2CV specialist
Discussion
Afternoon All
Im new to this forum as my wife has recently purchased a 1986 2CV. I normally Reside in the TVR forums.
We had an unfortunate experience with an expert. Long story short we paid 2k for a bonnet repair and repaint some seat belts a battery and very little else.
I was fuming but was told to keep quiet as it not my car. Not wanting to be divorced, I did just that against my better judgement.
The specialist was tasked with sorting the car to make it reliable for my wife. Upon collection. He advised the valves needed re-lapping as compression was low when the engine is cold.
This sort of work was what I was expecting him to do to make it reliably.
So a few weeks on, it really does not like starting in the cold, it has new plugs and electronic ignition.
I think the poor compression when cold it the issue. If it was a more conventional engine I would happily strip the heads off and lap them in but I don’t want to risk doing more harm moving the cylinders.
Can anyone suggest anyone in Kent ideally.Silly cv’s have shut do I’m a bit stumped.
Lee
Im new to this forum as my wife has recently purchased a 1986 2CV. I normally Reside in the TVR forums.
We had an unfortunate experience with an expert. Long story short we paid 2k for a bonnet repair and repaint some seat belts a battery and very little else.
I was fuming but was told to keep quiet as it not my car. Not wanting to be divorced, I did just that against my better judgement.
The specialist was tasked with sorting the car to make it reliable for my wife. Upon collection. He advised the valves needed re-lapping as compression was low when the engine is cold.
This sort of work was what I was expecting him to do to make it reliably.
So a few weeks on, it really does not like starting in the cold, it has new plugs and electronic ignition.
I think the poor compression when cold it the issue. If it was a more conventional engine I would happily strip the heads off and lap them in but I don’t want to risk doing more harm moving the cylinders.
Can anyone suggest anyone in Kent ideally.Silly cv’s have shut do I’m a bit stumped.
Lee
Got to say I’m not sure why compression would improve when hot by lapping the valves in, or, more importantly, why it would stop the car from starting while it’s cold. But I could be wrong.
However I do know that 2CVs are prone to coil failure, especially when they are too hot or too cold. If you look where it is placed, it is pretty exposed to cold..
So personally before I took the car anywhere I’d invest in a decent new coil from Burton or similar and see if that cures it.
I’m at the other end of the country so don’t know who is good or bad with 2CVs in Kent though. Peak 2CV in Derbyshire have a first rate reputation for fixing the oily bits if you want to venture that far.
Edit to add - I do of course realise that heat will make things expand so might improve compression when hot but the 2CV engine is not exactly build to close tolerances so if the valves are so badly sealing that they are not closing the compression chamber adequately when cold, I would expect some problems when running when hot too.
However I do know that 2CVs are prone to coil failure, especially when they are too hot or too cold. If you look where it is placed, it is pretty exposed to cold..
So personally before I took the car anywhere I’d invest in a decent new coil from Burton or similar and see if that cures it.
I’m at the other end of the country so don’t know who is good or bad with 2CVs in Kent though. Peak 2CV in Derbyshire have a first rate reputation for fixing the oily bits if you want to venture that far.
Edit to add - I do of course realise that heat will make things expand so might improve compression when hot but the 2CV engine is not exactly build to close tolerances so if the valves are so badly sealing that they are not closing the compression chamber adequately when cold, I would expect some problems when running when hot too.
Edited by Fat Wolfie on Sunday 18th December 17:07
I have not checked the compression so I am relying on what I’m told by the expert.
I do know it only appears to run well one one cylinder when it’s cold but hot it’s as good as one would expect. The valves was my experts opinion based on his experience.
I kind of understand his thoughts, the tolerances must be terrible when it’s cold.
I do believe he knows what he’s doing, the quality of what he did was fine but he is terrible at taking instruction.
Thanks for the advice
I will try the Sussex people.
I do know it only appears to run well one one cylinder when it’s cold but hot it’s as good as one would expect. The valves was my experts opinion based on his experience.
I kind of understand his thoughts, the tolerances must be terrible when it’s cold.
I do believe he knows what he’s doing, the quality of what he did was fine but he is terrible at taking instruction.
Thanks for the advice
I will try the Sussex people.
Fat Wolfie said:
Sure - if you trust the expert then they will definitely know more than me! I’d kind of got the (wrong) impression that you didn’t entirely trust the expert.
Be interesting to see how this plays out, good luck with getting it sorted.
The car has done 40k miles I remember on my cars in the eighties a decoke and valve lap helped the car start better in the colder months. Be interesting to see how this plays out, good luck with getting it sorted.
I suggested this to my expert as it only seems to run on one cylinder when it’s cold. He said 2cv’s don’t coke up as they are always being revved highly. But there could be loose coke stopping the valve seating when cold.
I am not sure this is real but it definitely only runs on one when it’s cold so it’s a starting place
Lee
This does not sound right.
Starting a 2cv is different to anything modern (fuel injection, electronic ignition) - my wife cannot do it. I typically catch it on the first or second rotation!
But our 2CV is used. If left then it takes quite a lot of cranking to get fuel into the carb and then to get going. Lapping the valves etc is really easy (once you have the bonnet and inner wings off), is that likely to be the problem? I'm not convinced. The timing is a pain to check - but very necessary! Equally the coil and general wiring is pretty prone to having issues. As stated earlier, you tend to push 2cvs pretty hard so the valves leaking? I'm not convinced.
Simple compression check, make sure the timing is right. Check the potential air leakage around the carb butterfly (quite likely!). This is a very simple engine that does not need myth and legend!
Starting a 2cv is different to anything modern (fuel injection, electronic ignition) - my wife cannot do it. I typically catch it on the first or second rotation!
But our 2CV is used. If left then it takes quite a lot of cranking to get fuel into the carb and then to get going. Lapping the valves etc is really easy (once you have the bonnet and inner wings off), is that likely to be the problem? I'm not convinced. The timing is a pain to check - but very necessary! Equally the coil and general wiring is pretty prone to having issues. As stated earlier, you tend to push 2cvs pretty hard so the valves leaking? I'm not convinced.
Simple compression check, make sure the timing is right. Check the potential air leakage around the carb butterfly (quite likely!). This is a very simple engine that does not need myth and legend!
I don't own a 2CV but have a big interest in them. As stated, Jonno at Peak 2cv is your man for the oily bits.
Alternatively, have you thought about another engine? They can be had for very reasonable money and might work out cheaper than trying to problem solve the existing engine.
Find Simon Sobey on the 2CV groups on Facebook. He runs a 2CV parts place and has engines for sale (unsure of price)
Alternatively, have you thought about another engine? They can be had for very reasonable money and might work out cheaper than trying to problem solve the existing engine.
Find Simon Sobey on the 2CV groups on Facebook. He runs a 2CV parts place and has engines for sale (unsure of price)
Closer to Kent than Derbyshire is 'Cambridge 2CVs' run by another specialist - Will Waldron
https://cambridge2cvltd.co.uk/
https://cambridge2cvltd.co.uk/
Richard Dalton is a family friend and 2CV specialist based in Stoke on Trent
https://www.richard-dalton.com/classic-cars/
https://www.richard-dalton.com/classic-cars/
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