RUK - Project Recommission 1972 'Dolomite' Auto

[James467]

According to my workshop manual the float heights should be between 16 and 17mm, they are both set to 16.5mm.

[Mahesh]

Perfectionist

[James467]

Observations after looking at the carbs,

Looking at the metering needles, the front hasn't got the star washer that retains the adjuster, it's retaining screw is also broken and the rubber o ring is perished. Comparing it to the other side it doesn't look like is it is properly biased either. It's a B5DH Needle which is available from Burlen so I think it's worth me replacing both plus the screw. When I overhauled them I didn't look here so must have missed it.

I noticed that both piston springs are different lengths, the front is 11.7mm, and the rear is 10.4mm they both have surface rust on them so I'll replace them as well.

I also have new jets, have checked the heights of the originals and they are both the same at 2.3mm so for a belt and braces approach I can press in new ones.

New floats also cost £10 so I may as well replace them.

Diaphragms look fine, but I'll just put new ones on to be sure. I can always have a spare set in the car!

The spindles and butterflies were replaced as part of the overhaul as well as the spindle seals so I should be getting any leaks here.

So I am pretty sure that by doing the above it should solve my issues, that way the carbs will be 100% overhauled.

[James467]

Ooooohhhhh no reponses!

I'm obviously doing something right!

Or maybe I'm just about to do something incredibly wrong and Mahesh is waiting to laugh at me!

[James467]

Oh and look what I've got!

[Triumph1300]

Haven't seen one of those kits for years.

Predecessor of the block heaters we fit today

[Jon Tilson]

Yes the upgrades to your bergs all sound worth while but they will still be bergs at the end of the day....

I would also seriously bin the NGK's and get a set of Bosch Platimums while you still can...and set the gap to 35 thou.

I reckon 25 thou on the NGK's is part of your problem.

Bosch W-8DP is what you want.....no failures and great running in all of mine for years....

Jonners

[James467]

Yes the upgrades to your bergs all sound worth while but they will still be bergs at the end of the day....

Watch it, I'm fond of my 'bergs!

There is this on eBay but I think their price aspirations are completely off the scale! Considering I'd have to strip and refurb them, probably replace the bushes, convert to red jets the very max I would pay would be about £80-90 considering it has the manifold, throttle linkage and air box.

I reckon 25 thou on the NGK's is part of your problem.

Bosch W-8DP is what you want.....no failures and great running in all of mine for years....

Thanks! I just ordered a set, the NGKs were what came with the service kit, it's always good to have some spares anyway. Need to get a set of Magnecor Leads from Andy thinking about it.

[James467]

Whilst the cooling system is drained what was the upgrade to the header tank that was recommended?

Was it a Volvo V70 one?

[Mahesh]

And I thought RUK was only a daily runaround

Give the cooling system a good flushing whilst your at it,
(heater setting on hot, loads of bits came out of mine).

[James467]

And I thought RUK was only a daily runaround

Give the cooling system a good flushing whilst your at it,
(heater setting on hot, loads of bits came out of mine).

Well, that's the thing. It will be put into service properly come September on the school runs so I need to get a lot of these issues ironed out now so it is reliable, I also plan to do the RBRR next year.

Yep, I did that when I first drained down the system. I was going to think about doing it again now the engine has had a few heat cycles. Actually the coolant that came out of the block was in pretty good condition nothing nasty came out when I flushed it.

[Mahesh]

And I thought RUK was only a daily runaround

Give the cooling system a good flushing whilst your at it,
(heater setting on hot, loads of bits came out of mine).

Well, that's the thing. It will be put into service properly come September on the school runs so I need to get a lot of these issues ironed out now so it is reliable, I also plan to do the RBRR next year.

Yep, I did that when I first drained down the system. I was going to think about doing it again now the engine has had a few heat cycles. Actually the coolant that came out of the block was in pretty good condition nothing nasty came out when I flushed it.

I am most certainly going for the RBBR next year,
Burlens say my new carbs should be made by Sept / Oct this year, the 123 dizzy should be sorted soon after, and In a couple of weeks Steve will have sorted out a few leaking drops for me.

Only Trackerjack conversion left to do after,

minor items occuring are part of the hobby/passion.

[soe8m]

The plugs in the pics, is that running with the choke?

Jeroen

[James467]

No, that's off the choke after a run of about 25 miles mixed country lanes with a short blast up to 70 mph in 27 deg heat.

[Jon Tilson]

I think both Volvo and Golf expansion bottles have been used and IIRC both come with a coolant level sensor. As you live in a hard water
area I would seriously think about using de-ionised water if your system is leak free.

I'm still wondering about using HIF44's on a berg manifold...wonder if the bolt spacing works...

Jonners