Cutting out...

[Bar Vitelli]

Thanks, Mike, I've got a good list of things to eliminate so will have a crack next week with the hep of my mechanic friend...if I can fix the cutting out thing I'll probably risk it on the 80 mile round trip to Red Oktober even with the clutch issue.   

[Rusty's Uncle]

You are not wrong there Mike !
Fuel filters in the aircooled engine bay have caused a few disasters I am sure. I came soooooooooo close it was scarey  
When the fan let go in my 500 at high revs it happened in a micro-second and I did not know what had happened but sensed that something was wrong so I turned back towards home , about 3 miles. The The engine power dropped off and almost made it home but the last hill was too much with little power so pulled over. Opening the engine lid the heat was intense and the plastic fuel filter between the pump & carb was now round about the size of an tennis ball and I could see the hot petrol inside bubbling. I touched it with my finger and the filter shell now had the consistency of a soft ball , almost balloon. It scared the hell out of me. I now have no extra filter on my 500 and have a metal and glass filter well away from the engine on my 126  

[Bar Vitelli]

Just braved another 20 mile toot in it and think it must be allergic to traffic lights and junctions because that's where it always cuts out.  Other than that it drives like a dream and packs a real speed punch! It seems to have a bigger petrol tank in that it took £24 to fill it up rather than the £18 or so my other cars take? Anyway, the fuel link does seem to be the key whether it's a dirty carb or a rusty petrol tank so the plan is to try get it back in the garage next week before Red Oktober. Thanks for all the tips fingers crossed I'll get it sorted. 

[DeVilleChris]

When I was in the car it sounded like a fuel starvation thing but it also could be a number of things.. New fueltanks are £40 though

[Captain Tracteur]

If it's only cutting out when hot, you should check the condenser on the distributor, and also check the valve clearances. These two is likely to cause sudden cut-outs when the engine reaches normal operating temperature.
The condenser is a really cheap goodie, and it definitely worth to keep a spare one in the trunk when you're on the go.

[Allan]

Mine did the same thing. Drive for about 10 miles or less and stop. Get out to check and 5 minutes later it goes. Turned out to be an old set of suppressed plug leads that where breaking down when they got hot.

[Bar Vitelli]

Well, my mechanic chappy has been too busy to take a look at my car although he may come free next week.  I'm pretty sure it's not a overheating problem as I've just done a 160 mile round trip in it today. The problem seems to occur in 1st or 2nd gear only, typically when I am slowing down or sometimes when I put my foot on the accelerator after slowing down.  The workaround I've used is to pull the choke out when in 1st or 2nd gear and this does work but I'd love to understand what's wrong especially if this would mean I could fix it myself rather than continue to wait for my mechanic to come free as he is very busy right now...

[Rusty's Uncle]

Seems that you have part answered your own question there. If pulling the choke on gets you over the problem then it has to be fuel. So the usual suspects 

[Captain Tracteur]

If it runs alright on choke, then the problem is probably somewhere around the main jet. Take the float chamber cover off the carb, unscrew the main jet from the bottom of the float chamber, and if there's something blocking it, try to blow it out with compressed air.

It also worth to soak the whole carb in a bucket of gasoline or ethanol to disperse all the goo deposits.

[Da Londo]

I have had the same problem, the float inside the carb was leaky.



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[Allan]

But that would have the opposite effect and make it over fuel.

[Bar Vitelli]

I think it's sorted...

I've not actually fixed it but took it on a 160 mile trip with the choke out on low revs and it's now working a treat.  I think thee must have been something blocking the carb thing that's hopefully been blown out.  Just shows, our cars like to be driven! 

Just need to fix the grinding noise when I'm in 1st gear now and it will be perfect! 

[Mics126]

I have had the same issue as where the engine cut out when you stop quickely and sometimes on idle when the chock is off. Ifound the idle mixture screw screws in with the vibrations of the engine. the cure is of course to unscrew the screw about 2-3 turns. i it happens again you might find the spring or cap is not holding the screw and stopping it from turning, what I id (I know it sounds crazy) is put a small amout of rtv sillicone sealer on the threads of the screw and then set up the mixture and then leave it to set. I have never had a problem since.

[gason]

i have been having a mare with mine cutting out  mechanic changed coil, condenser , fuel pump, and cleaned carb and gave it a bit of a tune , running well so far