Sluggish and lack of power

[neil]

Hi everyone
ive just got my mini on the road after 20 years...and took it out but it seems sluggish and a slight misfire
any ideas
thanks

[jockduck]

Hi, where does one begin, could be as simple as needing an adjustment to the carb to significant work to the cylinder head. I guess you are going to have to start going through the usual suspects, plugs, points if you have them, timing.
I got a significant boost in running performance with my 998 mini by dumping the original distributor and going for electronic ignition, until I did that I was forever fiddling with the carb and timing trying to get a consistent idle and freedom from pinging hill climbing on hot days.
Jock

[neil]

Hi jack
Thanks for your reply it's just come back from an mot and tuning from our local mini garage/restorers And it's just not right...I've asked them to take it back in to see if they can have another look..it has new plugs /leads points etc all the usual bits lol....I've done a compression test and all cylinders are well up it had a new carb and jet etc so hopefully won't be too much..

[jockduck]

Hi again, I almost never use a garage for my cars and bikes because they usually stuff things up which does not help you if you not able to do the work yourself. I had trouble some years back with the fuel mixture of my car, if the idle mixture was right the mix was very lean at 1/2 to full throttle I put in a new correct carburetor needle and it was exactly like the old one. so with nothing to lose and a book on how to tune SU carbs I re profiled the old needle and now things are great. Why was the performance bad on the correct needle? I don't really know, a BP technician told me that the change from leaded fuel to unleaded requires a change in fuel mixture.
Jock

[neil]

Hi
It ticks over fine but out on a drive when I try to put load on so to speak it just dies back with little power......the garage here specialises in the minis but maybe the auto needs to be set differently from the manuals?

[notamini]

Sounds to me like either the mix is off, not enough air, or the timing is off. Did you check your vacuum advance is working or even connected?

[neil]

How do i check the vacuum is working?

[neil]

Would I be better to change to electronic ignition?

[notamini]

If you don't care about it being original, it can be less trouble. You need to be careful with some EI's. I had one that went bad after I removed it and then placed it back in.