Well problem solved!!
Turns out the plastic cowling for the throttle position lever has (probably) been fitted reversed... I had the lever moved to the "start" position trying to start it... as you would...and there was no spark (or run) ...
Just by chance I tried starting with the lever moved to the "stop" position and it revved off it's nut at full throttle ... and moving the lever to 'start' kills the engine..
Sometimes what looks like a difficult job turns out very simple, and sometimes the opposite is the case!
Yes the old boy had a very long run as a Fiat dealer, and an even longer run operating his mechanical repair business... he turned 80 the other day and still opens and closes the doors of the same premises he started at in 1957, that's over 58 years... and still no sign of him retiring.
SteveC
