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MG MGA - Fuel Starvation Going on Severe Incline

I recently pulled the head to have the values replaced, which is the first time the head had been off since the late 70's. Of course to do this, carbs, manifold, etc., must be pulled. Anyway, prior to pulling the head, I could make it up a severe incline in second gear. Since replacing the head, I can barely make it up the hill in first gear. The car runs great otherwise and I just returned from a 2,000 mile rountrip to GT-30. After trying the hill a few more times yesterday, I've concluded that I am getting fuel starvation because it seems like I am only running on one or two cylinders. The only thing I can think of is that I somehow changed something in reassemling the carbs. Has anybody had a similar experience that will give me some direction in tracking down this problem?
Thanks
Jack
Jack

Jack,
When this happens on this severly steep hill: If possible pull over and see if the engine does the same at idle, such as you describe, run on one or two cylinders.

Try this:
If the engine is idleing rough, then pull the spark plug wire off one at a time,if the front two spark plugs make little difference in the engine idle, or the back two make little difference in the engine idle. This will give you a clue which carb is the problem before removing the float chamber lids.

It is pretty easy to pull the lid off the carb float chamber. If one of the float chambers is relatively dry, then the question is why. Maybe the float is binding somehow on the center pin they rise up and down on. Or the lever for the needle and seat is binding somewhat at this angle.
Could it be the fulcrum pin on the lever is partially out?

Ray
Ray Ammeter

Jack - Check your e-mail. Dave
David DuBois

Something I haven't seen mentioned in a long time: On the S.U. (Skinner-Union) Carburetters, EACH DASHPOT & PISTON is supposed to be a "MATCHED SET"! If you mix them up on re-assembly, THE PISTONS MIGHT NOT "LIFT" AT THE PROPER RATE! There USED to be a "SPECIAL TOOL" with a rod with wire at the top that fitted down in EACH of the two carburetter dashpots (Where you are supposed to add a droop of OIL now & then!) and you could SEE IF BOTH PISTONS CAME UP AT THE SAME TIME! You could ALSO check the wires at the top that would VIBRATE if you didn't have the carbs "SYNCHRONIZED" quite. PSW Tool, or something like that. Anyone help out on the NAME, and is it STILL AVAILABLE? Another thing to check: Be SURE that when you PUSH THE CHOKE CABLE BACK IN, the LOWERED JET RETURNS TO THE "NORMAL" POSITION & IS NOT "STICKING" in a PARTIALLY CHOKED POSITION!
wattswh1

Thanks for the help guys. William hit on the problem. I must have mixed up the the dash pot dampers when I reassembled the carbs. I thought sure I didn't but after checking everything else I figured it won't take long to test the theory. Anyway it climbed the hill without a problem. Go figure. Again, thanks for the help. It takes a little teamwork to make sure I was touching all the bases.
Jack
Jack

PSW is the correct name for the tool described. They are still available from Moss, look in the front pages of the catalog.

Jack - Good to see that you nailed the problem, that's one you won't forget! Cheers - Dave
David DuBois

This thread was discussed between 24/07/2005 and 29/07/2005

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