No power in 4th gear - Help!!

R

roverp6

New Member
Hi all

I am at my wits end and nobody can seem to find my problem.

I have no power in 4th gear on my 2200sc. The highest speed I can get up to is 70 on the flat with my foot to the floor and it takes its time to get there. Even on a slight incline the speed begins to decrease but it seems ok accelerating through 1st, 2nd and 3rd gears. I have been told the engine is sweet and numerous people have played with the mixture and timing. Engine compression has been checked and is fine. I used to cruise at 85 no problem before this thing started and it has been going on for a year or so now.

I am desperate for any advice and would have no hesitation in sending a bottle of quality scotch to the person who can tell me what is wrong.

Thank you in advance.

Russ
 
I had the same problem, ok going through the gears but in top the power was not there had the clutch changed problem solved.
cheers steve
 
I've never run an SC but haven't come across anything like this on the TC's. I'm not sure that it would be a clutch problem as I thought this would affect acceleration more then crusing.

I don't how how likely this is, but is it possibly a fuel supply problem? Enough fuel in the carb bowl and coming through to allow acceleration, but not enough flow when trying to sustain a hard cruise.
 
I've had the same problem on my S1 2000TC since I bought her. She pulls like a train through the gears but levels out at 70mph & doesnt want to know above that. I haven't got round to doing anything about it yet but would also be interested in any suggestions form the forum.
 
Does it run and accelerate OK the rest of the time? My 2000sc acted in a similar way, running out of puff early, slow acceleration but idled fine.

When we took the head off there was pitting of the valve seats, and a new head (£50 second hand) had running perfectly again.

I've also seen a valve cracked with a shape like a slice of pie missing from it, but that showed on a compression test...

Good luck, but reckon a strip down (engine, not you. Too cold for that) will be needed to find the problem

Matt
 
Many thanks for all of your replies.

I will be taking my car to Viking Restorations in Leeds next week to try and find the problem so I will pass on your feedback and let you know how I get on.

Thanks again

Russ
 
Perhaps this sounds obvious but have you checked that when the accelerator is flat to the floor - that the throttle butterfly is wide open at the carb . It is not the most precise linkage in the world and if there is any slack you wont achieve full throttle.
 
Gents

After taking my car in today to viking at leeds initial diagnosis has revealed that it will be a head off job. My tappet clearances on the all exhaust valves are a big fat zero when they should be 13/1000 of an inch. Worst case scenario is a new head with the problem more than likely being being caused by running unleaded with no additives. I checked this when I bought the car and various sources said that the SC head was ok for unleaded. Will let you know how I get on.

Best regards

Russ
 
Ouch - I think only the V8 can run on unleaded without expensive conversion. If you have to have the "head" off then you might as well have the work done so that you can run on unleaded
 
I think mine is down to the throttle linkage, mixture a bit weak & probably the tappets/camshaft. The guy I bought it from had the head worked on including the Unleaded conversion but when I got it, the tappets sounded like two Skeletons dancing in a dustbin (& with both silencers blown & the water-pump rattling it was pretty raucous). He said he'd had them set then re-set but It must have been a deaf person who did them. I had them re-done but the cam was already worn out so they're now as near as possible but still pretty noisy. Actually I've had her up to 80 recently so she goes a bit better than I thought but she pulls much better with the choke out so I'll richen her up, check the linkage & run her tappety until the clearences are right down before I worry about a new camshaft.
 
Hi all

The story so far. I picked up the car today after having the head replaced by Richard at Viking Restorations in Leeds.

All I have to say is V8's beware! I now have so much power I don't know what to do with it! What a difference!

A big thank you to Richard at Viking for his help.

Best regards

Russ
 
The general theory is that TC heads are ok for unleaded but SC aren't.

Oh, and not all V8 heads are ok either !

Richard
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top