Club126UK
Fiat 126 Chat => Fiat 126 Mechanical Problem Solving => Topic started by: gnash on January 24, 2006, 09:38:54 AM
-
Ebay is a terrible thing! :lol: Bought a 1987 aircooled and am due to fly from Belfast to High Wycombe to collect it on saturday and drive it home via Fleetwood.
However, the catch is that the guy says that it doesn't idle properly and cuts out at junctions. He reckons its a carbaurettor problem but is not sure. It drives fine when it's going apparently. It would make it a lot easier to drive the 250 odd miles if I could do something even temporary to get it home. :???:
Any thoughts what tools would be useful - sledge hammer perhaps :lol: :lol:
PS Anyone tried to put 2 spare doors on a roof rak for a long journey? :roll:
-
Usual checks for cutting out on the aircooled:
I would take the distributor out, check the contact points, bob weights reinstall and reset the timing. This should take about 1 hour to do.
If still not right check carburettor jets, take the top off and clear the muck out. Take out the jets and clean with one of those carb cleaner aerosols I also use a small rubber tube to blow down the orifices. Reinstall and adjust the idle mixture.
There are a lot of other small things that can cause the problem such has tappets incorrectly set, water in petrol, old petrol, gasket leaks but hopefully the above two will be the problem.
Where in Wycombe is it? My mum lives there in case you want directions?
C
:)
-
Austin I think I have a spare carb,if I get the chance before you go I'll have a hunt in the barn.
-
Thanks for the advice Cars,
I'll have a look at the points and the timing. I'm not sure we'll have much time to work on it before we set out - it probably will be at the roadside in a carpark somewhere as the seller has to go to work once we've picked it up. The cleaning out te carb sounds like an option - I'll have to see if I can put my hand on one of those aerosols.
Thanks Paul, if you have a spare carb that would be excellent! :D But only if you get the chance. I wonder how long it would take to fit and I s'pose I'd need to bring a new gasket or some sealant and hose clips...
austin
-
Austin, im only 15 miles or so from high wycombe, i was born their!!
that aircooled had only 16k miles if i remeber correctly!!! youve done well their austin if it runs well?
your very welcome to drop in for a cuppa if you get time? and tweak the new arrival before you set off, no worries otherwise though.
get a new carb kit, i.e. from ricambio, about £15, has all gaskets u need, + other bits.
i dont know what the others think, but it could be carb flooding? David (126cab) had a problem with his 500 estate, was overfueling and cutting out, and wouldnt start again when hot. turned out to be worn needle i think.
well done m8!!! im pleased it going to a good home!
-
here's some really simple things the seller could try before you get there...
remove the idle screw (careful not to drop it!) and put a straw or similar into the hole and blow hard - it should clear the idle jet if its blocked. A blast of compressed air would be even better.
Another is to pull out the air filter and see how it runs - poor air supply and the idle will be far too rich
also double check the choke is working and not stuck 'on'
Before setting off you need to set the tappets (when stone cold so do this before even trying the engine), points and then timing (in that order) anyway. New plugs would be a benefit. All of this will improve the engine's running anyway. Give the car a thorough looking at - especially check the wheels and tyres and look for weeping at the brakes and pipe unions - its a long drive. Top up with correct oil and fill the screen wash - you'll need it.
You'll be passing Middle Barton Garage on your way home so have their number and a map handy incase you need to duck off the motorway and get some spares. They know these engines inside out. If you are a 500club (and 126 club?) member they'll give you a good discount at the counter.
Finally, make sure you have some basic tools (especially a 13mm spanner, flat blade screwdriver and feeler gauges - can't remember the spanner for the tappets, but you'll need one of those as well), a torch, breakdown cover and a fully charged mobile phone - assume the car has been neglected (no offence to the seller, but if you've not tinkered with the car yourself, you've no idea what condition its in).
Keep an eye on fuel as a large spoon holds more than a 126 tank.
-
very sound advice there Paul!!
i think we should create a fixed post message(sticky) on the forum about buying a 126 and the things to check for. Your advice there will help alot of people!!
thanks again Paul.
regards
Chris
-
I speak from bitter experience... Forgot to mention - get hold of a Haynes manual for the 126 before you set off if you can. It is excellent and may well be what gets you home (cheap off ebay or maybe someone local will lend you one?). If not, take the settings for plugs, tappet, points and timing. And also take a roll of electrical tape and some wire - its not just for electrical problems - you can 'fix' all sorts with them.
Apart from that, kick back and enjoy the ride. Its nearly as good as a 500 :)
-
Thanks for the excellent comprehensive advice Paul and the additional very knd offer of a cuppa Chris! :)
I'll definately bring the details of Middle Barton Garage with me - it looks just far enuff up the road for any problems to become apparent.
I'll let you know how well or disastrously it all goes :lol:
-
all the best with your epic journey,hope its better than my one from brighton with an ebay bargain!!!! :D
-
Why not take a camera, pen and paper and compile a story for the next newsletter ?!
-
The spare carb sounds like a good deal if you can get ahold of it.
I drove my 126 about 120 miles with the same problem when I bought it. I picked it up and it had been stored for some time. My problem was a leaky float in the carb. I don't think anyone mentioned that yet. The old carb was so old and weathered that the parts came out with great difficulty. For all the time and frustration, I should have just bought a new one the first time. Eventually I did.
Once i got the new one on, it ran like a champ. The new carb has the electronic idler on it. I was skeptical at first since I like simple old school mechanical things but it seems to be an improvement when it comes to cold starts and idling.
-
hi sam this "electronic idler" sounds good. can you explain further? i have never seen one.
thanks sam
regards
Chris
-
Chris,
I really don't know how to explain it since I didnt dare take it apart to see how it worked. It is a little cylinder placed into the hole where the idle speed screw is normally located. It has a slide on electrical connection. The little terminal on the end of the apparatus hooks to one of the terminals on the ignition coil. As best as I can figure, it is some type of electromagnetic device governend by the frequency of the spark. Anyone who has any other insight could probably tell you better. It seems to be working good for me. Below is a link on E-bay. At risk of stealing someone elses pics, I just posted the link. It is a pretty good picture of this little device. You will see it, its the small silver cylinder with the small print on it.
http://cgi.ebay.de/Fiat-126-Vergaser-Car-burettor_W0QQitemZ7984500942QQcategoryZ33550QQssPageNameZWD1VQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
-
Sam you basicially hit the nail on the head.I've had mine apart.It has a jet in it (not airplane carburettor) and it's a solenoid which open's and close's the jet :D .
-
chris,
my mum used to drive to high wycombe everyday
she said was about 22 miles so it would probaly be about the same for you
-
Woohoo the wee baby made it the 300miles home with 2 doors on top on a roof rack! :D :D
In the end we didn't really have the time to see why it wouldn't idle. There is electronic ignition and an electric fuel pump fitted so maybe one of Sam's electronic idlers might complete the set! A bit of heel-to-toe braking though town centres to keep it running just added to the excitement.
When I get to the bottom of the idling thing I'll post to keep you posted... :???:
:cool: :cool:
-
Broad sword calling Danny boy over......Well done the lad's I think"Norn Iron" has well and truely caught the 126 bug :D .
-
was it the red chrome bumper 126 you bought from ebay that was on about 2 weeks ago? Not very good pictures for ebay? and the advert said it would be a nice gift for a lady freind?
-
Unfortunately not. That one looked like a beauty. This one's a 1987 Brown. (Still beautiful in it's own way though) :lol:
-
iuf the car survived that it could probaly survive anything was it a tricky ride home any break downs
-
The car behaved really well. We just kept it at a steady 50-55 on the motorway and didn't push it too much. No breakdowns on the 300 mile trip.
Just about to go out to the garage and see if I can figure out the not-idling thing... :???:
-
OK so just for the record, the not-idling thing wuz dead simple to fix :eek: There wuz a small tree in the idle jet on the carb. Ok well a bit of leaf or something. Now she runs like a dream :D :D
Now onto the next thing - reconnecting the choke cable... :roll:
-
Was it disiduous :roll: or evergreen? :lol:
-
good old fiat 126's