Slight problem. Sometimes the tardis starts after literally one engine rotation. If it doesn't do this (most of the time), I have to crank it 5-15 seconds (very bad for my starter motor) until it coughs and splutters into life. I have no idea what it is but today there was looooooads of smoke when it started. I'm thinking too much fuel is flooding the carb when it is turned off but I'd rather see if you guys think it might be something else. Ideas?

nothing? I usually try and start it with no choke but a little choke seems to help a bit.

Try starting it on full choke without touching the gas then just reduce the choke until warm.
Adam

Nope, doesn't seem to work. It's usually worse when the engine has sat more than a few minutes. So it will start fine after running but getting it going is such a bitch! Can't see it being electrical problems personally.

The card supplies the fuel from the top so unless its cracked fuel should not leak into the manifold. I guess the float valve could be stuck allowing it to overfill and partially drain when standing, not sure if that can happen.

What colour was the smoke -
Black = over fueling
Blue = oil, probably from valve guides
White = water from cooling system

The typical problem I had with a 1.7 was oil in the distributor cap due to cam wear on the oil seal, but that tended to stall when applying power, and is not really the same as your symptoms, but lack of spark or weak spark could cause too much fuel to make it into the cylinders (This is flooding).

Other problems - lack of compression, burnt valves, weak spark, head gasket leak into cylinder

Does it drive well and tickover ok otherwise?

It's actually working well now, I think I was just flooding it not being used to carbs. I do have another problem now though, it shudders under hard acceleration at first. So when I put my boot down it delays, like I've suddenly taken my foot half off the accelerator. Then suddenly like I've re-applied the pedal to the floor and off it goes. More of a nuisance than anything, it's fine once it's going. Is that what you meant about stalling when applying power?

Speedy88 wrote:It's actually working well now, I think I was just flooding it not being used to carbs. I do have another problem now though, it shudders under hard acceleration at first. So when I put my boot down it delays, like I've suddenly taken my foot half off the accelerator. Then suddenly like I've re-applied the pedal to the floor and off it goes. More of a nuisance than anything, it's fine once it's going. Is that what you meant about stalling when applying power?

Not exactly it did actually stall, then hard to start etc, but stuttering is a less severe symptom possibly of the same thing. CAM end disty are a really bad idea. My 940 has a better sealed disty than the 1.7 340 but suffers a little hesitation on acceleration (the mildest of symptoms of weak spark). I have also read of another 940 that had a totally wreaked disty from oil and carbon build up. But 2 other 940s I have checked had completely dry disty and don't suffer hesitation, seems to be alot more common in the 1.7 and I think alot of people confuse the warped manifold card base problem for it. Personally I would not have a 1.7 anywhere near me again, it no where near as reliable as the 360.

When the fuel system throws more fuel in tot the cyls it is the most difficult time for the spark, and a weak spark can be drowned out briefly. You also get less MPG.

One way to improve it is to reinstall or install a new seal in a slightly different place on the CAM. There is a longish recess, longer than the seal, so if you check the cam you should see a wear lip from the oil seal, just install the seal in a different position. Usually its a choice of fully in or just flush with the surface, just do the opposite of what you find.

Cleaning the cap inside is also a way of proving it, the engine should torque up much more smoothly for a while (at least 15 mins but may be a few hours of driving). Another way is to just check the inside of the cap, if its wet then taste it, oil tastes really bad, water/antifreeze is sweet or bitter (these days). Really it should be completely dry. Who ever came up with cam end disty should be shot, I think it was to get the disty away from the from of the engine, but they just created a problem when previous there was none (except old minis etc).

ok, thanks for the help. I'll report back when I get a good look