Rough Running

[matt B]

Good Morning all,

Newbie question i am afraid.

I have just been given a R4 Van here in France. It has stood for a while but did start, i am a ships engineer by vocation, so in sympathy changed the oil, plugs, HT leads air and fuel filter. The points i cleaned with some emery and the rotor and HT cap looked OK (the autostore didn't have them in stock). When the engine revs in neutral its fine but under load it hesitates and stutters. I adjusted the timing by ear but made no difference.
I think the next stop is the condensor but does any one have a "ahh, i know what that is" type advice?

Cheers in advance.

Matt

 

[malcolm]

Does it make any difference if you pull the choke out a bit? If so that could be a faulty vacuum advance on the distributor (check by sucking) or the weather might be cold enough to need the cold air intake tube moving to the exhaust pickup.

On the subject of choke check it opens fully when you push the lever in. Often the cable slips and the choke stays on a bit.

Could be worth changing the points if it's the hidden Femsa type. If it's the type you can see then a good clean up and gap should work. Gap ought to be about 0.4mm - that's worth checking. Otherwise could be a weak spark, but that's not common on these Renaults.

Oh, welcome to the forum, Where are you in France and is it a postie van?

 

[matt B]

Hi Malcolm

I live near Cannes in the south and at the mo its 20 odd degrees so i don't think its a temperature issue.

The points live under the HT cap but am unsure of the type etc.

Stamped on the side of the distributor is 52538 A and R324C33. There may be a digit out as its difficult to see. The distributor cap is black in colour and neither it nor the rotor arm has any markings.

Am going to try to source the parts tomorrow. Is it easy to do the points and anything i should know?

The van itself is thoroughly beaten up but (due to location) has very little rust, its not a Poste van but i'd bet its seen some nonsense.

 

[angel]

As you said that it has stood for a while, it may benefit of a simple carb cleaning (no need to immerse it if it is not too dirty-just blow through all the jets and passages). Check also the filter gauze in the carburettor where the fuel tybe fits.
If your car has the 1108cc engine, it is not always satisfactory to set the ignition timing "by ear" as I have seen big differences with just a few degrees alteration.
Last, but not least, fuel tanks rust easily, especially when the R4 is left alone. All rust particles collect on the filter gauze on the fuel pick-up tube in the tank, and they block it (partially or totally). I have ever seen the pick-up tube to be blocked by rust. This may well be your cause. Try to blow from the fuel pump inlet pipe back to the tank, this may help, if not, the fuel tank will have to come out and the pick-up pipe cleared.

 

[matt B]

Hi again
Well i think i made it worse.
I tried to change the points (wrong type - same HT cap) The condensor was correct though!
The 3 way crankcase tubes are very old so they will be changed but for testing i wrapped some insulation tape around them. The car starts on the button but will not rev from cold.
I decided to open the carb.... There was plenty of gop in the chamber but the inlet filter was clean.I removed and blew through the jets and reassembled it.

The bloomin engine would not start. It appears the float bowl was filling but no fuel was being delivered, removing the fuel hose showed that it was being pressurised by the pump ok. Having reassembled it a few times and cranked it over the battery then died before any sign of starting.
The carb is a Zenith 281F. What have i done to the thing?


aaarrrrgggghhhhhh!!!

 

[malcolm]

Does sound like a blocked jet - common if the car has been sitting for a while. Does the 28if have a main jet in the float chamber that is accessed by removing what looks like a drain plug in the end of the float chamber and removing the jet with a screwdriver. The 32if is like that and my main jet was blocked solid with scum. Needed undoing and all the passages blowing out with an air line.

 

[matt B]

Wow very quick!
When i assembled it first time it piddled fuel into the throat area. You are correct in your description of the carb jet config. Anywhere on line i can buy a rebuild kit??

Thanks for all your help

 

[malcolm]

Can't see how a rebuild kit would help apart from for gaskets. The standard carbs are really simple. Carburettor Exchange (google them) might be able to help.

Do you have a compressor for blowing out the blocked jets?

 

[iancr900]

check the tappets, it made a lot of difference to mine

 

[entwistlecymru]

Missing under load suggests ignition I think? If the condenser was playing up it can give some very funny symptoms. I replaced EVERYTHING on my Manta when it was missing under load. Turned out to be dud (brand new Champion!!!) plug leads.