simple things in life

simple things in life

Author
Discussion

jamiebrodie

Original Poster:

44 posts

253 months

Tuesday 18th April 2006
quotequote all
has anybody ever found themselves sitting idly in the back of their Geep on a rainy day marveling at the genius and simplicity of the soft-top mechanics?

.....or is it just me?

Trextr7monkey

171 posts

259 months

Tuesday 18th April 2006
quotequote all
Ha
Lost me as soon as I got to the "sitting idly" section!!!!!!

(I wish!)
I think you are on your own there!!
Will you be sitting in there at Stoneleigh?
Hopefully see you then

jamiebrodie

Original Poster:

44 posts

253 months

Tuesday 18th April 2006
quotequote all
thought it was just me!

im 95% sure ill be at Stoneleigh in one form or another, ive only had this Geep a few days and although i got her 60 miles home she hasnt earnt 100% trust yet.

Im hoping to get a carburettor tune done before the show or does anyone here have any advice on giving my carb a home tune-up? I have no experience fiddling with carbs and mine runs ok, but did backfire on me on the motorway with a total loss of power (a fuel blockage perhaps) and tends to carry on spluttering after i have turned off the ignition. It a 1.3 xflow.

driftwood

531 posts

248 months

Wednesday 19th April 2006
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I guess a lot of us on here were born at a time when most cars had an engine that pointed the right way for a start, attached to a gearbox that had a long round tube of metal coming out the other end which was linked to a back axle which we called rear wheel drive and thought nothing of it. A metal box to put petrol in which had a tube coming out of its bottom (stop it everyone) to a pump that was either activated via the engine or an electric jobby. Before the petrol could get to the engine, it had to go through what was commonly known as a carburetor.
I seem to recall in the 60's, if the weather was to hot, I'd suffer with carb probs, if the weather was too cold, I'd suffer from carb probs. Automatic chokes came along later and to some were a pain in the arse. Much easier to pull a choke cable out.
Unfortunately for me I was never encouraged to use a meccano set and no-one in the family was mechanicaly orientated, so the fairly regular breakdowns I either had to learn the hard way, or spend money at the garage.
In 'those days' I seem to recall the man of the house with his head under the bonnet on a saturday....ready to take the family out on the sunday, or they did along the road where I lived anyway. I also seem to recall the 'reliabilty' of the cars of those days somewhat questionable. OK, 'modern' cars have their problems but when compared to the good old days.....
Due to my own personal circumstances, I need a reliable motor. With my limited mechanical knowledge as well, I therefore drive a fairly new eurobox (well Korean box) car. But......boring??????

Ownership of a Jago is having fun with a kit car in what is now 2006 but using the mechanics and technology, which although Noah would have been chuffed to bits to have had in his Ark, of thirty/forty years ago. At least with the mechanics of our Jagos, problems can usually be fixed with spanners, wrenches and an oily rag....whereas 'modern' cars seem to have an engine somewhere hidden under a moulded plastic cover, pipework that an oil refinery would be proud of, and the only thing handy is the terminal to plug the fault finding computer into.

No Jamie...you're not the only one thinking like that!

jon4648

161 posts

241 months

Friday 21st April 2006
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Jamie,

Spluttering on after the ignition is switched off - was an Escort problem. Fords solution was to fit an anti-diesel valve on Escorts - just live with it.

jon

jamiebrodie

Original Poster:

44 posts

253 months

Friday 21st April 2006
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cheers John, if i pull the choke it cuts right out anyway.

smj

38 posts

230 months

Saturday 22nd April 2006
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just read driftwoods last post about the good old days, my first 13 cars were minis, so basically lucas electrics, rust and bodges!!!! He is right about fixing yourself, being a fellow cornishman we haven't got the money to stick the car in the garage( all the upshires nick the good jobs when they emigrate here!!!!!).
Compared to the mini i think the ford stuff the jago is made out is brilliant, my jago has a pinto with a big twin choke solex strapped to it, a range rover tank lashed in the back end of the chassis, points condenser and rotor arm ignition, half a dozen fuses and about 8 wires, its great

drseg

494 posts

251 months

Saturday 22nd April 2006
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do you know what escort its based on mk 1 or 2?
mk 2's had an anti dieseling valve cos their mixture was as weak as could be
that doesnt really apply to backfiring on the motorway though
plugs points leads cap rotor arm checked and changed first
then start it at night in the dark and have a look see if you can see any stray ignition sparks flying about
check timing
with cap off check theres a spring loading of the dizzy rotor [they can seize]
check compression as burnt none sealing valves can allow unburnt fuel into exhaust which can then be ignited by hot gasses
check valve clearances too rule of 9 applies 1 down set 8 2 down set 7 3-6 4-5 5-4 etc
get some carb cleaner add it do a really good one spray liberally and clean whatevers dirty
get hold of relevant escort manual check carb section and check float level in carb some are fixed some adjustable also see if fuels coming out of the overflow on carb cos if float is damaged and not working [same as a ball cock on a toilet cistern] makes mixture rich which will allow unburnt fuel into exhaust
air filter check replace etc
check all holes in manifold are sealed have something attatched vaccuum advance tubes always gave me hassle
if all thats correct and checked it "should" run well lol
GOOD LUCK