ok, clever me, thought i'd change the sparkies in my type 3 yesterday in the 42deg heat. wasnt tooo hard, lost no.2 in the tinware but recovered it, got everything back together, started her up... rough as guts, not idling, sounded like air pissing out of one of the LHS plugs. pulled both lhs plugs, neither had thread damage, both were screwing in a fair way, one was tightening more gradually then the other though (second one would screw in easy then lock up pretty quick), started her up and still sounded like an airleak, found that the 2 cylinders were not firing, played with the leads and got one going, but still thoroughly confused as both plugs appear to be in properly, she was runnign fine the day before and the only other thing that i know of is that i ripped a hole in the rubber join in tube from the aircleaner to the carb.

anyone got some ideas what could have gone wrong!?

Are you sure you put the leads back on as you took them off?

Steve

Did you use Bosch plugs?
I had a bad run with these, I don't use them anymore.

Did you check the rubber elbow/elbows on the manifold for the balance pipes for leaks.

[ Edited on 1-1-2006 by Menangler ]

nah, no bosch plugs, that is what i pulled out, NGKs are in it now, leads i am certain of (as certain as i can be), will; take a look at the elbows. (i managed to break the wire oing to the side of the carb AND the fuelline when doing hte plugs, so it is highly posible)

Is it a constant leak or does it sound like it's a compression leak (On off on etc)?

Did you put a bit of coppergrease on the plug thread before inserting?

Is there any aluminium head thread stuck on the thread of the old plugs?

Are the new plugs the same length thread/ depth as the ones that came out?

got it, it was mostly the balance pipe, it had popped off on the LHS whilst i was working. popped it back on and she fired up and idled, on 3 cylinders, bit of playing with the leads and it seems one had come just out at the dizzy, cos pulled it out, put it back in and she's up and running. still got a noise from the fan that has been there since i got the car that i dont like, so will get tat looked at soon, but at least 1 more thing out of the way.

Balance pipe is nearly always the source of that trouble. As for the plugs. Bosch plugs are made in two places. India and Germany. Alays get the German made ones. I used Indian plugs in the tractor at work and both times they shit themselves very quickly. I put a set of German ones in and have had no trouble for age's. I have noticed if you get the plugs in single cardboard packets these are the ones made in India. The blister packs still have the German ones inside.
Rob...