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MG TD TF 1500 - won't start after 4 months


OK...

I used my 51 TD last time about 5 months ago.

I've been trying to start it, but the engine just doesn't kick in.

Any ideas what I should try or is something typical in this scenario?


What does work:

- red light is on
- i can hear the fuel pump strong
- battery turns the starter

It usually it turns over right after first or 2nd try but not now...

Any hints on what I should try next?

Thanks, Joe.
J Holman

Two things the old shop class said...it takes spark and fuel. Check for spark at the plugs. If ya got spark check for fuel. If no spark then find out why.
LaVerne

Does the pump ticking almost stop when the pressure is up?

Matthew.
Matthew Magilton

Joe - Unless you have a Facet pump, the fuel pump ticking continuously indicates that you aren't getting fuel to the carburetors. This could be caused by several things - no fuel in the tank, air leak between the tank and the pump, a pump that has a bad check valve or a bad diaphragm. See the article, Fuel Delivery Troubleshooting guide in the SU Fuel Pump Articles section of my web site at: http://homepages.donobi.net/sufuelpumps/ Cheers - Dave
David DuBois

Checking for sparks and fuel are priority, as stated above..
Remove the plugs,, are they wet with fuel?? Are the points new?? Are they pitted?? Was the car put away (5 months ago) with very little fuel in the tank so condensation might have formed in the tank??

SPW
STEVE WINCZE

Spark and Fuel. I would start with the fuel. Take the line off at the first carb and see if you have fuel. If not, you may have had some crud settle in your tank and it is blocking the line. A little air blown back to the tank would be a test if it is plugged.
Bruce Cunha

If you left the fuel in the tank for five months, it could very well have water in it,(as mentioned), as the 10% ethanol fuels are prone to condensation....
Edward
E.B. Wesson

Also; I can't speak for American fuel, but Australian fuel will go off after some months. It just looses its bang. I could not start a car after being left for months untill I added fresh fuel.

Matthew
Matthew Magilton

this maybe stating the obvious,but if you do blow air back to the tank per bruce's suggestion...open the gas cap first. regards, tom
tom peterson

Had the same thing happen to me a couple years ago with my 1952 TD Mark II. Although the spark plugs were rather new, they would not spark. A new set of plugs - properly gapped and it fired right up.
John Masters

I have this happen on one of my old gas farm tractors when I try to start it up in the spring it won't fire and the solution is always the same, points get a film on them over winter, wipe them clean and it starts right up. As far as gas goes, I use marine Sta-Bil at the end of the season and the gas is still good in the spring, in the cars also. PJ
Paul J


The fuel pump *does continue* to click even after a few minutes.

I seem to recall it would stop after a few clicks last fall...

Dave, your link above doesn't go to a valid page.

Can you please give me the link again?

Thanks everyone...

Joe.
J Holman



By the way, on a flat surface, how many inches/cm of fuel is required in the tank typically at a minimum.

I did add some fuel, but maybe I didn't add enough ?

Joe.
J Holman

Just to close on this one...

Must have had some air in the fuel line. After taking both lines off of the pump, it started working well again.

Then, the motor wouldn't turn over. The plugs were very dirty - cleaned those up and was almost starting.

Put a new battery on and started up.

Thanks, Joe.
J Holman

This thread was discussed between 10/04/2011 and 02/05/2011

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