Been siting up since Covid, now what?

[ETAModel]

The 30 Fordor a friend bought was last ran in Nov 2019, then covid happened and it sat until last Saturday. I only drove it about 10xs before cold weather stopped us.
It has a dry cell 6V battery, and of course it was dead. Put it on charge, got it to 6.1V, then drained the gas and put in fresh and I guess I forgot how to crank it. I cranked it about 4 different times until the battery started fading, then I stopped.

Got a commercial charger and got her to 6.2V. Any tips to get her to crank tomorrow? Fuel was 2/3 turn off bottom, how much choke do I give it ? Timing full retarded or slightly advanced?

Thanks for the help.

ET

[Jacksonlll]

Check the oil and coolant. Full retard, one bang with the choke.
Take a business card or thick piece of paper and pass it between the points when they are closed to clean them off. Don't start changing any parts.
good luck. It will be fun.

[jayvee34]

Originally Posted by Jacksonlll

Check the oil and coolant. Full retard, one bang with the choke.
Take a business card or thick piece of paper and pass it between the points when they are closed to clean them off. Don't start changing any parts.
good luck. It will be fun.

The only thing I would add, is to check the coolant, do not start a dry engine.
Best Wishes.

Sorry! JacksonIII did mention coolant.

[WHN]

Originally Posted by Jacksonlll

Check the oil and coolant. Full retard, one bang with the choke.
Take a business card or thick piece of paper and pass it between the points when they are closed to clean them off. Don't start changing any parts.
good luck. It will be fun.

Please don’t start changing anything. Need good charge on battery, make sure your gas is getting to carb, retard spark, might take a little more choke. Make sure to open the choke adjustment rod at least one full turn from closed. Closed turn clock wise. If you have a fuse, check it. Check wire from coil to top of distributor. Did you turn on the key?

One year sitting is nothing for these cars. I had one start right up after 30 years, just new battery and fresh gas.

🤞 enjoy.

[ETAModel]

Thanks all...I have no intentions of changing anything. I will run a business card between the points, I had a 69 Chevy and did that a few times to keep them clean. I'm gonna try it this afternoon. Wish me luck

[Anteek29]

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[1931 flamingo]

Replace the battery...............
Paul in CT

[CWPASADENA]

When you choke it, pull the choke all the way out. Just partly applying the choke part way will not pull fuel from the carburetor and up into the intake manifold.

Chris W.

[Ernie Vitucci]

Good afternoon...It is just possible that a piece of junk has settled in the breather hole in your fuel cap which would stop the flow of gas...also, you can remove the filter at the end of the carburetor and see if it is clean...when cars sit...liquid in the filter screen can turn to muck...have a friend hold a bottle at that location with the filter out and turn on the gas for just long enough to be sure that gas is flowing well from the tank to the carb...talk to the old girl nicely and she will run! Ernie in Arizona

[ETAModel]

Originally Posted by Ernie Vitucci

Good afternoon...It is just possible that a piece of junk has settled in the breather hole in your fuel cap which would stop the flow of gas...also, you can remove the filter at the end of the carburetor and see if it is clean...when cars sit...liquid in the filter screen can turn to muck...have a friend hold a bottle at that location with the filter out and turn on the gas for just long enough to be sure that gas is flowing well from the tank to the carb...talk to the old girl nicely and she will run! Ernie in Arizona

I drained the tank last week by unhooking the fuel line from the carb and putting a fuel can under it. It took about 5 minutes to drain almost 2 gallons. Does this sound like the proper flow rate?

I don't think it is firing strong or at all. I set spark full retard, throttle half, needle one full turn off bottom. Hit choke as she turned over, then got off choke, but she didn't fire.

I took off dist cap, saw a bit of rust under rotor cap, took cloth and got most of it off, same with bit of rust on shaft rotor cap sits on. Then used business card to clean points.

Still no go, doesn't act like its firing, but I cant be in 2 places at once to check.

I have a friend coming over at noon to help, so we can see if she's getting fire.

Should I shoot a sniff of WD-40 under rotor cap to prevent rust, remove any moisture? Based on small bit of rust some moisture got under it.

Thanks in advance...

To be continued.
ET

[Bill G]

I would not shoot any WD 40 under the dist cap. Before doing anything check to see if you are getting any spark at all, and if not at lest get it to spark.

[ETAModel]

I have another question. How much voltage should the 6V battery have? It charges to 6.2V, is that enough?

[shew01]

Originally Posted by ETAModel

I have another question. How much voltage should the 6V battery have? It charges to 6.2V, is that enough?

That’s about what my battery reads.


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[ETAModel]

Originally Posted by shew01

That’s about what my battery reads.


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Thanks for the quick reply. At least we don't need a battery....yet

[eagle]

Lift a spark plug strap so its an 1/8 inch or little more above spark plug. turn on ignition switch, then pull the starter rod from under the hood and watch for spark. I think you'll likely need to clean your points better than with a business card. Some emery cloth or even better a point file. However, check the spark FIRST. And as already been mentioned, don't start throwing parts at it.

[nkaminar]

If you file the points reset the gap to 0.020 inch. Do not change the timing.

You can check for spark by holding the high tension wire from the coil about 1/4 inch from a ground point and open the points with you finger. The points should be closed for this test. Do not leave the ignition on for more than 30 seconds at a time or the coil may get too hot. You can also check for a spark with the points open and shorting between the points with a screw driver. If you get a spark that way but not by opening the points with your finger, the points have to be dressed. A point file works but so does a good sharpening stone. If you use any kind of sand paper to clean the points use the card to clean out all the residue from the sand paper.

[ETAModel]

A friend showed up and helped me. He got zapped by the plug wire, so we moved to the carb. It was clogged up, so he took it apart and used some carb cleaner and got it unplugged. Then she fired right up. It smoked about a minute then cleared up. I drove her 48 miles, her longest outing so far.

Thanks everyone for your help.
I have plenty more questions.
ET

[shew01]

Originally Posted by ETAModel

A friend showed up and helped me. He got zapped by the plug wire, so we moved to the carb.

That’s the best spark tester I’ve heard about yet. “Hey, let Mickey do it. He’ll do anything.” Bzzzzt

Lol


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[ETAModel]

Originally Posted by shew01

That’s the best spark tester I’ve heard about yet. “Hey, let Mickey do it. He’ll do anything.” Bzzzzt

Lol


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This is the guy we got the A from, he has several A's. I offered a plastic handle screwdriver, he said these rubber coated pliers will work...boy was he wrong.

[shew01]

Originally Posted by ETAModel

This is the guy we got the A from, he has several A's. I offered a plastic handle screwdriver, he said these rubber coated pliers will work...boy was he wrong.

REAL mean don’t need any insulation. [emoji23] [emoji23] [emoji23]


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