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Thread: Bang! Black smoke.....dead...

  1. 14th April 2012, 03:29 PM #1
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    Bang! Black smoke.....dead...

    Some expert diagnostic advice please?

    1976 109 SIII petrol 2 1/4

    We were heading up hill in third gear, pushing, but not thrashing. Out of nowhere we had a loud back fire, a cloud of black smoke and loss of power. We pulled over and she cough and died.

    Refused to start after that, turned over fine, but refused to fire. Dragged her home and sulked for a while. Later in the day, pulled a couple of plugs to check spark. No. 2 plug was very white..? Turned her over and she started on two cylinders! Plugs back in and she started and ran as if nothing had happened!

    So what happened? I am now suspicious of the HT leads? Distributor? Am nervous about going far from home now...

    Any thoughts gratefully received.
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  2. 14th April 2012, 06:02 PM #2
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    Have you replaced the points recently? Burnt out points get hot and misfire, the silver plating on points these days isn't very thick.
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  3. 15th April 2012, 08:14 AM #3
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    Nope, points are far from new. I think I have a new set rattling around somewhere, I might throw this in as a precaution....maybe new plugs as well just for fun.
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  4. 15th April 2012, 11:26 AM #4
    chazza
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    A cloud of black smoke suggests unburnt fuel and also why it wouldn't restart, due to over-fueling.

    Do as Beeutey suggests and also service the entire ignition system - a weak spark seems to be the prime suspect,

    Cheers Charlie
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  5. 16th April 2012, 05:10 AM #5
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    Okay, thanks. Might treat it to new HT leads, Distributor cap, plugs and points. Anything else? Coil?
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  6. 16th April 2012, 06:47 AM #6
    chazza
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    Substitute a good coil, if you can't get a strong blue spark at the plug when you test it.

    Whilst you are at it, it is a good time to check valve clearances; air cleaner, etc.

    Cheers Charlie
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  7. 16th April 2012, 07:12 AM #7
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    Thanks Charlie. Spark was pretty good when i checked it, fault is intermitant perhaps.
    It never had oil bath air filter, just a round unit on top of the carb. It does look a bit black and smoky, so might throw another element in there.
    Valve clearances are something I have never checked...better learn how I guess!
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  8. 20th April 2012, 05:07 PM #8
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    My 1976 SWB 2 1/4 did the exact things you decribed to me a couple of years ago while at central station on Fraser Island (expensive tow. Local tow guy told me to leave it there. Clearly he didnt understand the bond between owner and vehicle)

    Anyway, long story short, number four piston had separated in half horizontaly leaving the separated part as high as it could go in the cylinder which meant everything still turned over etc but was never going to start.

    Got four new pistons off Gary, honed the cylinders a bit, head reconditioned while i was at it and has been going strong ever since. Probably should have done a few more things while it was apart but I am a mechanical numpty and just doing this simple operation was trial enough.

    Anyway, you might be lucky and just have a rooted set of points, who knows? Good Luck
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  9. 21st April 2012, 07:57 AM #9
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    Bloody hell, I hope it just points then!
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  10. 21st April 2012, 12:20 PM #10
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    Yeah it actually wasn't that expensive and someone that know what they are doing would have had it sorted in a weekend. I think I only paid about 200 bucks for the pistons and roughly the same for the head to be done up.

    Sounds bad but after 36 years the engine probably needed it.
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