Advice needed on running problems and leaking cylinder

[Highwaylass]

Are there any recommended garages or mechanics in the Cambs area, or tech-savvy members who could help me?

When I collected the Lomax from Norfolk she cut out if you lifted the throttle, but would start again straight away when you push the button.

Taking to heart instructions not to adjust the carb unless other settings have been checked, I replaced the points and condenser, set the static timing, reset the valve clearances and fitted a new engine breather (from Alan at Silly CVs).

For three hours this morning everything was fine, but just as we we almost home she cut out again rolling up to a red light, and this time wouldn't start at all for a few minutes. Now we seem to be back at square one - poor running on idle and cutting out.

I also have an oil leak between the head and the barrel on the passenger side, so I assume that needs to come off and be reseated.

I'm very inexperienced and fear that is beyond me, so I'd welcome recommendations of somewhere to go for help.

Sheila (and 223 Lomax)

(Not sure of my membership number, sorry)

[Geoff Ryall-Harvey]

Sounds like at coil at the end of its useful life. Do you have spare that you could connect up when the engine dies? If it fires up again on the fresh coil then you will know what's going on.

The leak will probably not be between the head and the barrel - more likely to be the rocker cover (potentially an easy fix - new rubber gasket and ensure the cover is flat - if not cork gasket) or the pushrod tubes (more complicated and does involve head removal - but I have had occasionally had good luck pulling the spring back and re-seating the seal).

[Highwaylass]

Hi Geoff,

I do have a spare coil but it came in a box of bits, I don't know if it's a good one. I will give it a try. Do they get cooked? The one in the car at the moment is within a couple of inches of the exhaust rather than on top of the gearbox as i've seen on other cars.

Sadly it isn't the rocker cover, that is quite dry. The spectacle seals are a bit weepy too, but this is definitely the top of the barrel - I degreased everything yesterday for a proper look at what was going on.

Thanks for your reply. It is a big help to be able to ask for advice!

[david]

If you need a new coil, try "classic solutions"...they supply twin spark coils that give a mega spark and do not burn out...
I use two on my twin plugged Superlite racing Triking and have done F1 circuits without a problem ..even at 8000rpmlaps..
David.

[Geoff Ryall-Harvey]

Yes - coils do get cooked. Yours sounds in the ideal place to get overheated. Symptoms are poor starting (but that can be many other things too) and rough running at ideal. When it gets hot, it will often continue to run at wide open throttle but when you pull up at the lights and take your foot off the throttle it will die and won't start until it's cool again.

Give your spare coil a go - as long as it will give a spark. Carry it with you and fit it as soon as the engine dies. What you're testing is whether the current calling is failing. Back in the day some Lomax owners would have 2 coils fitted (sometimes just zip tied to the bracket) and would swap the wires over when one coil died.

The oil leak at the barrel/head joint is odd - I wonder if it's a leak from the rocker feed pipes getting blown down there? Ken Hanna will be along soon I'm sure and his experience of weird and wonderful 2CV stuff is vastly greater than mine.

[Highwaylass]

That does sound exactly like what is happening. I will try the spare and look at moving it - would the bulkhead be sensible?

The leak seems to be from the underside of the join, where there is the top of the pushrod tubes and another rod, which the oil is running down.

[Geoff Ryall-Harvey]

Yes - bulkhead is a good place to put it.

Re the oil leak, I'd give a good go with gunk or jizer and when it's clean see if you can spot exactly where it's coming from.

[Highwaylass]

I gunked it at the weekend - that's how I can see it's coming from the join between the barrel and the head. Do you mean which part of the join?

[notsmartcar]

May be push rod tubes corroded through if its oil dripping

[Geoff Ryall-Harvey]

That sounds a possibility. If so then degrease and JB Weld.