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MG TD TF 1500 - Prayer turns to hope, hope to fear, fear to panic!

After over 8 months of work, an average of 5 hours a day, today was the day that I decided to try my first restart.
WELLLLLLLLL....things didn't go so well, at the beginning.
When I installed the battery, primed the oil pump (PITA!), and put 2 gallons of ethanol-free in the tank, crossed my fingers, and turned on the cut-off switch.
First thing that happened, was a spark emerged at the regulator! It appeared to be between two terminals.
Turned off the cut-off, and rechecked all the wiring at the regulator....All the tags (still in place), appeared to be correct.
All two fuses were still good...so didn't have a clue what caused the spark.
Anyway turned the battery back on, then the ignition...Pulled out the choke, pulled the starter...WOW!...absolutely NOTHING happened! (except the starter did turn the motor over)....
That's when hope turned to fear! I mean RAW fear! The kind that gets you in the pit of your stomach....
Promising myself that I wouldn't panic, (but too late!), I checked all the connections, then pulled the chambers off of the carbs...
There was fuel in the jets...That's a good thing....
Pulled the #1 plug, and tried the ignition....There was spark!
I then remembered making a suggested change to the dizzy advance tension, and decided that I would put it back the way it was, originally...
I also turned up the idle screw a few notches....
Then started cranking....Sounded like it wanted to start.Would the battery keep alive long enough?.....YAY!!! It started, there was oil pressure (60lbs), and, it kept running.....Now I can sleep tonight.
Sorry for the dribble....
Edward


E.B. Wesson

Still don't know what caused the spark....Is it possible that the generator was re-polarizing itself?
I'll look for other gremlins tomorrow.
Edward


E.B. Wesson

By no means "dribble" ...most of us have been there!
Well done!
David Sheward

Exciting to see how close you are to having Rocky back on the road again!

BobbyG
Bobby Galvez

Edward,

Well done! I am well aware of that almost "frantic" anticipation. You are well ahead of my mindset - usually, expect the worst, hope for the best!

Jerry
Jerry Chandler

Any issues with readings on the amp gauge when it started?

The feeling of when a new engine turns over and starts for the first time is one of those very good feelings.
Bruce Cunha

Regarding the ammeter, and ignition lite, all looked normal...Ammeter showed on the charge side(slightly), which is to be expected with a battery that sat for over 8 months, even with a trickle charger....Ignition lite went out as soon as proper idle was reached.....
Today, I am going to test the wipers (and adjust the arms), and look to make sure that the separate fog-lite fuse, and heater-fan switch , are o.k....
Anyone that can explain the spark, at the regulator, on initial start, please chime in.
Getting "Rocky" back on the road is still a ways off, as I haven't even started painting the bonnet, front apron, wings, or grille....then there's the "hood" (soft-top)and bow!
Thanks for the good wishes.
Edward
E.B. Wesson

Ed,

Since it seems the "problem" did not repeat it may have been a single strand of the multi-strand wire. If a potential difference existed between two terminals and your cutoff switch applied full battery current it would have simply burned away the tiny strand. Thus no repeat. A close examination perhaps with a magnifier could identify a melted strand. Hope that is all it amounts to.

Regards,

Jim Haskins

1953 TD
J. M. Haskins

Jim
Good thought!....I went over the existing electrical today...Heater/switch and light ..O.K., wipers ..O.K..
Using a VOM, tested the fog, headlight/tail light circuits ...O.K...
The one thing that I'm not sure about is the gauge lights.
I couuld not tell if they were working, and am going to wait until the headlights are actually installed, and check again...I'm not sure if those have to be in the circuit , for the gauge lites to work.
Any suggestions, are appreciated.
Whatever it was, it doesn't seem to repeat, so I think the stray wire theory is a good one....
I did look over the regulator terminals again today, and see nothing out of place....
Car restarted on first try.
Thanks
Edward
E.B. Wesson

Would not a stuck relay also spark? Thinking if the regulator has set, the relay may have developed some corrosion and stuck, arcing when the power was applied and it popped open.
Bruce Cunha

Bruce
I'll pull the relay cover today, and look for corrosion.
Thanks
Edward
E.B. Wesson

Edward, congratulations on your start-up. What a joyfull moment and very soon you will forget about that spark. Good luck on your upcoming works, huib
Huib Bruijstens

Ed,

While you you're still working on other parts of the car why not remove the regulator and send it to Bob Jeffers (this list) and have it converted to solid state? You'll never have to worry about sticking contacts, burnishing contacts or adjusting contacts again. You can check out his website at: http://www.wiltonae.com/home/index.aspx

I have no financial interest in this but I am a very satisfied customer.

Best,
Gene

Gene Gillam

Gene
Thanks for the suggestion....Right now, my finances are such that I have to really watch my pennies....I'm so far in the "hole" with this car , that I have to look up to see down!
If I see that that is the problem, I may take you up on the suggestion.
Edward
E.B. Wesson

As long as the Lucas smoke stayed in the harness you are fine. George
George Butz

This thread was discussed between 13/06/2012 and 18/06/2012

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