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I have fitted new 40DCOEs to my 1700 Crossflow and I need someone to sort them out properly re jetting, etc. Can anyone recommend someone to do this, ideally in the Dorset/Devon area? I have found two places so far, one in Yate and the other in Barnstaple but wondered if there was anyone closer?

It was running okay but a bit lumpy in the hot weather. I changed the plugs from NGK BPR6ES to NGK B8ECS, thinking this would help. It started up like a bag of nails and then died and hasn't woked since despite reverting to the BPR6ES plugs. That was the only change I made prior to the fault.

I cannot get my Xflow to fire up and I have checked the fuel supply and all okay. I can see that there is no spark at the plugs (1&4 at least). Replaced the coil and the distributor and cap is new having been fitted by Lloyds Performance in Warminster three months ago. Replaced HT lead from coil to distributor (twice) with no improvement. Plugs are new so not sure where to go next. Supply to coil is 12 volts when disconnected and all earthing straps have been cleaned. Engine turns over freely. Any suggestions please what else to check (and how) and/or replace?

It's on my list of "to dos" from an early comment Thanks Steve

Hi Andrew Great tip. many thanks Steve

Hi Andrew Light grey smoke Steve

Probably 10-15 seconds at a time

Hi Roger You're right in that the engine revs freely up to 6000rpm with no load. When they fitted the vacuum system, they said it would help with economy but, more importantly, cure a significant hesitation on pick up at 2000 rpm. I will try the idea re blocking off the vacuum pipes and let you know what happens. It would just be great to find a solution which is incredibly frustrating. The car is great up to 3500rpm but, bad news if you are in the middle of overtaking! Steve

Hi David Good idea and one that I wouldn't have thought of. I will try it and let you know. Thanks Steve

Hi Roger I bought the kit car Q plate in 2009 from the second owner. It was built in 1997 and the paperwork looks like the engine was supplied by the first owner, not Caterham. The recent fault has always been on acceleration up to 4000 rpm so large throttle, I guess. It will not accelerate beyond 4000rpm and just goes more and more slowly due to the misfiring. The carbs were fitted before the rolling road and there didn't seem to be a problem. They were set up properly on the rolling road the first time but the original distributor was a non-vacuum advance version. The guys at the rolling road suggested that it would be better if I fitted an vacuum advance distributor, which they fitted and drilled the inlet manifold for a vacuum pipe from each inlet (4 in total) which were combined and fed back to the new distributor. Choke and jet settings were as before. They reran the car on the rolling road and it all seemed okay. No details of the advance curve given to me. The only other comment is that sometimes, the tone of the engine changes just before the fault starts i.e. the engine seems to "hammer". I also fitted a new fuel pump as part of the problem solving exercise. I can bypass the filter and check the aux vents but I'm not sure how to check float levels? Steve

Hi Richard The engine won't go past 4000 revs and just gets slower as you go along at the same throttle opening Steve

I have a Super 7 1700 Crossflow to which I have recently fitted replacement 40DCOEs, a new distributor and coil and leads. The fuel tank have been cleaned and an in-line filter fitted. It went on the rolling road at Lloyds in Warminster and it was all set up properly to 6000 rpm and 135bhp. On the way home, I found a good bit of road and pushed the car up to 4000 rpm, at which point it started to misfire, splutter, smoke and there was a significant loss of power from the engine. I pulled over and the fault disappeared and I drove home but the revs were below 3500 rpm. Since then, every time I go out, the same problem happens at 4000 rpm. If I sit in a lay-by afterwards, the engine revs to 6000 rpm without a murmur. I have replaced plugs, coil and leads and bypassed the fuel pressure regulator that was on the car but there is still the same problem. I don't know what to try next to stop it happening. Any help would be greatly appreciated before I go mad!

When I recently rebuilt my1997 S3 Lotus 7 Caterham, I fitted a 5 speed gearbox and decided to go digital for the speedo, blanking off the speedo drive on the side of the box. I bought a speedo and sensor from Smiths and it has been a total failure to date. The sensor had to be so close to the prop shaft/diff bolts that it has been wiped off twice. The other fault, (when working in short periods), is that it seemed to develop an offset so above 60 mph, it would suddenly show 80 mph, and this offset would remain until the ignition was turned off and on again, not something I could do unless stopped. I am almost considering taking the engine & gearbox out to refit a speedo drive. Does anyone have any advice on the kit to use and where to safely mount the sensor? Many thanks Steve

I have just rebuilt my 1700 Xflow engine but there is a leak where the exhausts bolt onto the head. I am using standard thin gaskets (dry). I had this problem several years ago and fixed it by fitting some thick gaskets (5-8mm) but I can't find any on the web. Any suggestions please?

I went to see Steve at SP Components yesterday and he is bringing out a new gear kit that he says would suit a Caterham for speed of gear change, reliability and it weighs less than current boxes. Only problem is that it is not due out until late March/ early April which is too late for me. Certainly knows his stuff though!