Experience Dealership line mechanic on MG, Triumph, Jaguar for 15 years, Instructor in commercial mechanics school 2 yr. Product information manager for piston and valve manufacture, Instructor & hotline answer man for import car parts importer 15 yrs.
Organizations Associate member SAE
EAA member
Publications Import Car magazine
Education/Credentials ASE Master Auto with L-1 certification up to 2000
Question I have a Zenith Stromberg 150C on a 1979 MG Midget. I cannot get this car to run. I bought a carb rebuild kit because the car would not run, it is now worse. The cylinders are saturated with fuel, I have spark, I have compression and obviously have fuel. I realize this maybe a timing issue, but I found the specs for setting the timing and did so, the car still will not run. Was curious as to where I should go from here.
Answer Hi Caitlin,
When an engine will not run, one or more of the three is missing. Physics tells you that if an engine has compression, fire and fuel it has to run. However, there are conditions on each of the three.
It must have sufficient compression, so what was the compression?
It must have a good fire (spark) at about the correct time. How did you judge a good spark and what did you set the timing at?
It must have a combustible fuel available to the combustion chamber in about the correct air/fuel ratio. How did you check the fuel?
