Hi, newbie here

[Toledo Man]

Get your air filters fitted before having the carbs set up otherwise you'll end up having to do it twice. The fuel/air mixture will be richer with dirty air filters because there's less air coming in to the carbs. New air filters let more air through.

[glor]

Did the tester test the emissions at idle, or did he, as he is permitted to with twin SU carbs, test it again at circa 2000 RPM?

The carbs were tested on idle.

What you need is a Classic car place that understand the S.U. carb set-up. It is very much like the M.G. Midget. There must be others nearer to you but as an example there is Beech Hill garage , Beech Hill south of Reading that are well versed in M.G's. And the Dolomites have very similar S.U. set-ups. And I would recommend them. Tell them that you need it set up for an MOT test.
With High CO and High HC there may be something else wrong but typically adjusting the S.U. jet adjuster nuts up by about 4 flats should be quite close to achieving a pass on CO. From my experience if there is high H.C. as well that usually means burning oil or a mis-fire on one or more cylinders. It may clear up when the CO is closer to 4.5% though.
I find a Colourtune and Gunson air flow meter quite useful for setting these up.
Tony.

Thanks, I will keep an eye out for mechanics who know their mg's aswel then
Trying to find someone fairly local, with not having an MOT I'm really limited to where I can't take the car.

Get your air filters fitted before having the carbs set up otherwise you'll end up having to do it twice. The fuel/air mixture will be richer with dirty air filters because there's less air coming in to the carbs. New air filters let more air through.

The air filters arrived yesterday so will be fitting those before I get the carbs looked at.

[Nick C]

I think Carl takes his classics to the Village Garage in Cliddesden (01256 324100). There is also Moonface in Hook (01256 762624), who seem to know their stuff... You can take the car to a pre-booked appointment at a garage without an MOT, as long as the distance is 'within reason'

I'm also in Basingstoke, but my own Dolomite is still sitting half in bits on the drive, suffering from a lack of time and money...

[Jon Tilson]

If you are at least semi mechanically minded you can do something about the SU's yourself...

Have a read of this...

https://dollywiki.co.uk/wiki/SU_Carburetor_Tuning

Basingstoke isn't totally beyond the realms of the possible if you are stuck. I sometimes go to Southampton and its on the way.

With those numbers I am wondering if the choke return isnt working as it should...try the press the jet up trick and see if it moves.

While blocked air filters wont help I've rarely seen them that bad that they make much difference. Also you cant tune SU's with the air filter
in place....but as Dave implies they are designed to work with the air filter at higher (non idle) revs so dont run it without them.

Jonners