Mini won't start

[molineux1980]

1275 Carb Mayfair
1993

Morning all,

my Mini is in daily use, but had stood since last thursday. I went to start it yesterday, but to no avail. It turned over rather slowly, so I put the battery on charge . I got home, tried to start it and it was spinning over fine, but not starting. Took # 1 plug out, and there is a spark there. Took the dizzy cap off (My god, how awkward is that, i'm sure there used to be clips not bloody bolts!), and the contacts look very worn, with a good chunk out of every one of the four. So when I get home from work, i'm buying new dizzy cap, rotor arm, plugs and leads (Think the Dizzy and leads are original). If this doesn't work, i'm afraid i've reached the end of my limited mechanical knowledge! Anything else it could be?

Ta!

[Cooperman]

Logically if it was running fine but suddenly failed it an only be spark, fuel/mixture or timing.
With new dizzy cap, points and leads and a definate spark, check that the dizzy has not come loose and the timing slipped, then check fuel supply to the carb and from the carb.
The other possibility is an air leak due to a breather hose failure, so check this as well.

[Pitstopralph]

There is a Good chance the fuel has evaperated from the float chamber and the pump won't prime, cars that are used every day can hide this issue because there is always fuel in the float chamber, but if it's been stood longer than normal the fuel evaporates and the car won't go. Check the supply bud.
Ralph