Hello and question regarding fuses.

[pringle1988]

Hello all,

Last year I decided it was about time I got into a kit car. Ive always wanted one but couldn't really justify 2 cars. Anyway one came up for sale on ebay with no reserve and it wasn't too far away from me. Before having a bid I went to see the car and it was pretty much what I was wanting (lotus 7 replica).

Admittedly it is at the cheaper end of the Lotus 7 replicas and doesnt have the best finishing touches in the world but for the price I paid im happy

I went and picked up the car on a trailer as I didnt know how it would perform on a long run. Once home I took it for a drive and the thrill is amazing! It does run a little hot but I have a few ideas on how to solve this. It also does have a little bit of an idle issue it seems to idle on three cylinders now but drives on four, now I think this is down to it having motorbike carbs on it and them not being set up. I am thinking of putting a regular Weber carb on though but would like some opinions on this?

Anyway cue this year. I had the battery off the car over winter and have just connected it back up and there seems to be no live to the ignition barrel. Ive checked all connections and they seem fine. I decided to run a new live to the barrel and its all good again, so there could be a breakdown in the wire maybe?

My question is though if I was to run a new live does it come from the battery straight to the ignition barrel, or go through a fuse first? If so what sort of amps are we talking?

Sorry for the long winded message just wanted to give you all some background, and its probably a simle questing but when it comes to car electrics im not too good haha

Many thanks

[Steve_D]

Normally the live to the Ignition switch is unfused and is very heavy gauge.
Before you replace the existing you need to find where the existing wire starts from as you potentially have a wire that may short out somewhere.
It is not uncommon for the main positive cable to go from battery to starter solenoid then the ignition supply come from there.

Steve

[TheLastPost]

In terms of your other question:

pringle1988 said:

...now I think this is down to it having motorbike carbs on it and them not being set up. I am thinking of putting a regular Weber carb on though but would like some opinions on this?

If you're in the North East, you're not too far from the world experts in bike carburettor conversions, Bogg Brothers at East Lutton, near Scarborough.

Their website suggests that they specialise more in the fabrication side of things these days, but if just 10% of Old Man Bogg's knowledge of carburretors has rubbed off on his sons, they'll be able to sort you out.

I'd be more inclined to sort out your existing problems (both electrics and carburettors) than bodging on replacements. As Steve says, trace the existing wire rather than simply bypass it: if wires stop conducting electricity, there's always a reason for it!

[migwell2]

Just a thought , have you connected battery up correctly? I have seen in the past a battery reconnected on a escort loom incorrectly, obviously the main red and black are simple but the small wire that also go to battery are these on the correct terminals?

I had a customer connect the black thin wire to earth and car wouldn't go, had tow'd in and all it was this wire should have gone to red, !! just worth checking 1st

[ch427]

its not unusual for the manufacturer to put a large fuse in the loom somewhere to protect it, can you get any info for the car from owners clubs etc?
Someone should know where the fuse is if it has one fitted, it cant be that difficult to locate if not by tracing the original feed back.

[AdiT]

migwell2 said:

Just a thought , have you connected battery up correctly? I have seen in the past a battery reconnected on a escort loom incorrectly, obviously the main red and black are simple but the small wire that also go to battery are these on the correct terminals?

I had a customer connect the black thin wire to earth and car wouldn't go, had tow'd in and all it was this wire should have gone to red, !! just worth checking 1st

I'll second that. It was a common mistake people made on some Fords. Main battery cable was red and earth black but they had a thin black that goes to positive; Attach that to earth and it won't go. If the car has a modified loom from the donor you might have done the same.

[pringle1988]

Thank you very much for your replies. Il definitely check out the wiring to the solenoid, I have quite a few cables on the battery terminals so when I took the battery out I taped them together so they wouldn't mix up, im fairly confident that I havent wired it wrong but its worth a look too.

Thanks again everyone