69 F3 Tecno playing up!

Jenny · 11 Apr 2002, 07:41 (Ref:256999)

Help sought please. In practice at Donnington last weekend the car wouldn't pull the skin off a rice pudding - had to run in 2nd just to keep the revs up for my 3 qualifying laps - and eventually the car just stopped on the track so no race. We have had a carb problem (fuel into one cylinder the whole time) but we put a new carb which seemed to cure the problem. The engine turns and wants to start and there is some clatter, maybe from the starter motor. The engine is a down-draught MAE 1000cc Holbay that gave no problems after rebuild for 7 races and heaps of practice last season.

Whipping the lump out today to go to Mass Engines/Cambridge Motorsport who prepare our engines - any idea if the fuel problem could have caused the engine problem and what it is likely to be?

Griff · 12 Apr 2002, 20:47 (Ref:258438)

Need more info IE plugs , wet or dry and which cyl's
How many carb's and type. Electronic or points ignition
and anything else you think of that might help.
I'l see what I can come up with.
GRIFF.

Jenny · 14 Apr 2002, 11:40 (Ref:259833)

Thanks Griff. Plugs brown and dry and not oily. Cylinder no 2 is the problem with wet plug. Electronic ignition, one downdraught naturally aspirated carb into 4 cylinder MAE. Pukka racing starter. Report from Mass, says main bearing on no 2 cylinder broke up - fair wear and tear - may have saved crank, will know Monday. 2 pistons need replacing (so all 4 will be).

Could it happen again?

roscoe · 15 Apr 2002, 11:31 (Ref:260884)

A previous running problem could have caused dammage to your engine. With a single carb you shouldn't have un equal ammounts of fuel going to each cylinder but you should check this once the engine is re-fitted to the car. Carry out a "plug cut" test by running the car on the track at racing speed for a few laps then pull into the pits but switch the engine off as soon as you enter the pit lane and let the car coast in to the pits. Remove the plugs and check that they are all the same colour. If not you should look further. Bearing failure could of course be caused by oil contamination so make sure your oil system is clean, it could also be worth replacing the oil cooler as these can be difficult to clean out properley. Good luck.

Jenny · 25 Apr 2002, 08:54 (Ref:270098)

Thanks for info Roscoe (in France for week hence no reply sooner) and will try this at Silverstone this weekend.

roscoe · 29 Apr 2002, 19:35 (Ref:273565)

Let us know how you get on.

Jenny · 30 Apr 2002, 13:59 (Ref:274392)

Stopped again on 7th lap - back to Mass Engines. Def fuel problem. Off to Spa on Thursday - I hope...

roscoe · 30 Apr 2002, 18:23 (Ref:274607)

Hope they get it sorted in time, Spa is fantastic. Good luck.

Jenny · 1 May 2002, 04:17 (Ref:275079)

Thanks, roscoe, and it should be fine now. Apparently it was a carb problem - engine fine. Thank goodness - piggy bank looking a little thin already!
Yes, Spa is a gorgeous circuit - raced there last year in glorious sunshine - thought I was at the wrong circuit!

roscoe · 1 May 2002, 19:01 (Ref:275808)

Well let us know how it goes.

Jenny · 9 May 2002, 08:24 (Ref:280768)

Hi everyone - some of you will know I still had the problem at Spa - though engine didn't stop. Couldn't pull more than 8 and a half big ones. Got 3rd for first podium finish so not all bad!

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