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MG MGA - Help With Idling Problem

I'm seeking help from the experts. My 1959 MGA 1500 starts normally from cold with the choke and settles to a smooth idle at about 800 to 900 rpm once the choke is fully pushed in. If I then drive for 5 to 10 minutes and shut off the engine, when I return after a few minutes it will fire right up without choke but the idle drops so low (300 - 400 rpm) that it threatens to stall unless I "blip" the throttle. After driving for a short while the idle stabilizes again at a normal level when I come to a stop. Any advice on where to start looking will be appreciated.
Tom Heath

Perhaps your carb piston(s) is sticking slightly at startup? Have you checked the carbs recently to see if they're still adjusted properly and synchronized?

mark
Mark J Michalak

I'm going to guess that one or both of your jets is not returning to its full seating against the adjustment nut.

Try this.

After you push in the choke as described above pull over with the engine idling and reach under each carb and push up on the jet fork underneath to see if it has settled against the mixture nut.

If that is it something is binding it and requires fixin'
T McCarthy

Thanks for the tips. I tried pushing up the jet forks while idling (the easiest to do) but this produced no change. I will next check for sticking pistons at the weekend.
Tom Heath

This thread was discussed between 23/06/2008 and 25/06/2008

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This thread is from the archive. The Live MG MGA BBS is active now.