Paul_F

Hi, a quick update. I have now fitted  an Accuspark electronic ignition.  Some more fettling required but performance much improved.  No longer has the catastrophic misfire. Easy job, but removing the distributor is a PITA. Thanks for the help. Paul

That is helpful, I will follow the weak spark route and let you know how I get on.  

Thanks for the thoughts.  Taking them in turn. (Hello Rob!). It does feel like spark, I sensed a periodicity to it, but maybe over lean could give a similar effect?  Yes, I did the spark test at idle, so you are right, if the dwell angle were too short it could show up at higher revs as the dwell time obviously shortens.  However the problem seems much more correlated to load rather than rpm.  I should re-check the points gap of course! The second two suggestions are questioning fuel starvation.  This was my first thought too.  The reason I am less convinced is that the problem occurs more or less as soon as I open the throttle.  I was assuming fuel starvation would take a while (20 seconds at least?) to show up as the fuel becomes depleted in the float chamber.  This may be a wrong assumption of course...please let me know! I can certainly put some fresh fuel in, strange that it starts on the button if it is duff fuel though.  Is this what you would expect? Thanks for the thoughts.

Help please. I am recommissioning a 1980 TR7 but I am struggling to get it run properly. Sorry this is a bit long, but trying to preempt the questions and suggestions! Symptoms: Starts cleanly, idles OK maybe a little lumpy. Drives ok at low throttle openings (up to 25%).  Gets worse at higher loads, no power a wide throttle opening and what sounds like a bad misfire.   What I have tried: I have checked spark energy on each cylinder using a tester which shows the spark will jump a very large gap in free air (over 1cm).  This is well into the green scale on the tester. I have fitted new plugs. I have checked the timing at idle with a strobe.  I have also checked that if I rev the engine the timing advances, and if I suck on the vacuum advance the timing also advances. I have tuned the carbs, finally resorting to a colour tune.  Set rich and then leaned off so the combustion is just going blue. No obvious air leaks on the intake, but difficult to be sure. Petrol was in plastic Jerry cans, maybe 6 months old. Previously I have done a compression check and it looked OK   Any suggestions welcome, especially if you have experienced similar symptoms!   Thanks  

Great, thanks for the confirmation.  It took a lot banging, but it is off now - corrosion between the aluminium of the cone and the steel of the damper I think.  Some copper grease on reassembly I think...

Hello, I am disassembling the front strut on a 1980 FHC.  I have removed the nut OK, but the mounting cone (UKC7495) is stuck.  Can someone confirm that it should just 'lift off' (in true Haynes tradition) rather than unscrew.  I am loathed to use a large persuader in case it is screwed on... Thanks Paul