Chim not starting

[u63af]

Hi, I started my chim the other day in the freezing cold and it started fine, but today it seems to almost start and just keep coughing and flooding itself! There seems to be a strong spark coming from the coil but the spark from the plug is weak! I have replaced the rotor arm and cleaned the cap but it is still not starting! Any ideas?
Cheers
Sandy

[Cider Andy]

Here's a couple of things to try for starters.

If it's flooding you'll need to at least remove, clean and dry the plugs and you may find they need replacing.

Try starting it in the dark and watch for sparks escaping from the HT leads. If you have a strong spark at the coil but not at the plugs, this could also be the reason.

Also check the condition of the electrodes in the distributor cap and look for 'tracking' in there (very fine black lines running away from the electrodes). If there are any it will need replacing. If it does need replacing, try to find an original Lucas item. Some of the pattern replacements do not work very well. Same goes for the rotor arm. The Lucas items cost more as they're obsolete, but they will work properly.

[ATG]

given that removing the sparks is a bit of a pig, would it be worth restricting the fuel supply then cranking the engine to try to dry the cylinders out first, before resorting to removing the plugs?

[u63af]

Cheers for the help. Got it started last night eventually. Removed the plugs again and blasted a hair dryer through the open throttle body for 25 mins. Started perfectly. think the moral of the story is not to give any throttle when starting it in the cold. Those manifolds were pissing me off especially when i dropped my spark plug socket under it and it got lodged on the body underneath. But then when i drove it I realised why its so good again.