Author Topic: Running on 1! (Read 2592 times)

Lewey · « **on:** March 20, 2006, 09:06:31 AM »

I replaced my cylinder head gasket this weekend as some of you may know. I did this after oil and water were mixing and causing problems particularly on one cylinder. Examining the spark plug, I could see it was damp with gunk half the time and it made her hard to start and a tendency to run on 1 for the first minute!

Anyway. Now It is all back together with a new gasket, the car starts on 1 still. Now it only runs on 1 and I cannot get the cylinder nearest the rear to fire. I have tried swapping leads and plugs over and the same cylinder still fires. The valves are opening and closing at the correct times. Compression test time I suppose?

This car is cheesing me off. :x

PaulB · « **Reply #1 on:** March 21, 2006, 04:53:22 PM »

Check compression. If it is low on the non-firing cylinder, put a little oil in and test again. If compression is up then its most likely the rings. If it stays low, its most likely the valves. Head back off either way...
Best of luck.

Tommo32 · « **Reply #2 on:** March 21, 2006, 07:06:13 PM »

hmmm. its unusual to have one cylinder that is less worn or whatever than the other though, unless you have a broken or stuck ring.

i presume 126's share an inlet manifold so it cant be carb setup, might be worth trying a new dizzy cap for the sake of a couple of quid they can crack an stuff. although i guess you have tried reversing it which i presume is possible.

im afraid to say if nothing else works its probable that the head is warped, check your oil for water again.

oh another thing... tight tappets might cause the valves not to fully shut. if you have replaced the cylinder head and not redone them (i know it sounds daft but its easy to forget) that could be a cause.

hope this helps tell your 126 to get well soon from moi!

Tommo

Lewey · « **Reply #3 on:** March 25, 2006, 07:14:15 PM »

Fixed it. You were on the money Tommo with the valve suggestion. I had incorrectly set one of the tappets too tight (a lot) after putting the newly- skimmed head on. Pretty poor show considering there are only 4 valves!

Not my best head swap I've ever done overall, but it runs and starts like a dream now.