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 Posted: Sep 24, 2014 01:21AM
 Edited:  Sep 24, 2014 05:07AM
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found the problem, one plug is giving intermettent spark, either bad spark plug  or spark plug wire.

previous owner must have installed a crappy chinese made spark plug wires and distributor unit and coil.  are these mini parts available at autozone? are they the standard distributor caps and plug wires??

 

 Posted: Sep 23, 2014 04:44PM
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Ok, i found the culprit.... but still knowing whats causing it. heres the video

-----> //videobam.com/kFKlJ

 

 Posted: Sep 23, 2014 03:26PM
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omg, i really hope and pray that  the dashport is the only culprit,  this gives me a new hope.. i will test it as soon as i get home .. 

thanks much!!!

 

 Posted: Sep 23, 2014 02:38PM
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CA

It sounds like the dashpot oil needs attention. The dashpot works like an accellerator pump on North American style carbs. The oil acts like a shock absorber to modulate the effect. No oil means you'd get erratic carb and engine response - the dashpot piston rises too quickly allowing too much space for airflow past the main jet. The opening is wide so the air does not move quickly enough to suck fuel out of the jet, resulting in a vey lean mixture and the hesitation you describe.

The harder you stomp the pedal, the faster the throttle butterfly opens, intake vacuum pulls the dashpot piston up making a bigh opening over the bridge, and vacuum drops away.  If you open the throttle very gently and slowly, the engine will rev up.


Put some oil in it, filling just the inner tube where the brass damper piston fits. Start with the same weight as you put in the engine (should be 20W50 or close to that). If it is still sluggish, you can experment with ligher oils, such as 10W30 or even lighter, but do it gradually. Some people use 3-IN-1 oil or othe unusual concoctions.

.

"Hang on a minute lads....I've got a great idea."

 Posted: Sep 23, 2014 10:47AM
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US
Check the choke and throttle linkage. ..you said it happen when you hit the gas pedal hard maybe something came loose.

"When I find the broken part that stops my mini from running I'm taking it off an beating the hell out of it" Laughing

 Posted: Sep 23, 2014 09:20AM
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I havent actually checked the oil inside the damper, i will look at it as soon as i get home from work., cables are all intact,,  i hope the problem is not on the engine itself..

idle is fine, but as soon as i hit the throttle gradually, the engine hesitates and stalled, but it starts right up.  i was thinking that the high idle mixture got out of tune, or the additive that i put inside the tank dislodged all the gums and dirt inside the fuel line and got stuck in the carb jet.

i still have the old style carb and the fuel pump is inside the engine bay....i am going to put the real gas tank back and see what happens, the fuel pump must have been sucking air because the scooter gas tank is small and when the car moves the level of the gas inside the tank becomes erratic. ...we'll see later..

 

 Posted: Sep 23, 2014 08:34AM
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yes, i made sure that i did not tighten the lid too much, it's loose enough to get a good ventilation.  the gas level is 1/4 tank. ..but one more thing, i added few amounts of STP carb cleaner in the tank, i must have put a lot..i dunno if this will affect the carb system at all.

 

 

 Posted: Sep 23, 2014 08:27AM
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US

Is your moped tank vented enough to supply enough fuel and not cause a tempoary situation where the pump cant draw fuel because the tank is " closed" like sucking on a beer bottle?

 Posted: Sep 23, 2014 08:21AM
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your replies are well appreciated...thanks

i tellya how my dilema started, i was cruisin yesterday, after 2 rounds of about a mile, i thought of stepping on the gas abruptly, the car jumps a little then i shift to second gear to continue, then after few feet the car started to hesitate then stopped, then i start it again, it started right up, it runs but hesitates and rpm goes down then stops,,,there was something on that thing that i did(which is stepping on the gas abruptly) that started this whole mayhem...any thoughts?

 

 Posted: Sep 23, 2014 07:10AM
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CA

If it starts, you have spark. (Maybe not ideal, but spark.)

Next step check fuel and air.

Items to check - Do not adjust anything yet!

  • is it flooding or starving? Do you smell raw fuel? If you take a spark plug out is it dry or damp and smelling of fuel?
  • fuel in tank? Is the scooter gas tank vented? It needs to have a vented tank.
  • fuel pump? What kind do you have - mechancial on the firewall side of the engine, or electrical, usually in the rear subframe.
  • are all the hose connections from tank to carb tight, and the hoses in good condition?
  • is fuel actually being delivered to the carb?
  • is there a fuel filter in place anywhere? Is it clean?
  • is the fuel getting into the carb? The inlet float valve sometimes sticks either open (flooding) or closed (starving). Suspect dirt first.
  • is the carb inkage connected properly, including the accellerator and choke cables?
  • if you have a SU carb, do you have oil in the dashpot damper? (Back to the manual if this doesn't make sense!)
  • is the air filter in place?

 

.

"Hang on a minute lads....I've got a great idea."

 Posted: Sep 23, 2014 05:24AM
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thanks cupcake and everyone..

 

and LOLyah, i already experienced the hi and low, the other day i was just cruising around the block, people were looking at my mighty mini, they are all smiling , yesterday they looked at me and laugh because i was pushing the car back home LOL.

this morning in the garage, i start the car and without enaging it, i slowly stepped on the gas , it revs a little then hesitates then rpm dropped (still steping on the pedal) then stalled.  whats your Dx?

 

 

 Posted: Sep 23, 2014 04:20AM
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Robster, in the short time you have had your mini, you have already experienced the highs and lows of ownership.   Keep the faith and keep the forum handy!

 Posted: Sep 23, 2014 01:46AM
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See my diagnosis in your other thread.

The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it. G.B.S. Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit. Oscar Wilde

//www.cupcakecooper.ca/

 Posted: Sep 22, 2014 08:06PM
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russ, yes i stay logged on 24hrs a day because this forum is hooked on my iphone. 

online forums teaches better than a community college, and yeah, dimitris was kind enough to send me a pdf version  of the Mini Manual. 

yeah, i was having fun until my mini stalled on me this afternoon, ,,such a short live..grrrr! still trying to figure out what the problem was...

 

 Posted: Sep 22, 2014 07:44PM
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Robster:

Is there a community college or adult school near you that offers a basic auto mechanics class?

Have you ordered your Mini repair manual yet?

Do you stay logged in on this bulletin board all the time?

Have fun,

Russ

 Posted: Sep 22, 2014 07:17PM
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hahaha, i did it on purpose because when you drive a mini cooper people expect you to act like Mr. Bean,weird but funny.. LOL

that is a real gas pump nozzle  bought it 2 bucks from a yard sale.

 

 

 Posted: Sep 22, 2014 07:10PM
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US

Did you forget to remove the gas pump nozzle the last time you were at the gas station!?! Surprised


 Posted: Sep 22, 2014 04:13PM
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My mini is under intensive care program,  i used my old scooter gas tank temporarily. it contains special blend of additive to deeply clean fuel lines, fuel pump ,carbs and upper cylinder as i drive and continually clean it while the car is parked.