The Ford Barn

wrndln · 10-26-2016, 11:50 AM

My coupe has been setting for some time. I can't remember which direction the handle on the gas shutoff valve under the gas tank is for OFF and ON. I think The handle being straight up and down is ON, but I am not sure. If anyone can post the correct direction for the handle I would appreciate it. I should have marked with a label.
Rusty Nelson

Roadster Rich · 10-26-2016, 11:59 AM

Mine is horizontal for off and vertical up and down for on. Although I have read some places that state the valve should be horizontal in line with the gas line for on. I think there is some confusion and the handle actually should be in line with the valve body and flow coming from the tank to be on, and that would be up and down.

oldwoodsman · 10-26-2016, 12:01 PM

straight up and down on mine is on.

Tom Wesenberg · 10-26-2016, 12:03 PM

Yep, just think about launching a rocket ship.
When it's pointed up it's ready to blast off.
When the launch is horizontal, it's shut down.

C26Pinelake · 10-26-2016, 01:00 PM

Just remember, Up, Up and away! Up and down, not sideways. Wayne

Willie Krash · 10-26-2016, 02:48 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

It may help to remember that with the handle down it points the direction the fuel flows,

CarlG · 10-26-2016, 03:11 PM

All bets are off on the '31 style valves. I have seen them with the handle in several orirntations.

Tiny · 10-26-2016, 04:43 PM

Pointed at the floor to drive on 31's. On late 31's pointed across the firewall to drive or at least that's how the two I deal with are. I always think of it as pointed at the road to go on the 31, and pointed at the starter to go on the late 31

Nabco · 10-26-2016, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom Wesenberg

Yep, just think about launching a rocket ship.
When it's pointed up it's ready to blast off.
When the launch is horizontal, it's shut down.

Nice!!!

marty in Ohio · 10-26-2016, 05:31 PM

I think you all of guys are right. The handle pointing down is the on position. That is all except mine! When I bought the '30 Town Sedan 23 years ago I had no idea that there even was a fuel shutoff. I don't remember how I found out. Well mine is opposite. I just remember to start it "up" and shut it "down." I've been wrong all these years but "if it ain't broke, don't fix it."
Marty

coupe1942 · 10-26-2016, 05:45 PM

The previous owner of my pickup had marked the directions with tape to indicate which direction to turn on the fuel. He even told me he had done so when I got the truck.

Me, I still forget every now to turn the blamed thing off. I need an alarm bell or a cattle prod to remind me, I suppose. :-)

Keith True · 10-26-2016, 05:56 PM

Years ago somebody told me to think,down and out.When the handle is hanging down the gas is going out.It seems people would get confused on the spark also,so he would tell them,start it up.To start it up you push it up.

160B · 10-26-2016, 07:38 PM

FWIW

For the vehicles with the gas shut off valve inside. Note the valve outlet is 90 degrees from the inlet.

Think of the gas line as if it did have a valve that has an outlet 180 degree from the inlet and imagine the outlet is straight down.

When the valve handle is perpendicular to the pipe, NO flow, valve is in the off position.

When the valve handle is in line with the pipe, you have flow, valve is in the on position.

Using the sketch below visually rotate the valve 90 deg with gas flowing in from the top

mshmodela · 10-27-2016, 07:18 AM

My late 31' has two. The valve next to the tank I labed with a sharpie --actually the ink is easily removed.

Walt Ebie · 10-27-2016, 07:36 AM

Just installed a new one......as it came, vertical is "ON", horizontal is "OFF." Of course, you may have already done it, but you could try to start it - you'll soon know if you're getting gas or not.

JohnLaVoy · 10-27-2016, 08:13 AM

Of course the early 28 is the opposite!

C26Pinelake · 10-27-2016, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mshmodela

My late 31' has two. The valve next to the tank I labed with a sharpie --actually the ink is easily removed.

Why and where are the two? Wayne

John Kuhnast · 10-27-2016, 09:37 AM

I Thought I was the only one. On my late 31 under hood I regent The handle so it is in line with the pipe when on and at right angles when off.

BILL WILLIAMSON · 10-27-2016, 09:46 AM

You can't imagine how MANY times I FORGOT to turn it on & it went "BLLLP", at the end of the driveway!
After being in the horsepital for 4 months, struggled into Minerva & NO START! "Thought" the "EVAPO" GHOST had kiped my gas. Sat up in bed @ 2:17, "OH crap, fergot to turn on the gas", complicated by the fact that the gauge cork had DIED!
Bill Dummy

old31 · 10-27-2016, 10:38 AM

On my 31 roadster it is: up and down = on, left-right or horizontal = off.

It is always opposite of what I feel it should be.

I like Toms rocket ship analogy.

10-26-2016, 11:50 AM	#1
wrndln Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Lakeville, MN Posts: 5,159	Gas shutoff valve handle direction My coupe has been setting for some time. I can't remember which direction the handle on the gas shutoff valve under the gas tank is for OFF and ON. I think The handle being straight up and down is ON, but I am not sure. If anyone can post the correct direction for the handle I would appreciate it. I should have marked with a label. Rusty Nelson

10-26-2016, 11:59 AM	#2
Roadster Rich Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Alpharetta, Georgia (Atlanta) Posts: 272	Re: Gas shutoff valve handle direction Mine is horizontal for off and vertical up and down for on. Although I have read some places that state the valve should be horizontal in line with the gas line for on. I think there is some confusion and the handle actually should be in line with the valve body and flow coming from the tank to be on, and that would be up and down.

10-26-2016, 12:01 PM	#3
oldwoodsman Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Duluth, MN Posts: 196	Re: Gas shutoff valve handle direction straight up and down on mine is on.

10-26-2016, 12:03 PM	#4
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: Gas shutoff valve handle direction Yep, just think about launching a rocket ship. When it's pointed up it's ready to blast off. When the launch is horizontal, it's shut down.

10-26-2016, 01:00 PM	#5
C26Pinelake BANNED Join Date: May 2010 Location: Michigan / Ontario border, Sarnia, Ontario. 50 miles from Detroit and 150 from Toronto. Posts: 5,800	Re: Gas shutoff valve handle direction Just remember, Up, Up and away! Up and down, not sideways. Wayne Last edited by C26Pinelake; 10-27-2016 at 08:33 AM.

10-26-2016, 02:48 PM	#6
Willie Krash Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Phoenix, Oregon Posts: 661	Re: Gas shutoff valve handle direction Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) It may help to remember that with the handle down it points the direction the fuel flows, __________________ Mike Stitt "A business that make nothing but money is a poor business." -Henry Ford

10-26-2016, 03:11 PM	#7
CarlG Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Anchorage, Alaska Posts: 9,115	Re: Gas shutoff valve handle direction All bets are off on the '31 style valves. I have seen them with the handle in several orirntations. __________________ Alaskan A's Antique Auto Mushers of Alaska Model A Ford Club of America Model A Restorers Club Antique Automobile Club of America Mullins Owner's Club

10-26-2016, 04:43 PM	#8
Tiny Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Redding Cal Posts: 1,388	Re: Gas shutoff valve handle direction Pointed at the floor to drive on 31's. On late 31's pointed across the firewall to drive or at least that's how the two I deal with are. I always think of it as pointed at the road to go on the 31, and pointed at the starter to go on the late 31 __________________ Blackwall Panthers Nor Cal chapter

10-26-2016, 05:31 PM	#10
marty in Ohio Senior Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Elyria, Ohio Posts: 755	Re: Gas shutoff valve handle direction I think you all of guys are right. The handle pointing down is the on position. That is all except mine! When I bought the '30 Town Sedan 23 years ago I had no idea that there even was a fuel shutoff. I don't remember how I found out. Well mine is opposite. I just remember to start it "up" and shut it "down." I've been wrong all these years but "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." Marty

10-26-2016, 05:56 PM	#12
Keith True Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Epping N.H. Posts: 2,984	Re: Gas shutoff valve handle direction Years ago somebody told me to think,down and out.When the handle is hanging down the gas is going out.It seems people would get confused on the spark also,so he would tell them,start it up.To start it up you push it up.

10-27-2016, 07:18 AM	#14
mshmodela Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 2,763	Re: Gas shutoff valve handle direction My late 31' has two. The valve next to the tank I labed with a sharpie --actually the ink is easily removed. __________________ -Mike Late 31' Ford Model A Tudor, Miss Daisy I don't work on cars --I'm learning about my Model A. Cleveland, Ohio

10-27-2016, 07:36 AM	#15
Walt Ebie Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: East Canton, OH Posts: 168	Re: Gas shutoff valve handle direction Just installed a new one......as it came, vertical is "ON", horizontal is "OFF." Of course, you may have already done it, but you could try to start it - you'll soon know if you're getting gas or not.

10-27-2016, 08:13 AM	#16
JohnLaVoy Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Rocklin, CA Posts: 779	Re: Gas shutoff valve handle direction Of course the early 28 is the opposite!

10-27-2016, 09:37 AM	#18
John Kuhnast Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 564	Re: Gas shutoff valve handle direction I Thought I was the only one. On my late 31 under hood I regent The handle so it is in line with the pipe when on and at right angles when off.

10-27-2016, 09:46 AM	#19
BILL WILLIAMSON Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: FRESNO, CA Posts: 12,560	Re: Gas shutoff valve handle direction You can't imagine how MANY times I FORGOT to turn it on & it went "BLLLP", at the end of the driveway! After being in the horsepital for 4 months, struggled into Minerva & NO START! "Thought" the "EVAPO" GHOST had kiped my gas. Sat up in bed @ 2:17, "OH crap, fergot to turn on the gas", complicated by the fact that the gauge cork had DIED! Bill Dummy __________________ "THE ASSISTANT GURU OF STUFF" Last edited by BILL WILLIAMSON; 10-27-2016 at 09:54 AM.

10-27-2016, 10:38 AM	#20
old31 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Posts: 2,094	Re: Gas shutoff valve handle direction On my 31 roadster it is: up and down = on, left-right or horizontal = off. It is always opposite of what I feel it should be. I like Toms rocket ship analogy.