Considering selling my van.

Remember to clean the plugs first though, they might be black and sooty before you start;)
 
Panky said:
Just the usual checks for leaks but you will need to set the mixture again. A good starting point is to screw the mixture screw right in then screw it back 1 1/2 turns, get the engine running and warm then turn the mixture screw in until the engine note changes and turn the screw back out 1/4 of a turn. A good check to see if you've got it right is to pull the choke out while it's warm and running, if the engine speeds up then it's too weak, if it falters then it's too rich, if it stays the same or speeds up slightly then it's OK.
Go for a good run then check one of the spark plugs, it should be a nice biscuit colour, if it's black and sooty then the mixture is too rich. Try it and take a picture so we can see.
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Cheers Panky, it's long overdue but hopefully come Friday it will be good. I will fo everything you've said, I would struggle without the forums help. Could you email me what you've put so I can email my mate, just to make sure it's done correctly.
 
I will but if your mate can re-build a carb I'm sure he can set one up, wouldn't want to start telling him stuff he already knows. Best to keep the info in reserve in case he starts struggling and you can casually throw in a few tips to save the day;)
 
Update.

The carburettor is back on my van, it's a lot better. There is a little bit of fuel when you start her, it's coming through the breather hole. But my van was going along lovely until I got to a junction and then it cut out. At first my van wouldn't start but then I got her started and she kept cutting out. It's exactly the same as when I Went to the festival. The only thing the kit didn't have was a new valve needle. Are they easy to get hold of?I'm going to try again tomorrow , I am going to take it to my mates house so he can have a good look at it if I can get it there. He thinks it might be the dizzy or the plugs. Hopefully we can get it sorted.
 
Bummer:(
First thing to change is the condenser in the dizzy, what you describe sounds like it could be breaking down under load. But just change one thing at a time so once you fix it you will know what it was.
Burlen Fuel Systems have a float valve kit for about £15 but it might just be a bit of crap under the seat, give it a good clean before you splash out on a new valve and seat.

http://zenithcarb.co.uk/?___store=zenith
 
Cheers Panky, if there's crap under the seat would that cause it to cut out? Where's the seat on the carb?
 
Morning, it's been about three years since i serviced my van. I got a service pack from Martin, the distributor was changed then along with the plugs etc. I use a little bit of red ex in my fuel but I don't think this is causing the problem. The gasket was broken on the carb, it might still have to have a new valve needle but I defiantly think it's some sort of electrical fault. Oh well going to have another go later.
 
Another update, I've managed to get my van to my mates house. It ran fine until I got to his drive, it then cut out. It seemed to be running fine. The plugs and the distributor are going to be checked first. Then who knows, hopefully the fault is with one of those two things. I checked the carb and there was no sign of any petrol. Could the engine be seizing when hot and then turns over again when it's cool?
 
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Didn't have you as a betting man;) is the condenser inside the dizzy? My van started again first time when my mate tried it earlier. How much roughly would a new condenser cost?
 
Yes it's in the dizzy and only cost a couple of pounds, unfortunately modern ones are prone to failing early so it's a bit of a lottery. I've heard good reports about ones from the Distributer Doctor but they are a bit more expensive, give him a Google and see what he's got.
 
My van did the same thing a while ago ie a condenser fault. I replaced points and condenser with electronic replacement and have been very happy with the result. A bit more expensive but a long term solution.
 
Howdy Andrew, my Dodge had a sudden fuel leak at the fuel pump last summer and a new pump cured it. Also the fuel gauge stayed on empty after filling up, due to a rotten and holed tank float. How was your carburettor float?

With your cutting out problem, have you considered the possibility of a partial blockage somewhere in the fuel line?
 
The Simonbbc or Accuspark electronic unit is the way to go but I'm interested in what's actually causing the problem.
Fuel blockage is a possibility too but by the description of the problem it seems to run a long time before the cutting out starts, needs checking if the ignition side of things is OK.
 
Hi all, I've just had an update on my van. The plugs are clean and show no signs of overheating or the wrong mixture. A temperature gauge has been fitted, at least I will know now if my van is overheating. The fuel line from the pump/filter is breaking down so my mate is going to fit a new fuel line and reroute around the front of the radiator. The filter was chocked up with muck, it's been cleaned and re-fitted. My mate is pretty confident that this is where the problem lies, he says he might have been to drain the fuel tank. Would be worth changing the oil aswell?
 
Glad you've finally seem to have found the problem with cutting out. If it's due for a change then do the oil and filter, check the air filter too.
 
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