Spridget Tech Talk (MG Midget & Austin-Healey Sprite)
Have a question. I have no difficulty starting my 1500 when its above 45. When it drops below that forget it. I can't get it started even if I use starter fluid and have the choke out all way. Does anyone have ideas as to why it's so difficult? The battery is new by the way. The engine does turnover very slowly when cold but I can't even get it to catch. Would I need a more powerful starter, could it be the timing? Thanks for any suggestions.
I would check timing, What weight oil are you using? Is yours manual or water type choke? I have read water chokes not that great. If remember correct there is a conversion to manual choke kit out. One other thing I did. Stock is a ground strap to body from battery and there is a ground strap from body to motor. My starter was slow with this setup. I ran a extra ground strap from the battery gound body to the motor. And left the stock body to engine in also. Helped mine. Maurice
The fuel mixture is probably set too lean, making the choke not quite effective enough. If you're using a Crane aftermarket ignition, make sure the coil and the amplifier box have a full 12V supplied, not run through the factory ballast resistor. Use any plain white wire in the area to feed the coil.
