Some weeks ago whilst giving my neighbour a lift home from work in the special (he'll never ask again!) it developed a misfire at low revs, gradually worsening over the 20 mile journey. The next morning a quick check showed that the points gap had closed up to almost nothing. I reset it but the car wouldn't start. There is no spark at the plugs.

I've changed components one at a time, starting with the condenser (2 different ones), then coil, distributor cap and leads, points and rotor arm but still no spark. It is a 12v neg earth system and I am getting 12v at both of the low tension wires to the coil. With the ignition on if I flick open the points I get a spark across the points. All the replacement components were known to be working when I stashed them in the boot years ago.

What am I missing? could there be a short circuit in the distributor base plate? I know this should be basic schoolboy car maintenance but I'm stumped! Any ideas?

Peter.

Sadly I have to report the death of John Gallon, best known to Swallow register people.


John had been fighting his illness for some years, finally he had to give in to it when treatment no longer worked.

John was an inspiration to Swallow drivers as a true enthusiast, driving his car over seriously long distances around Europe with the Jaguar club. 
He even checked out of hospital this last summer to proudly drive his little car to the Jaguar rally, giving a cheeky wave to royalty (which was returned), then after putting his car away - went back to the hospital !

When I get his funeral arrangements I will post them here for those that wish to attend.

Looking for help.

Has anyone got an 1 5/16 crank that I would be able to buy, can be new/old standard/phoenix just as long as it's not cracked please.

Thanks in advance 
Christoff Cowens 
07772188037

Looking for help.

Has anyone got an 1 5/16 crank that I would be able to buy, can be new/old standard/phoenix just as long as it's not cracked please.

Thanks in advance 
Christoff Cowens 
07772188037

Date: 20-05-2018

Molentocht, The Netherlands

I have entered the newly acquired RP saloon for the Windmill Run in May - fingers crossed (and RH European Breakdown number entered in the mobile) because the engine was rebuilt with an Austin crank, not crack-tested... Anyone else tempted to join in? It's their 30th event this year and they are hoping for 30 A7s to enter. Contact Dave & Maggie Dickinson (dickinsond@btinternet.com) and look at www.molentochtgoes.nl for more information.

The Netherlands is a great place for Austin 7s - hardly any hills, and nearly everyone can speak English and they really enjoy seeing the 'oldtimers' driving around. It's a very gentle way of getting into continental runs - plenty of other English entrants and lots of advice & help available.

Hello All,

I am having nasty quality issues with some newly acquired BSF fasteners, specifically that they will not take sufficient torque before stripping the thread. They are ‘R’ grade, which indicates they are supposed to be HT. I have also found the nut supplied with them to have undersized heads, so that they do not work with standard BSF tools.

A 1/4 BSF grade R should be able to take up to 8.2 ft.lbs torque, but these are failing before they are anywhere near that load.

They appear to be from two separate manufacturers LPS and SB.

I am fortunate that I have sufficient feel when tightening fasteners to recognise when a thread is stretching and seldom have problems, but,  made up for that today with several set screws failing during assembly and before I had started to nip them up!

Frighteningly expensive, they came from a recognised supplier of BSF fasteners, who I will speak to on Monday.

This could be a nasty safety issue for someone who has not detected the fasteners weakness.
Please may I ask if anyone else has had a similar experience.

Regards, Mark

I have a 1938 Austin Big seven which came with a capillary tube type water temperature gauge which didn't work. I have now installed my Christmas present - a new capillary gauge and sensor and been out for a run. going along at about 35mph the temperature was 90 degrees C and as the outside temperature was around 4 degrees I became concerned as to what the temperature would be on a hot day in summer. 90 degrees is around the centre of the scale on the gauge but as water boils at 100c its not that far off - unless the boiling point is different when under pressure. Can anyone advise please?

Can anyone confirm the type of shells that can be used with Saenz rods as supplied by Pigsty and John Barlow please?

I have mucked around with a couple of things myself but would be interested in hearing about any successful water pump installations other members have come up with?

Has anyone out there had experience, and could offer advice on door adjustment on the 1932 RP Box.
Both doors on my RP stick out at the bottom by about 7 M/M.  The top of the doors are fine. Any advice 
would be appreciated.  Thanks.