finally found the fault to my van, but where do I go from here, also in this video I mention my old BSA Bantam, click the link below to see a video I made when I was 19 • BSA Bantam
The gas cooker and your paraffin heater, especially your paraffin heater will give of approximately the same amount or slightly more water vapour than the amount of fuel it uses...so, if you've burned through 1 litre of fuel in 10 hours, you've added over 1 litre of water into the environment of your van. Imagine filling up a litre jug with water and throwing or spraying it all around your van every 10 hours that you use your heating. All part of the combustion process. A Little stove with a flue would probably be fitting for your van, an old charcoal burner that is vented through the roof and popular on some boats is one idea. Good show mate 👍
0:52 A Reliant Scimitar? Princess Anne had one of those, you know. As for electronic ignition, I'm in favour of them, but they're pretty cheap, so I always get a spare. Edited to add: Thanks for the shoutout, it made my day.
Nothing wrong with electronic ignition if you like that sort of thing, but to me, it's cheating a bit and takes some of the fun out of running a classic. I did fit electronic ignition to a Scimitar Coupe some years ago and I made sure I could revert to a points system if required and, low and behold, on the Severn Bridge coming back from Wales the electronic ignition failed and 30 minutes later I was on my way with points fitted and never tried electronic again! The problem is so much stuff is made to a price in china these days and is often complete rubbish.
Points for me in my '68 mini. You can see what is happening and if the condensor fails you can remove it to get you home. Just ensure you buy good quality condensor as most are crap. I use Distributor Doctor for my parts
If it is an Accuspark/Powerspark unit, they are cheap & cheerful, I would have thought that the supplier would issue you with a replacement if you returned it to them. I have used Accuspark/Powerspark for a short-term and not had any problems, indeed, my spare back up dizzy for the Austin 7 is a Accuspark distributor/ignition (not the best quality but was all brand-new, but Made in China). What I had (now sold) and what I have in both my Austin 7s is the Pertronix electronic ignition, this is about 4 times the price, about £120.00 to £150.00, but is better quality and I have been using this for a number of years now, on the sold car, I had this in service for 16 years, no problem, it even suffered serious abuse when I accidentally re-fitted the battery incorrectly (it was a +ve vehicle) and tried to start the engine (multiple times as couldn't work out why not...), the Accuspark would have fried... The trouble with the points set-up is the dubious quality of parts, the heel on the points can wear very rapidly, condensers are a totally unknown - had experiences of these. With the electronic ignition set-up, it should be fit it and forget it and I think you are unlucky, but if buying cheap have a second unit as back up. Such fun getting old cars to work!
An electronic ignition that fails within 500 kms should be RMA'd as you should have some type of guarantee on it. Given you already used electronic ignition twice before, I'd give it another go with a replacement. Should that also fail (again), then it would be back to plan B for me.
Electronic ignition all the way..... Points where used for many years only because that's all there was....lol Electronic ignition gives a far more reliable spark....easier starting and far more reliable.....35 years of running old VW's I would never use points again..... All I can think is you've been unlucky with the unit you have had and wouldn't let that put you off....look how reliable you bike was etc.... You use the van and it needs all the help it can get....🙏
Love your content as always sir. Do you have a multimeter and have you checked your coil and ballast resistance? I wonder if maybe something is shorting or dropping in resistance and drawing too much current from the electronic ignition causing it to heat and fail or perhaps a back emf from the coil has exceeded the reverse voltage of the devices. Be worth checking incase it does the same to another unit. The analog mechanical ignition is much more tolerant of such things than silicon :-). Hope you get it sorted soon. You’d be welcome to use my multimeter if only I were nearer. Much love from North wales to you both.
Sorry a further bit of waffle came to me, Have I imagined it or did you previously have a situation where you would have spark and then it would be lost? Seems to indicate that whatever has failed was doing so as heat increased in a component. Food for thought maybe. Anyway, I will stop wittering now. Got to find the source of the petrol smell in my old polo came out from a gig to load up and get home last night and it was cutting out as if it was starved at low revs. Oh we do love a good challenge don’t we, though yours is much cooler!
