1960 Mini ignition

[marc69]

Sorry it's not Nova but I am a bit stuck....

My 1960 mini has been off the road for 5 years and won't start. I have put fresh fuel in the carb filler but it is the lack of spark.

So far I have

put my coil into my mates morris minor and it worked so i assume my coil is fine.

Tested with a bulb that current is reaching the coil and the dizzy with the ignition switched on.

Replaced the points and condesor again.

Tried my mates (morris minor) cap and leads and there is still no spark.


Any ideas?

Thanks

[jimbob-mcgrew]

check the main earth to the block/head/gearbox

[Royston]

points gap set correctly? correctly isolated?

[meritlover]

Is the distributor turning?

[marc69]

Yes to all I'm afraid....

[jimbob-mcgrew]

i dont know much about mini's, but if theres power going into the dizzy from a good tested coil, and nothing coming out of it, then somethings up on the inside of the dizzy id say.

and you say youve already tested the cap and leads are ok.

hows the rotor arm look ? .. any hairline cracks in it ?
any corrosion on any contacts ?

could try testing the condensor too, to rule that out : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxD1OpPQaS0

one other thing, is the centre pin in the dizzy cap making good contact with the rotor arm

[marc69]

It was the original condensor and a new replacement one! My mate with a morris minor came round and I changed each part from his car till we got it going and woohooo, the wee Austin engine is turning! Now just new fuel line (and brackets to be welded), new fuel pump, new dynamo (yes I said Dynamo) brushes and so on....but at last the most important bit of progress!,


Thanks for all the advice, appreciated as always.

[Southie]

Pics of Mini, I like them as I feel like I'm a giant in them lol

[marc69]

here you go
http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af5/69marc/IMAG0051_zps4adaa01d.jpg

http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af5/69marc/IMAG0174_zps5e149f7d.jpg

http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af5/69marc/IMAG0175_zps565f88a3.jpg

[Southie]

Wow wasn't expecting such an old original one, it looks fantastic ;)

Sadly cannot +rep you, can someone do me the honours please.

[marc69]

thanks, it is 1960, and never for sale!

[Southie]

Saw various minis at mini sport when I went for a rolling road last time, that's worth some now if there's are anything to go by.

[bazzap8389]

Should have left it at the museum would save you having to look after it lol

[Southie]

Should have left it at the museum would save you having to look after it lol
You'd have made it a 4x4 by now baz... Well if the so called companies that were to help you out would actually... well help you out... :(

[marc69]

It's been off the road for five years, needs to be driven again (once I get all the jobs done on it). It is the wierdest experience driving with no seatbelt though.

[Southie]

It's been off the road for five years, needs to be driven again (once I get all the jobs done on it). It is the wierdest experience driving with no seatbelt though.
In this day and age crashing into any new car against a 1960's mini would be bad... Seat belt or not :(

[EwanG]

I looked at your car when I was at the museum. Its very nice. How the hell did they get it up the stairs? lol Forklift?

[bazzap8389]

I saw it today in the flesh, it's very nice and in great condition.

[meritlover]

With salted roads and snow just around the corner, there seems like no better time to take a car out a warm dry museum and put it on the road.

[marc69]

I will try to avoid having an accident.....to be honest I'm not sure even a Nova has much chance against todays cars when they are so heavy, not mentioning how people drive!

Thanks for the compliments, they put the car on a pallet and then forkliffted it upstairs.

I won't be putting it on the orad this week...just working to make sure everything is right so later next year, it is a case of drive it down for the MOT etc.