Forum:
My ’92 Sporty has developed a hesitation problem. Going from 3rd to 4th gear at around 50m.p.h. it starts to jump as though being starved of fuel. Changing to 5th stops the hesitation but I lose any top end acceleration. I’ve had a word with the local dealer and they suggest it could be electrical. Personally I think it could be either that (electrical) or a fuel blockage. It seems to be fine on a flat road (now and again) but the road I travel on in the morning to work has its share of hills which seems to start it off but I’m not sure it is a factor. I have just had a new clutch put in (unrelated?) but was told the cable needs renewing. The problem still exists and seems to be getting worse. How can I track down the cause? (I have tried cleaning the rotor, distributor and plugs.)
HESITATION
If the leads or coil are breaking down this will lead to misfiring or hesitation as you put it. I would plump for the leads as they are so often ignored and yet do so much work. As carbon leads break down they can either short through their insulation and cuase the current to go to ground or , particularly more so in the winter, dampnes form within the lead causing poor starting and misfiring. Carbon leads have gaps within their carbon core that force the power to jump increasing it's intencity and power. These are only tiny but if moisture forms within the gap the spark will not jump. The coil ccan break down when placed under load much the same but for a different reason. I have had the coil on my Sporty discharge to grond causing complete failure. A new set of leads can be got off eBay for 10.99 ALTHOUGH i CAN'T FIND THEM ON THEIR AT THE MOMENT,whilst a new coil can be obtained through most good motor factors, not Halfords. They are about £40+ each.
You can replace with a normal type coil but make sure you keep the LT connector and enough LT wire on the end so that you can rejoin the connector when you get the correct coil using japanesse connectors or the like.
I would go for the Leads first as it does sound very mucH like an HT breakdown. When you checked the plugs did you reset the gap to 1mm? and were the deposits normal, eg sandy brown?
M J Young
Hesitation
Thanks for the reply. I managed to get hold of some new leads, a rotor and distributor, changed the lot including the plugs but I’m still getting the same problem. Could it be the coil then?
Help.
Robert