud
Guy

Another useful home appliance for this is an electric toothbrush. Preferably one that you don't intend to use again!
Guy

I've been rifling through the cupboard under the sink trying to decide what to attack them with next! Paraffin sounds like a plan! Definitely up for another go with the services of Mrs Phillips!

The one on the left is the result of several hours with carb cleaner and a toothbrush - it's better, but still not as I want it! Have a horrible feeling that I have released an OCD cleaning monster!

Plan to rope in the assistance of the sullen one has backfired spectacularly. Blasted child has fractured his wrist playing rugby!!
Ally

One step ahead of you Guy! Already been using an electric toothbrush that has previously been used to clean window frames and taps. Perhaps I should invest in a plaque removing one!!
Ally

This thread was discussed between 10/12/2011 and 13/12/2011

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