Time for the first run of the year in the TA and the first run on the new tyres. I set off with some trepidation as I'd heard some horror stories about running radial tyres on a beam axle car. Thankfully they weren't true as the TA handled beautifully, in fact probably better than on the crossplys.
The run wasn't without problems though but nothing to do with the tyres. From start up it ran rough, but as it was never particularly smooth when cold before, I carried on to see what it would be like when warmed up. It didn't get any better so investigation was called for. It was running very rich and pumping out black smoke. My first thought was weakening the mixture, but as the car hadn't been touched all winter I discounted that thought as there was no way the jets could have changed themselves.
My next thought was stuck piston(s) in the dashpots, and that proved to be the case. The front piston was stuck in the dashpot about 1/4" up. Just enough to give the front two cylinders too much fuel. A quick clean of piston and the inside of the dashpot soon had the old girl running well again.
What was originally a short shakedown run turned into a 60 mile drive in glorious sunshine.
The run wasn't without problems though but nothing to do with the tyres. From start up it ran rough, but as it was never particularly smooth when cold before, I carried on to see what it would be like when warmed up. It didn't get any better so investigation was called for. It was running very rich and pumping out black smoke. My first thought was weakening the mixture, but as the car hadn't been touched all winter I discounted that thought as there was no way the jets could have changed themselves.
My next thought was stuck piston(s) in the dashpots, and that proved to be the case. The front piston was stuck in the dashpot about 1/4" up. Just enough to give the front two cylinders too much fuel. A quick clean of piston and the inside of the dashpot soon had the old girl running well again.
What was originally a short shakedown run turned into a 60 mile drive in glorious sunshine.
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