Thread: 2A Power Loss

Firstly, this thread is in the Holden powered Landrover section but you are not talking about a Holden engine. Should ask a moderator to move it.

Accelerator pump not working will not explain loss of power, it will explain poor acceleration when the throttle is opened suddenly.

As I understand it, it is starting readily but no power under load.

A few things to check

Is it running too rich due to flooding - will get worse as the engine warms up, expect black smoke.

You say the spark is fine, but check condition and gap of points, and other possibility is weak coil or faulty HT leads. Also, low voltage at the primary due to a poor connection somewhere. Check the voltage at the coil both with points closed and open. And check spark plugs. I have seen exactly these symptoms from points closed up.

Fuel starvation. This could be either a partial blockage or an air leak in the fuel line or strainer - most likely suspect is the pickup tube in the tank. Can also result from the fuel pump having a bit of dirt under a valve.

Ignition timing. The distributor may have moved, changing the timing, or the centrifugal advance may be stuck, or the vacuum advance may be faulty or its vacuum line leaking or disconnected. In a slightly different class, plug leads on wrong plugs.

Vacuum leak, either below the carby, the PCV if fitted, or a loose manifold. Usually results in really hard starting though.

Loss of compression. Usually develops slowly if it affects all cylinders and if not causes rough running as well as power loss. Rough check by turning over with the starting crankhandle.

Hope this helps

John

Well we checked everything - did a carbie rebuild, checked the fuel pump and lines, changed the plugs, re-checked the points, checked spark, changed the condenser, etc, etc. Finally found the cause - the timing was way off!

How can it be that over three days the S2A did the CREB track, a day around Cooktown, next day the Bloomfield track and about 60km from home it suddenly loses power and has to be towed home because the timing is massively out?

This was great fun to trouble shoot...

Howard

I assume you mean the ignition timing - presumably the distributor moved because the clamp bolt was not tightened enough.

John

Hi John

It was tight but it looks as if:

A. the distributor is 180 degrees out of alignment
B. vacuum retard operated and it then jammed

To confirm the 180 degrees theory, should the plug lead connected to the distributor closest to the front of the car be cylinder 1 or 4?

Howard

Originally Posted by HowardSmall

Hi John

It was tight but it looks as if:

A. the distributor is 180 degrees out of alignment
B. vacuum retard operated and it then jammed

To confirm the 180 degrees theory, should the plug lead connected to the distributor closest to the front of the car be cylinder 1 or 4?

Howard

On mine the front one is No.1. I did not think it was possible to install the distributor 180? out. But it may be possible to get the drive shaft from the pump out!

John

Well it was all running 100% so I decided to drive it home. I got about 20km and power was lost!

Lucky I was near a fellow RFB volunteers house so I limped about 25 yards into his drive.

Turns out he is a mechanic having done his apprenticeship on land rover series 2. He checked it all out, set the timing and had it running perfectly. Out on to the highway I went and got about 400 yards before - power loss! Took me about 40 minutes to limp it back to his place. To do that I had to let it sit for a while, then start it and drive at low revs in first gear. After a while it would give up, no power, bad back firing - blew oil out of the air filter.

It is now sitting at his place until Tuesday when we can have another crack at it.

Anyone have any ideas? Things to check?

Howard

Still sounds like an ignition issue. Is the centrifugal advance mechanism sticking?

John

Sounds like a possible cause. If one of the springs on the centrifugal advance is broken could that be a cause? I can't check it out until next week when I can get to the property it is on. In the meantime I am trying to get my hands on another distributor as this is looking like the only thing left...

Howard