Author Topic: Slightly rough idle  (Read 4007 times)

TheEngineer

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Slightly rough idle
« on: January 27, 2017, 22:24:38 »
A few weeks ago I installed a low base circle-high rise cam (09 cam) which gives me 7.5 mm valve lift instead of 6 mm and longer duration openings. I have much more power (torque) across the most used RPM range, like from 1800 to 4000 RPM. But I am not quite satisfied with the smoothness at idle: I have adjusted the idle speed and mixture and verified that the fuel supply to cold the start valve shuts off as it should and that the warm-up device shuts off as well. The idle speed in neutral is about 750 and in gear, when the "magnet" is extended it is about 700 rpm. And there is a slight humping present at both these idle conditions. It does not go away when I change the mixture. I bothers me a little. Normal people would not detect it. Plugs look fine, compression is pretty even. I have not checked the spray pattern of the nozzles. At speed the engine runs strong - no humping. The humping at idle is like a dog who limps just a little. but when he runs, he does not limp at all. And yesterday I found that there is a surging present when the engine is about halfway warmed up: the rpm at idle fluctuates a little. It is not steady but goes up and down maybe 50 rpm. That condition disappears completely when I drive on. Any ideas? 
'69 280SL,Signal Red, 09 cam, License BB-59U
'67 230SL, 113042-10-017463 (sld)
'50 Jaguar Roadster XK120, #670.318 (sld)
tired engineer, West-Seattle,WA

Benz Dr.

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Re: Slightly rough idle
« Reply #1 on: January 28, 2017, 03:36:11 »
Try increasing to 900 RPM idle speed. I think you may be having problems with idle mixture after changing your cam and a lumpy idle is a symptom. If the problem persists then it's something else. Easy enough to find out and easy to change back if it doesn't help. 
1966 230SL 5 speed, LSD, header pipes, 300SE distributor, ported, polished and balanced, AKA  ''The Red Rocket ''
Dan Caron's SL Barn

1970  3.5 Coupe
1961  190SL
1985   300CD  Turbo Coupe
1981  300SD
2013  GMC  Sierra
1965  230SL
1967 250SL
1970 280SL
1988 560SEC

stickandrudderman

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Re: Slightly rough idle
« Reply #2 on: January 29, 2017, 10:46:01 »
Split the linkage and add fuel. If the idle improves you have isolated your issue.
Also, if you have a CO meter, check the CO both in and out of gear and adjust it in gear if nec. (Not strictly the correct way to do things but suits the pragmatists).
Injector spray pattern has a large effect on idle smoothness.
Idle speed should not change in or out of gear if the idle speed solenoid is adjusted correctly.

Tyler S

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Re: Slightly rough idle
« Reply #3 on: January 29, 2017, 21:47:49 »
Quote
Injector spray pattern has a large effect on idle smoothness.

After my head rebuild/valve job I ended up replacing my injectors due to a lumpy idle. The increased compression made the rough idle much worse than before the work. The poor uneven injector delivery was masked by the leaking valves.
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Benz Dr.

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Re: Slightly rough idle
« Reply #4 on: January 30, 2017, 04:58:11 »
What you're saying makes sense. Always go back to whatever you did or changed as the possible answer to a problem.
1966 230SL 5 speed, LSD, header pipes, 300SE distributor, ported, polished and balanced, AKA  ''The Red Rocket ''
Dan Caron's SL Barn

1970  3.5 Coupe
1961  190SL
1985   300CD  Turbo Coupe
1981  300SD
2013  GMC  Sierra
1965  230SL
1967 250SL
1970 280SL
1988 560SEC

TheEngineer

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Re: Slightly rough idle
« Reply #5 on: February 11, 2017, 19:53:30 »
Just came from a test drive: It idles very smooth at 600 RPM and runs smooth at idle without touching the gas pedal on a level street at 600 RPM and runs with lots of power at higher speeds! It shifts barely noticeably and does not backfire going downhill. As many of you said, the injectors made the difference. It runs better than ever before and it only took 13 years to get it that way. I want to take it on the Autobahn and wind it out! I guess the Snoqualmie Pass road will have to do when it gets snow-free. Thank you all!
'69 280SL,Signal Red, 09 cam, License BB-59U
'67 230SL, 113042-10-017463 (sld)
'50 Jaguar Roadster XK120, #670.318 (sld)
tired engineer, West-Seattle,WA