Joined: Jul 2018 Posts: 102 Threads: 33
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Great, got the old girl running today, squirt some fuel straight into the carburettor with an oil can and then she fired up, kept it running for a bit on the fuel being squirted into the carburettor and then she seemed happy to run on the stuff from the tank, no amount of adjusting timing will get her to accelerate cleanly she's struggling to get much past 20mph, don't think the old stale petrol helps... I'll drain the tank and treat her to a few gallons of shells finest.haha
Still doesn't explain why it'd run them die...
Joined: Apr 2019 Posts: 247 Threads: 13
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Location: Toronto
Car type: 1930 Boat tail tourer
do you have a fuel filter? what state is it in?
Joined: Jul 2018 Posts: 102 Threads: 33
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No fuel filter and my God is the engine low on power, no way is it just worn as there is no way the engine could be driven like this, she really won't get past 20mph with my foot to the floor in third and fourth is non existent, so guess the issue isn't fully resolved, such is life haha
Joined: Aug 2017 Posts: 1,987 Threads: 90
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Location: Ripon
If you have a consistent and bright spark, a good measured delivery of fuel, verified even compression on all four cylinders but it will run but not past a certain speed, have you considered that the difficulty in cranking it with the handle might be due to a fracture in the crankshaft? Is there an "unusual" noise when running?
I'm probably talking out of my fundament here but if your reported symptoms are accurate and you've tried all the various suggestions we all seem to be at a loss... the engine seems to be fighting itself. Is it easy to turn over on the handle without the plugs in?
I'm still thinking distributor personally, having experienced random erratic running with a very tired one, the replacement transformed the engine. I would never trust a condenser or points set replacement if it didn't come out of a sealed packet.
Joined: Aug 2017 Posts: 778 Threads: 33
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Location: Beautiful Northumberland
Car type: 1933 RP Saloon (aka Mildred)
The one thing that doesn't sound like it has been investigated is the exhaust.
There must be something in that very early report that:
'bloody hard to turn over really for a seven engine.'
Presumably this could be ruled out by disconnecting the exhaust and just seeing what it runs like (other than noisily)
Enjoy yourself, it's later than you think!
Joined: Aug 2017 Posts: 622 Threads: 19
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Location: Hampshire UK
26-05-2021, 06:28 PM
(This post was last modified: 26-05-2021, 06:29 PM by John Cornforth.)
Failure to rev under load and severe lack of power normally points to weak ignition for some reason e.g. failing coil or condenser BUT that is normally accompanied by jerky running and misfiring, none of which have been reported.
If you have a vacuum wiper era car you could borrow and connect vacuum gauge to the take-off on the inlet manifiold, and the reading pattern will tell you if the exhaust is blocked.
Alternatively, take off the downpipe. It will be mighty noisy but should have minimal back pressure......
Joined: Jul 2018 Posts: 102 Threads: 33
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FIXED!! She was running on TWO cylinders under load, the plugs produced a nice spark when just sat on the cylinder head but under load they just died, fixed with two pink lodge plugs that were sat in the tool box under the bonnet. A new set of plugs is in order.
Joined: Aug 2017 Posts: 2,419 Threads: 33
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Location: Deepest Frogland 30960
Car type: 1933 RP Standard Saloon
How oily were the plugs? If the car is fitted with the late 37 head there can be a tendency for the plugs to oil up if there is any appreciable wear in the engine. Try a set of B5HS plugs which should cure the oiling problem (but not the engine wear!)
