ghostlymoron
Well-Known Member
I was talking the other day to a friend about another friend's engine starting problem and someone may find his knowledge useful.
My other friends BMC engine was notoriously difficult to start but otherwise ran well. The problem is often the glow plugs apparently. There are two sizes that will fit but only one is correct. The two are VERY slightly different in O/D and only distinguishable with a micrometer. The larger ones expand when heating to the point where it comes into contact with the cylinder head thus loosing most of the heat to the metal hence the poor starting. Also, this expansion cause damage to the plug making it v. difficult to remove without machining with a pillar drill.
Captains need good pre-heating and if one glow plug fails, starting becomes difficult. With two failed it is almost impossible.
The solution to poor starting with them is to replace all glow plugs with the smaller size which often means removing the head.
I pass this on for the benefit of others, I have a VP MD1.
My other friends BMC engine was notoriously difficult to start but otherwise ran well. The problem is often the glow plugs apparently. There are two sizes that will fit but only one is correct. The two are VERY slightly different in O/D and only distinguishable with a micrometer. The larger ones expand when heating to the point where it comes into contact with the cylinder head thus loosing most of the heat to the metal hence the poor starting. Also, this expansion cause damage to the plug making it v. difficult to remove without machining with a pillar drill.
Captains need good pre-heating and if one glow plug fails, starting becomes difficult. With two failed it is almost impossible.
The solution to poor starting with them is to replace all glow plugs with the smaller size which often means removing the head.
I pass this on for the benefit of others, I have a VP MD1.