The Ford Barn

mhsprecher · 07-02-2015, 04:28 PM

Last weekend I adjusted the brakes in my roadster and took it out for a spin. On the way it started running terribly: popping, backfiring, barely running. I got it home and replaced the carb, as I had put a newly rebuilt carb on the car. No dice. I checked the points and timing. Points were a little out of adjustment and timing was dead on. I replaced the condenser. Still no good. When I took a plug out, one was wet. I was afraid it was head gasket. Compression all good and consistent.

I dragged out my Les Andrews troubleshooting and repair book and saw the procedure to check everything on the road, but called a local club guru to see if he had any ideas before I went any further. He volunteered to come over to help.

He came by yesterday. We went through everything: retimed, reset points, filed points, replaced condenser again, installed wireless bottom plate for distributor, checked all connections for current.

He said distributor had too much slop in it. We took the carb apart and noticed that the float was not right.

Today he came back with carb redone. Put it on car and still a problem. Looked at coil (we had replaced the coil wire yesterday) and the nuts on the coil were loose! The system had a much brighter spark afterwards. It started up and ran great.

This happens to all of us, but it reinforces the wisdom of using a diagnostic procedure like in the Les Andrews book. That procedure might not have diagnosed the problem, but I suspect it would have.

Always check the easy stuff first.

Patrick L. · 07-02-2015, 05:37 PM

I like easy.

JtownJoe · 07-02-2015, 06:19 PM

i'll bet there's not too many of us that haven't overlooked the obvious when trying to solve a problem like that!

Terry, NJ · 07-02-2015, 06:23 PM

Or a plugged vent in the gas cap!
Terry

bettlesr · 07-02-2015, 06:34 PM

Or just plain out of gas!

jax55 · 07-02-2015, 09:01 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Or ignition key off.

C26Pinelake · 07-02-2015, 09:13 PM

Or gas not turned on ! To err is human ! Wayne

marty in Ohio · 07-02-2015, 09:18 PM

I had the same experience. Several of us experienced Model Aer's worked on my '30 town sedan for a week, with no luck. She just wouldn't start. A few days later a friend who didn't know a wrench from a screwdriver walked across the street to see what I was working on. He pointed to the fuse on the starter and said "what's this do hickey for?" Well. you guessed it. I had a blown fuse.

mshmodela · 07-02-2015, 09:24 PM

Thanks for the post. I've been deal with what I believe is weak spark... Here's a video of what a bad replacement condenser can do:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DX_P-pLC04w

At this point testing a new coil, cleaned points, and installed a thermostat... Crossing fingers my backfire thus far have not returned...

Mike V. Florida · 07-02-2015, 10:14 PM

This is why we ask what did you do last before the problem started? And I know know for a fact you will ask that same question before you help anyone now.

07-02-2015, 04:28 PM	#1
mhsprecher Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Takoma Park, MD Posts: 2,817	Always check the easy stuff first Last weekend I adjusted the brakes in my roadster and took it out for a spin. On the way it started running terribly: popping, backfiring, barely running. I got it home and replaced the carb, as I had put a newly rebuilt carb on the car. No dice. I checked the points and timing. Points were a little out of adjustment and timing was dead on. I replaced the condenser. Still no good. When I took a plug out, one was wet. I was afraid it was head gasket. Compression all good and consistent. I dragged out my Les Andrews troubleshooting and repair book and saw the procedure to check everything on the road, but called a local club guru to see if he had any ideas before I went any further. He volunteered to come over to help. He came by yesterday. We went through everything: retimed, reset points, filed points, replaced condenser again, installed wireless bottom plate for distributor, checked all connections for current. He said distributor had too much slop in it. We took the carb apart and noticed that the float was not right. Today he came back with carb redone. Put it on car and still a problem. Looked at coil (we had replaced the coil wire yesterday) and the nuts on the coil were loose! The system had a much brighter spark afterwards. It started up and ran great. This happens to all of us, but it reinforces the wisdom of using a diagnostic procedure like in the Les Andrews book. That procedure might not have diagnosed the problem, but I suspect it would have. Always check the easy stuff first.

07-02-2015, 05:37 PM	#2
Patrick L. Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Largo Florida Posts: 7,225	Re: Always check the easy stuff first I like easy.

07-02-2015, 06:19 PM	#3
JtownJoe Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Johnstown, PA Posts: 342	Re: Always check the easy stuff first i'll bet there's not too many of us that haven't overlooked the obvious when trying to solve a problem like that!

07-02-2015, 06:23 PM	#4
Terry, NJ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Bucks Co, Pa Posts: 3,740	Re: Always check the easy stuff first Or a plugged vent in the gas cap! Terry

07-02-2015, 06:34 PM	#5
bettlesr Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Florham Park, NJ Posts: 396	Re: Always check the easy stuff first Or just plain out of gas! __________________ 1965 Lotus Elan S2 1930 Model A Sport Coupe

07-02-2015, 09:01 PM	#6
jax55 Senior Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: Santa Barbara, Ca Posts: 329	Re: Always check the easy stuff first Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Or ignition key off.

07-02-2015, 09:13 PM	#7
C26Pinelake BANNED Join Date: May 2010 Location: Michigan / Ontario border, Sarnia, Ontario. 50 miles from Detroit and 150 from Toronto. Posts: 5,800	Re: Always check the easy stuff first Or gas not turned on ! To err is human ! Wayne

07-02-2015, 09:18 PM	#8
marty in Ohio Senior Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Elyria, Ohio Posts: 756	Re: Always check the easy stuff first I had the same experience. Several of us experienced Model Aer's worked on my '30 town sedan for a week, with no luck. She just wouldn't start. A few days later a friend who didn't know a wrench from a screwdriver walked across the street to see what I was working on. He pointed to the fuse on the starter and said "what's this do hickey for?" Well. you guessed it. I had a blown fuse.

07-02-2015, 09:24 PM	#9
mshmodela Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 2,763	Re: Always check the easy stuff first Thanks for the post. I've been deal with what I believe is weak spark... Here's a video of what a bad replacement condenser can do: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DX_P-pLC04w At this point testing a new coil, cleaned points, and installed a thermostat... Crossing fingers my backfire thus far have not returned... __________________ -Mike Late 31' Ford Model A Tudor, Miss Daisy I don't work on cars --I'm learning about my Model A. Cleveland, Ohio

07-02-2015, 10:14 PM	#10
Mike V. Florida Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: South Florida Posts: 14,054	Re: Always check the easy stuff first This is why we ask what did you do last before the problem started? And I know know for a fact you will ask that same question before you help anyone now. __________________ What's right about America is that although we have a mess of problems, we have great capacity - intellect and resources - to do some thing about them. - Henry Ford II