Dear Alan,
1. The starting handle is your friend. Now may not be the best time, but once it's sorted always use the handle in preference to the electric thing.
2. Don't over-think it - people have a tendency to look for complex causes and Austin Sevens are not that complex
3. If battery is charged, and fresh (Fresh) fuel in the tank, whip out the plugs and check petrol is getting to the cylinders (and has not fouled the plugs, in which case dry it all out for a bit before trying again).
4. In my experience 90% of poor starting / running is due to the contact breaker points. Clean or better replace them and re-gap them correctly. While you're in there make sure the distributor cap and internal parts are clean and dry, incl. the rotor arm, and all the acorn nuts are tight.
5. Start looking for other troubles when and only when the above have been properly exhausted!
1. The starting handle is your friend. Now may not be the best time, but once it's sorted always use the handle in preference to the electric thing.
2. Don't over-think it - people have a tendency to look for complex causes and Austin Sevens are not that complex
3. If battery is charged, and fresh (Fresh) fuel in the tank, whip out the plugs and check petrol is getting to the cylinders (and has not fouled the plugs, in which case dry it all out for a bit before trying again).
4. In my experience 90% of poor starting / running is due to the contact breaker points. Clean or better replace them and re-gap them correctly. While you're in there make sure the distributor cap and internal parts are clean and dry, incl. the rotor arm, and all the acorn nuts are tight.
5. Start looking for other troubles when and only when the above have been properly exhausted!