The Triumph Dolomite Club - Discussion Forum

The Number One Club for owners of Triumph's range of small saloons from the 1960s and 1970s.
It is currently Fri Mar 29, 2024 9:54 am

All times are UTC




Post new topic  Reply to topic  [ 14 posts ] 
Author Message
 Post subject: 1850hl won't start?
PostPosted: Tue Jan 15, 2019 8:55 pm 
Offline
Future Club member hopefully!
Future Club member hopefully!
User avatar

Joined: Wed Jan 20, 2010 1:10 pm
Posts: 99
Location: fareham
Hi All
Last week I went out to my garage for a trip out in the dolly, but sadly she wouldn't start. She was running fine when I drove her in there a few days before.
I have checked and I'm getting a good spark, Ive also check that the fuel pump is working fine and the float chambers are full. But whe. I turn the key it just spins on the start motor but doesn't attempt to start? Please can anyone advise what I else I can try?
Thanks james


Top
   
 Post subject: Re: 1850hl won't start?
PostPosted: Tue Jan 15, 2019 10:58 pm 
Offline
TDC West Mids Area Organiser
User avatar

Joined: Thu Sep 28, 2006 1:13 pm
Posts: 13317
Location: Over here...can't you see me?
Where did you check for a spark?


Top
   
 Post subject: Re: 1850hl won't start?
PostPosted: Wed Jan 16, 2019 5:57 am 
Offline
Future Club member hopefully!
Future Club member hopefully!
User avatar

Joined: Wed Jan 20, 2010 1:10 pm
Posts: 99
Location: fareham
I took the spark plugs out and held them against the block


Top
   
 Post subject: Re: 1850hl won't start?
PostPosted: Wed Jan 16, 2019 7:54 am 
Offline
TDC West Mids Area Organiser
User avatar

Joined: Thu Sep 28, 2006 1:13 pm
Posts: 13317
Location: Over here...can't you see me?
OK. I fixed myself a few years back with a similar problem, had a belting spark at the lead ends, but didn’t consider the possibility that all four plugs had failed simultaneously; they had! If you’ve checked at the plug itself, then it’s not that!

If you have good spark and fuel, then it’s usually the spark not occurring at the correct time, or lack of compression but that’s not something that can alter by itself!

Does it sound like it is cranking fast enough?


Top
   
 Post subject: Re: 1850hl won't start?
PostPosted: Wed Jan 16, 2019 9:06 am 
Offline
Future Club member hopefully!
Future Club member hopefully!

Joined: Mon Dec 03, 2012 6:04 pm
Posts: 1549
Have you checked the choke is working? I can't imagine it would start in the cold without it.

Otherwise it is a bit baffling, if you have a spark and mixture is getting to the cylinders.

The only other thing I can think of is a blockage in the carb jets.


Top
   
 Post subject: Re: 1850hl won't start?
PostPosted: Wed Jan 16, 2019 10:23 am 
Offline
Future Club member hopefully!
Future Club member hopefully!
User avatar

Joined: Thu Oct 06, 2011 1:13 am
Posts: 3173
Location: The continent
It still can be the plugs. In free air faulty plugs do spark but to ignite a mixture the Kvolts to spark rise significantly and make it not to spark.

Best to try 4 plugs first before taking the engine apart.

Jeroen

_________________
Classic Kabelboom Company. For all your wiring needs. http://www.classickabelboomcompany.com


Top
   
 Post subject: Re: 1850hl won't start?
PostPosted: Wed Jan 16, 2019 11:14 am 
Online
TDC Member

Joined: Sun Oct 26, 2008 7:26 am
Posts: 2473
Wildcard, but my Toledo suffers badly if it isn't used for a few days and the weather is damp.
A hot air gun over the cap/leads cures it.
But then again if there is a spark at the plug that seems unlikely. But easy enough to do.

Has this ever happened before?

_________________
Clive Senior
Brighton


Top
   
 Post subject: Re: 1850hl won't start?
PostPosted: Wed Jan 16, 2019 8:02 pm 
Offline
Future Club member hopefully!
Future Club member hopefully!
User avatar

Joined: Wed Jan 20, 2010 1:10 pm
Posts: 99
Location: fareham
Hi guys thanks for your help. So I decided to try changing the plugs and it started straight away without hesitation. Can't really undesand how all 4 plugs can fail, but look fine when taken out and put up against the block?


Top
   
 Post subject: Re: 1850hl won't start?
PostPosted: Wed Jan 16, 2019 8:40 pm 
Offline
TDC Member
User avatar

Joined: Wed Nov 15, 2017 3:35 pm
Posts: 956
Location: Filey, North Yorkshire
were the plugs NGK by any chance?

_________________
Image


Top
   
 Post subject: Re: 1850hl won't start?
PostPosted: Wed Jan 16, 2019 8:53 pm 
Offline
Future Club member hopefully!
Future Club member hopefully!
User avatar

Joined: Wed Jan 20, 2010 1:10 pm
Posts: 99
Location: fareham
No bosch plugs


Top
   
 Post subject: Re: 1850hl won't start?
PostPosted: Wed Jan 16, 2019 9:56 pm 
Offline
TDC Member
User avatar

Joined: Sat Apr 12, 2014 11:02 pm
Posts: 2279
Location: Nr Kenilworth
In my experience, if the cranking is a tad slower and it doesnt fire straight away, the plugs can get wet and not want to play. I had it recently on my sprint. Changed for a new set of NGK (same as the old ones) after an hour of charging the battery and instant life. I'm going to ultrasonically clean the old ones and try them again as theyre not worn out. If anyone is using Champion/ Unipart and reading this, throw them away and use NGK or Bosch.

Tony

_________________
Membership 2014047


Top
   
 Post subject: Re: 1850hl won't start?
PostPosted: Fri Feb 15, 2019 5:42 pm 
Offline
Future Club member hopefully!
Future Club member hopefully!
User avatar

Joined: Wed Jan 20, 2010 1:10 pm
Posts: 99
Location: fareham
Think I've discover why my plugs failed. They appear to be getting covered in oil :(


Top
   
 Post subject: Re: 1850hl won't start?
PostPosted: Fri Feb 15, 2019 6:07 pm 
Offline
TDC Member

Joined: Thu Sep 28, 2006 10:06 pm
Posts: 1164
Location: Bristol
Check that the choke arrangement on the carbs is not sticking on as this will cause the engine is running too rich.


Top
   
 Post subject: Re: 1850hl won't start?
PostPosted: Fri Feb 15, 2019 9:46 pm 
Offline
Future Club member hopefully!
Future Club member hopefully!
User avatar

Joined: Thu Oct 06, 2011 1:13 am
Posts: 3173
Location: The continent
Do your plugs have the correct heat range?

Jeroen

_________________
Classic Kabelboom Company. For all your wiring needs. http://www.classickabelboomcompany.com


Top
   
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic  Reply to topic  [ 14 posts ] 

All times are UTC


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Amazon [Bot], Bing and 33 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Limited