The Ford Barn

Al 29Tudor · 12-29-2016, 01:08 PM

Good afternoon gents,
I've been having trouble starting and sometimes my 1929 will not start at all. It's driving me a little crazy.
At times it seems to start just at the moment I stop cranking. It seam like the voltage pops up to 6V as the starter stops drawing and the engine still has some momentum and it starts.
Charged the battery and now have 6.4 volts static.
I'm using an analog meter and while running I get 6.8 V at the alternator terminal.
While cranking, with the ignition on, the voltage drops to 4.0v - 4.2v in the ignition circuit. Twelve month battery has about five years on it.
Plugs have about 12,00 miles on them, timing re-done, points clean and adjusted. Changed condenser, distributor and carburetor.
This morning with a fully charged battery it started on the second cranking try.
How long do you find plugs last? Is it normal for voltage to drop to 4V ?
Thanks for any suggestions you have.
Al

Jacksonlll · 12-29-2016, 02:18 PM

The model A engine wants to start. I hope you are in a local club who can help
You. Make sure the plugs are clean. Its not the age of plugs, its how clean they are.

Tom Endy · 12-29-2016, 02:25 PM

Check the battery ground strap where it is attached to the frame. The connection is out of sight and out of mind and is notorious for being corroded and not providing a proper ground. Remove it and clean the connection.

What could be happening is as you are cranking the starter the poor ground connection adds resistance and most of the battery power is going to the starter and starving the ignition. This drags the battery voltage down. When you release the starter the voltage goes back up and if the engine is still rotating it might light off.

Tom Endy

Y-Blockhead · 12-29-2016, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Al 29Tudor

Good afternoon gents,
I've been having trouble starting and sometimes my 1929 will not start at all. It's driving me a little crazy.
Al

The first part is probably due to Cold Weather and Old Age (I've been having trouble starting).

The second part, as Tom suggests, is to check your grounds.

It's amazing how many electrical problems are caused by bad grounds due to corrosion or paint.

Al 29Tudor · 12-29-2016, 02:37 PM

Thank you gents. I will clean the ground cable at both ends.

Al 29Tudor · 12-29-2016, 05:05 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Update,
The chassis ground was not as tight or as clean as it is now. Pulled the battery out and cleaned the ends of the ground cable and battery end of the negative cable. Started up pretty good and now the ammeter needle is very steady in the charge zone lights on or off.
Thank you again.
AL

robgross1930 · 12-29-2016, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jacksonlll

Its not the age of plugs, its how clean they are.

Yes, and also whether or not the electrodes are worn down.

jm29henry · 12-29-2016, 08:57 PM

Congrats sounds like you might have it fixed

Al 29Tudor · 01-10-2017, 12:00 PM

Another update,
While screwing the ignition into the dist. the contact separated from the wire.
It may have been attached by a couple strands or just touching intermittently.
I re-soldered those together and starting got better but now cranking slowly.
New battery this morning and it popped right off.
Bad grounds, bad ignition contact and old battery. Think I got it all now.
Al

SeaSlugs · 01-10-2017, 12:02 PM

sounds good! Thanks for the update!

Jacksonlll · 01-10-2017, 12:05 PM

Now drive it, and keep driving it. Best thing you can do for it.

12-29-2016, 01:08 PM	#1
Al 29Tudor Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Venice, FL Posts: 648	Trouble starting Good afternoon gents, I've been having trouble starting and sometimes my 1929 will not start at all. It's driving me a little crazy. At times it seems to start just at the moment I stop cranking. It seam like the voltage pops up to 6V as the starter stops drawing and the engine still has some momentum and it starts. Charged the battery and now have 6.4 volts static. I'm using an analog meter and while running I get 6.8 V at the alternator terminal. While cranking, with the ignition on, the voltage drops to 4.0v - 4.2v in the ignition circuit. Twelve month battery has about five years on it. Plugs have about 12,00 miles on them, timing re-done, points clean and adjusted. Changed condenser, distributor and carburetor. This morning with a fully charged battery it started on the second cranking try. How long do you find plugs last? Is it normal for voltage to drop to 4V ? Thanks for any suggestions you have. Al

12-29-2016, 02:18 PM	#2
Jacksonlll Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Michigan-- Member of Oakleaf of MARC Posts: 1,686	Re: Trouble starting The model A engine wants to start. I hope you are in a local club who can help You. Make sure the plugs are clean. Its not the age of plugs, its how clean they are.

12-29-2016, 02:25 PM	#3
Tom Endy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Southern California Posts: 3,131	Re: Trouble starting Check the battery ground strap where it is attached to the frame. The connection is out of sight and out of mind and is notorious for being corroded and not providing a proper ground. Remove it and clean the connection. What could be happening is as you are cranking the starter the poor ground connection adds resistance and most of the battery power is going to the starter and starving the ignition. This drags the battery voltage down. When you release the starter the voltage goes back up and if the engine is still rotating it might light off. Tom Endy

12-29-2016, 02:37 PM	#5
Al 29Tudor Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Venice, FL Posts: 648	Re: Trouble starting Thank you gents. I will clean the ground cable at both ends.

12-29-2016, 05:05 PM	#6
Al 29Tudor Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Venice, FL Posts: 648	Re: Trouble starting Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Update, The chassis ground was not as tight or as clean as it is now. Pulled the battery out and cleaned the ends of the ground cable and battery end of the negative cable. Started up pretty good and now the ammeter needle is very steady in the charge zone lights on or off. Thank you again. AL

12-29-2016, 08:57 PM	#8
jm29henry Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: michigan Posts: 1,126	Re: Trouble starting Congrats sounds like you might have it fixed

01-10-2017, 12:00 PM	#9
Al 29Tudor Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Venice, FL Posts: 648	Re: Trouble starting Another update, While screwing the ignition into the dist. the contact separated from the wire. It may have been attached by a couple strands or just touching intermittently. I re-soldered those together and starting got better but now cranking slowly. New battery this morning and it popped right off. Bad grounds, bad ignition contact and old battery. Think I got it all now. Al

01-10-2017, 12:02 PM	#10
SeaSlugs Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Central, IL Posts: 3,968	Re: Trouble starting sounds good! Thanks for the update! __________________ 1929 Model AA - Need long splash aprons!

01-10-2017, 12:05 PM	#11
Jacksonlll Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Michigan-- Member of Oakleaf of MARC Posts: 1,686	Re: Trouble starting Now drive it, and keep driving it. Best thing you can do for it.