Series 2a V8 not starting

Tonycougar · Post by **Tonycougar** » Tue Mar 25, 2014 4:47 pm

The accelerator cable snapped on my S2 Landy, so i replaced it. To get the cable on I had to disconnect cylinder 8 lead. Started it up to hear it running a bit lumpy. Realised I'd forgotten to put number 8 back on. Stopped it. Put lead back on then went to start it again......no start just turns over. Admittedly I was letting my lad start it, and maybe it got flooded.
Checked for sparks......all good
Checked fuel supply......good
When I removed the plugs number 7+8 are soaked with petrol. Left them all out overnight. Tried again today, still no start. Plug 7 found soaked in petrol again (assuming 8 is the same!)
Read on here somewhere that it might be worth turning it over with all the plugs out.
Does that sound logical?
Sounds like a job for tomorrow now, cos its tipping it down here and I'm working on the drive.

DaveEFI · Post by **DaveEFI** » Tue Mar 25, 2014 6:06 pm

Did you try cranking on full throttle? That usually dries out the plugs enough for it to fire.

ChrisJC · Post by **ChrisJC** » Tue Mar 25, 2014 7:32 pm

I would dry the plugs and yes, whizz it over on the starter with the throttle shut to try to get shot of as much fuel as possible.

In my experience, they are quite easy to flood, and a pig to get started if you do!

Chris.

ChrisJC · Post by **ChrisJC** » Tue Mar 25, 2014 7:33 pm

Could you tow-start it? Might be worth a try as that will spin the engine much faster than the starter.

Chris.

Captainbeaky · Post by **Captainbeaky** » Tue Mar 25, 2014 7:58 pm

Yeah, too much choke will flood these instantly,
The V8 in my 101 used to do this all the time.

Choke in, full throttle, and crank her over with the throttle wide open - she will fire up eventually.

Tonycougar · Post by **Tonycougar** » Tue Mar 25, 2014 9:43 pm

don't think the cable mechanism is set up properly yet to get full throttle from the pedal cos I never got it running to adjust. I suppose I could jam the mechanism open with a screwdriver or something. I'll just have to be quick when/if it fires to get the screwdriver out so it doesn't rev its head off!!!

Tonycougar · Post by **Tonycougar** » Wed Mar 26, 2014 1:07 pm

Tried all that, she still won't fire. gonna have to get an expert on it.
or maybe try a tow start when our lass is home.

Tonycougar · Post by **Tonycougar** » Sat Mar 29, 2014 9:03 pm

Binned the plugs on the advice of several people on here (Facebook version).
Thought I'd make sure it was dry of petrol by disconnecting fuel lines and disconnecting fuel pump, then turning it over with all the plugs out.
Then put new plugs in but before re-connecting fuel thought I'd make sure they were all sparking with aid of some of them light up thingy's I bought (can't remember their name). Well it fired up straight away without any fuel going in, then revved its nuts off cos I forgot about the screwdriver jamming the throttle open wide. Thankfully my lad reacted quicker than me and shut it down, just as I pulled out the screwdriver.
Needless to say after reconnecting fuel and removing light up thingy's it fired up again and is now running good again.
So, thanks for everone's advice.......especially Ian Stewart and Tony Coops Cooper.
In fact so impressed with the correct advice that I decided to become a gold member and paid for the membership.

Post by **Coops** » Sun Mar 30, 2014 11:48 am

You're welcome mate, glad we was able to help out and sort your problem out,
Gold now active

Tonycougar · Post by **Tonycougar** » Wed Apr 23, 2014 7:19 pm

Well here we go again.
After replacing all the plugs I noticed they were all a bit black so deduced it was running too rich. Put the colourtune on and confirmed that. Started turning mixture down bit by bit side by side and then the colourtune stopped working, so I left it where it was.
Took it for a run the next day and boy did it shift, but........then on the way home it just konked out and wouldn't start again. Got towed home by a very nice fellow Landy owner. Got it going again by much tinkering. I think I have a dicky coil, so there is one on order. Turned the mixture up a bit and went for a little run and konked out again. Towed home this time by a neighbour. Waiting for the coil before I do anything else. But I am thinking I maybe took it a little too lean with the colourtune not working properly.
What are your opinions?

DaveEFI · Post by **DaveEFI** » Wed Apr 23, 2014 10:46 pm

Assuming the carbs are standard with no faults like flooding, you check the mixture by lifting the piston slightly at idle. About 1mm. If the engine speeds up and stays faster, it is too rich. If it slows down, too weak. Stays the same or speeds up slightly then returns to the same speed - about correct.
Many SUs have a piston lifting button specifically for this purpose.

ChrisJC · Post by **ChrisJC** » Thu Apr 24, 2014 7:16 am

Does sound like a dodgy connection in the ignition circuit somewhere. Have you checked for a spark when it conks out?

Chris.

Tonycougar · Post by **Tonycougar** » Thu Apr 24, 2014 10:27 am

Well at the moment its dead on the drive after being towed home. When the new coil gets here I'll try start it again and see how the mixture is once warmed up.
Thats a great tip that Dave Efi. Never heard that before, but then I'm new to being a petrol head. (diesel normally, did petrol in my youth but long since forgotten how to tinker).

DaveEFI · Post by **DaveEFI** » Thu Apr 24, 2014 1:07 pm

What dizzy have you got? If the DLM - the one with the amp mounted on the dizzy itself - the amp is notorious for intermittent faults.

Tonycougar · Post by **Tonycougar** » Thu Apr 24, 2014 9:15 pm

Don't think there is anything mounted on the Dizzy.
Got the new coil today, stuck it in and pressed the button.....VROOOOM
Straight away didn't delay like it used to just.....VROOOOOOM.
Also got the second colourtune so put both of them in (1 each side) and tinkered until they were both basically blue. Need to go for a run now, but I think I will wait until our lass is home and she can come and get me if it konks out.