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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Making SU hs2 carbs electric heated...HOW ?

Ive got a wild hair up my nose... we have had a few chilly nights and the midget dksnt want ro fire right off the car.

i havent bkoked up the choke yet and that will help alot but im thinking what about a heating element that can warm the carbs a few minutes before starting the car

is that possiable to do and how would you do it... i really like the idea of an electric element on a switch thwt can draw off the battry for a few minutes to heat up the carbs a bit

or... am i thinking this incorrectly...

my other thought is the old tried and tested KAT engine heater that uses the lower rad hose to heat the coolant from the house electric...id just rather not

so opinions thoughts and ideas on preheating the carbs for better starting is appricated

Prop
Prop and the Blackhole Midget

Two systems were used that I am aware of, Prop. One was a heated band that went around the dash pot. The other was an electric heated coil that was inbedded in what looked a bit like one of the fiber spacers. I think I have only seen them on Minis.

I suppose you could try to do something with a glow plug from a diesel, but they get red hot in a few seconds.

Charley
C R Huff

Charley...

thinks for that... so there is an actual kit made for the Su carb?

I was thinking back to the pre 1975 vw bug and think they made an electric heater for there carbs

do you know where id find a kit like that

the D. glow plug is an interesting idea... ill have to think about that

i wonder if wrapping a heat tape around the dash pot PLUS around the float chamber to help warm up the intial fuel would do the trick for whqt im wanting to accomplish

i wonder if i could use regular heat tape for winter time water pipe using rhe battery 12 volt power would do the trick

Ill defiantly look into the mini possable kit

prop
Prop and the Blackhole Midget

I suppose you could check the Burlen web site in the UK to see if they are still available. Also, might try a place that has Mini stuff since that is where I remember seeing them.

I think heat tape is only to keep pipes above freezing, so that might not be hot enough, and I don't know if they make any of it for 12V. If they do make it for 12V, it might be available at an RV supply place.

Charley
C R Huff

Prop. Just fix the choke and I'm sure all will be well. Cheaper too.
Bernie Higginson

Prop, on cold mornings you could try heating the carbs gently with a Propane torch.
GuyW

Fix the choke! Then worry about why / if it won't go.
Rob Armstrong

years ago they used to make a heater that pre-heated the water in the engine to aid cold weather starting it was like a immersion heater in one of the hoses.I knew a person who had a Triumph 1300 with one fitted.
mark heyworth

Kenlowe do one...

http://www.kenlowe.com/Heating.php
Dave O'Neill 2

Many years ago, when I was a nipper, my dad used a small paraffin heater hung in the engine bay to keep the frost at bay. This was in the days when anti-freeze was used to show where your cooling system was leaking!!!!

Rob
Rob aka MG Moneypit

I would be extremely concerned about putting anything electrical near a carburetor since one small fuel leak plus one small spark equals one large disaster. I live in northeast PA and have had no trouble starting a 1972 twin carb, 1275 midget in winter temperatures down to zero degrees. S. U. carbs just take more owner maintenance than what we are used to in today's "jump in & drive away, computer controlled, fuel injected" cars that have taken the fun out of motoring.
s1


Years ago on cold Canadian nights, I would keep a 60 watt light bulb, a trouble light, under the bonnet of my 850 Mini and a thick blanket covering the outside. The single carb had an electric element but it didn't seem to work.
T BURSTON

Prop,

I too have had no problem starting twin SUs as cold as minus 20 deg. F. Probably a choke or mixture problem. If not, remember that lots of small aircraft use carburetor heat to prevent icing before the engine reaches full operating temp. FAA dose not see that as a safety issue.


Jim Haskins 1953 TD
J M Haskins

Prop.
On MGB 72-74 with HIF-4 carbs they used an NA induction heater Part # 373-730.
I lived up in the artic for 5 years and my MGB never failed to start. On cool nights 39 below was common. I did use a block heater in a lower hose to warm the oil and coolant up a very little bit. It never failed to start. For the inside I had a 10" square 110 volt electric heater.
-----------------------------------
Jim H. My Cessna used carb heat when I throttled down to start final for landing. On odd occasions carb heat was used under certain climatic conditions at altitude
Sandy
Sandy Saunders

im just looking for something simple that i can run off the battry not deal with electical cords and candles my plan is to still keep it in the driveway during decent weather and in the storage unit when there is snow and ice predicted

I am going to hook up the choke... but i recall that method flooded the engine more times then not on cold days


I still want to drive the car daily as much as possiable snow and ice are the exception as nigel advice is dead on... driving everyday is the best cure for any problems ...even if its just to the end of the road and back it has to be driven for it to be funtional... a d daily is just gold in a can

My goal is to simply warm up the intial fuel so it atomizes better for more explosive charge to fire the engine and not be injecting just pure NON atomized fuel into the compustion chamber

i just like the idea of a on/off toggle switch connected to the battry and a heatig element to warm the carb up in 2 or 3 minutes...

im just not sure on how to go about doing that or installing a diseal glow plug

prop


Prop and the Blackhole Midget

Interesting thread..

Sorry for going slightly off topic but this reminded me of my dad who used a low wattage light bulb mounted in a biscuit tin under the sump of the family Austin 7 Ruby to keep the oil warm to help with starting - using the starter handle and choke controlled remotely by a wire (or was it string?) threaded through the front grille.

Happy memories of BLB 766.
Peter Blockley

AFAIK carb heat on a Cessna is achieved using a flap to divert air over the exhausts towards the carb, it has no electrical heating elements. Only used to prevent carb icing.
dominic clancy

I used to do the same thing on other carbed engine i have had with exhauste pipe and manifold heat ...

and that does work for preventing carb iccing ... but thats after the engine starts

i want to warm the carb before the engine starts to aid in starting ... not to prevent it from iccing

prop
Prop and the Blackhole Midget

This thread was discussed between 16/10/2016 and 18/10/2016

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