grumpy in the morning

[apache]

Getting a tad difficult to start these days, spins over ok and voltage looks good but the bugger won't fire up and when it does it dies again. Could this be a sign of the battery dying?

[beano500]

Probably - otherwise..... ignition coil and amplifier, maybe?

I remember last year I had a tired battery after a fortnights holiday in January. RAC man got it started and as soon as he disconnected the van it would die. We replaced the battery and it was fine. Battery was only two years old, but I reckon they get a pretty hard life

[simpo two]

But once the engine's started it's generating its own electricity for the sparks, no? That's when the battery sits back for a rest and waits to be recharged...

[beano500]

Yeah, but, no, but, yeah, but....

At idle, you're not going to be generating enough oooomph, are you?

At least that's the conclusion we came to when the RAC man pulled his plug.....

....oo er!

[Edt]

beano500 said:

Yeah, but, no, but, yeah, but.... At idle, you're not going to be generating enough oooomph, are you? At least that's the conclusion we came to when the RAC man pulled his plug..... ....oo er!

battery's the easy and 'cheap' thing to try first. Got a new one the other week, now turns over better when fans spinning.

Regards, Ed

[apache]

mmmmn, now I come to think of it the revs drop right off when the fans cut in too

[Steve_T]

Get a Halfwit's guaranteed battery (three years) and if you kill it in two, get another free. Two years is not an uncommon lifetime for batteries in tivs.

Steve.

[Steve_T]

Totally, the alternator's output depends on engine speed, so the battery will be discharging at idle.

Steve.

beano500 said:

Yeah, but, no, but, yeah, but.... At idle, you're not going to be generating enough oooomph, are you? At least that's the conclusion we came to when the RAC man pulled his plug..... ....oo er!

[shpub]

It's those new fangled carbs.... Work of the devil you know!

I would check that old favourite the alternator fuse as this can go partially open and cause problems where you think everything is fine but the battery doesn't get fully charged.

Might be worth charging the battery to see if that restores the starting health. If not it could be a fault somewhere else that is screwing things up. It is getting warmer so it could be something like a temp problem causing the auto choke on those carbs to enrich the fuel too much. Could also be a setting issue.

I would check the battery and alternator first though. It's easier and cheaper.

[Heliox]

Apache, give us another look at those carbs please, you havent got a pic of your setup on your profile.

come on pleasssse

h

[simpo two]

It's true that if you start it and leave it at tickover it probably isn't charging the battery. I heard that if you gave it a small bootful of revs and let it settle, that kicks the alternator into life - but I stand to be corrected.

[apache]

heliox, go to my website for pics.

simpo2 yeah that was the case for mechanical regulators but not modern solid state stuff

shpub, cheers, will check link

[2 sheds]

simpo two said:

It's true that if you start it and leave it at tickover it probably isn't charging the battery. I heard that if you gave it a small bootful of revs and let it settle, that kicks the alternator into life - but I stand to be corrected.

Thats correct for some alternators. Most will charge at idle from start up.

[Heliox]

Ahhhhh,cheers I needed that.

off to get slaughtered now.

h

[rev-erend]

Apache - I was talking with cirks last night. His 450 se runs 4 * carbs too and he said he gets loads of fuel vaporization - so much so that he leaves the garage door open until it closes - this would mean that you carbs would need a time period to refill the carb float bowl chambers before you turn the key.

This could be your problem.

[2 sheds]

The float chambers shouldn't allow much evaporation, the smell is probably just fuel sitting in the venturi.
Tim

[starmist]

Tim,

On another topic, just since I thought about it, I'm a bit concerned about mutterings I'm hearing about tricky throttle control with the triple plenum. What are your thoughts on this?

[apache]

well, I took the battery out to get it load checked, and found the pos terminal was loose, hopefully that'll sort things out

[2 sheds]

starmist said:

Tim, On another topic, just since I thought about it, I'm a bit concerned about mutterings I'm hearing about tricky throttle control with the triple plenum. What are your thoughts on this?

I think it takes some getting used to, basically its much quicker throttle response, IMO very controlable, i've never had direct negative comments, so not sure exactly what has been said.
3 small throttles will be better than one large if we are talking about drivability, and we can fit smaller throttles, people normally want 3x 50mm throttles as this gives plenty of scope for further tuning.

Happy to discuss this further

Tim

[starmist]

Will stick with the triples, Tim. Any word on expected delivery to me, yet?