MG Midget and Sprite Technical 1500 won't start BBS discussion at MG-Cars.net

MG Midget and Sprite Technical - 1500 won't start

Please help me find something obvious I must be missing..... 1976,1500 midget engine running fine before removal to replace exhaust manifold, broken timing chain tensioner, thrust washers and other engine 'freshening' items. Engine back in car and I beleive everything connected and hooked back up, she cranks over nicely but won't start. I have spark at the plugs and fuel getting to the carb (plugs wet) but get only a occasional misfire out the carb or backfire out the exhaust. First thought was a timing issue...I have had the distributor drive gear out many times and tried reversing it's position on the camshaft gear. No luck there. I beleive I have it positioned correctly and engaged in the oil pump drive dog as the slots are at 8 o'clock/2 o'clock per manual description with the No. 1 piston at TDC on the compression stroke (no.1 and 2 valves closed, just rocking between open and closing as I turn the crank just a bit). With the drive gear in the above postion, and the distrbutor inserted, the rotor points to the no. 1 plug wire on the distributor cap. Do I have that correct? It is a different distributor than the previous one. I now have a pertronix Ignitor and associated coil installed but have the same electronic ignitions in my other british cars so I am familar with their installation, or so I beleive. I even re-installed the old one but to no avail. Anything to do with the non-ballasted system I have now and did not have before? Other wires needed at the coil besides iginition wires(WLG) and red and black from distributor? Plug wires correct? 1,3,4,2...Looking down at the cap standing at the driver's fender...No.1 at bottom left, No.3 at bottom right, No.4 at top right and No.2 top left. When I was freshening engine I did replace timing chain but was careful to keep my timing marks aligned on the gears upon installation. Other changes were replacing mechanical fuel pump with electric, although this was done prior to engine removal and I do feel I'm getting fuel as I can smell it out the exhaust after cranking. I stick my finger in the carb throat and it does come out wet. Compression, fuel, spark....What am I missing? Thanx for any input.... DS

Dennis Silance

Here's a picture of my 1500. I see a few differences...my #1 on the distributor cap is at the 3 o'clock position, your's is at 7, also I'm using a solid white wire for coil positive...it gives a full 12 volts for my 3 ohm non ballast coil. On my engine, the WLG wire is a ballast wire and I only get 8 to 9 volts through it. I would make absolutely sure you have the timing right...backfiring sounds like ignition problems. Also when I installed my Pertronix distributor, set the timing static with a test light to intially start, then used a timing light to set correctly ( I was 12 degrees too advanced with static timing). Good Luck, hope this helps. Dave

DL Rhine

This thread was discussed between 04/10/2009 and 06/10/2009

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