Starting stored car?
Discussion
I've a 1959 Morris mini-minor, that has been sitting idle for the last ten years.... For most of it's life it has been in garage, sadly now sitting outside.
I want to see what needs doing to get it back on the road. I was planning on pouring some oil in through the spark plugholes and leaving for a couple of days, then manually turning the engine over with no spark plugs in a few times before connecting a battery up and trying to fire up...
Does this sound the correct approach re the engine?
Not going to dream of trying to drive it before looking at the brakes etc...
I want to see what needs doing to get it back on the road. I was planning on pouring some oil in through the spark plugholes and leaving for a couple of days, then manually turning the engine over with no spark plugs in a few times before connecting a battery up and trying to fire up...
Does this sound the correct approach re the engine?
Not going to dream of trying to drive it before looking at the brakes etc...
Sounds reasonable - the only addition I can think of is to drain the tank and put in some clean fuel, and if you're feeling keen, whip off the carb and give it a clean out - when mine has stood for a while (1-2 years between starts) the carb is always gunged up with fuel residue, which prevents it from starting...
After soaking the bores for a while as you sensibly suggest, connect up a battery, check that you have a good spark.
Change the oil and filter for a decent 20/50.
Then, with the plugs out spin the engine on the starter until you get oil pressure. If you don't get pressure, 'back-prime' the oil pump by taking out the transfer pipe, putting the car in 2nd gear and pushing the car backwards whilst pouring oil into the transfer pipe hole in the block. Then spin the engine over again until you get pressure.
Before doing all of this, check the carb to ensure that the piston lifts easily and fully and that there are no fuel leaks, clean and set the points to 0.015" and re-set the rocker clearances to 0.012".
Re-commissioning is a nice and rewarding job, especially when it starts and runs nicely. Yoo do, however, need to follow each step and then you should have no problems.
Good luck with this.
Peter
Change the oil and filter for a decent 20/50.
Then, with the plugs out spin the engine on the starter until you get oil pressure. If you don't get pressure, 'back-prime' the oil pump by taking out the transfer pipe, putting the car in 2nd gear and pushing the car backwards whilst pouring oil into the transfer pipe hole in the block. Then spin the engine over again until you get pressure.
Before doing all of this, check the carb to ensure that the piston lifts easily and fully and that there are no fuel leaks, clean and set the points to 0.015" and re-set the rocker clearances to 0.012".
Re-commissioning is a nice and rewarding job, especially when it starts and runs nicely. Yoo do, however, need to follow each step and then you should have no problems.
Good luck with this.
Peter
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