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11-17-2019, 10:35 PM | #1 |
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Join Date: Jul 2019
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Spark Control . . . on hills, under load, etc.
Do you adjust your spark as described in the Model A guide when climbing hills? Just curious, as I may have experienced this scenario on a number of occasions and didn't realize that "retarding" the spark would help. Will have to try this.
Last edited by DannL; 11-19-2019 at 09:14 AM. |
11-17-2019, 10:59 PM | #2 |
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Re: Spark Control . . .
Model T or A yes.
Think of a car with vacuum advance when there is less vacuum there is less advance, the timing is retarded. You are the replacement for the vacuum so use the timing lever as such.
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11-18-2019, 09:52 AM | #3 | |
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Re: Spark Control . . .
Quote:
After retarding the advance don't forget to move the lever back to its happy spot, down because a retarded engine will run hotter. |
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11-18-2019, 10:36 AM | #4 | |
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Re: Spark Control . . .
Vince Falter's take on use of the advance lever (which mirrors my own experience.)
http://www.fordgarage.com/pages/bdistributoradvance.htm Quote:
The Model A generally has more "advance capability" than is required - and was actually "engineered out" of capability for the centrifugal advance Model B. Your engine and timing may vary. Joe K
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11-19-2019, 08:19 AM | #5 |
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Re: Spark Control . . .
Spark knock or ping is the key. Keep the engine as advanced as possible, without the ping. Nothing complicated about it. I saw one guy had make a placard on the spark lever with the degrees all printed on it, and had calculated exacly when and where it should be under all sorts of conditions. He'd never heard of listening for ping. I continually listen to the sounds in all my vehicles. Tells you a lot.
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11-19-2019, 08:36 AM | #6 |
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Re: Spark Control . . .
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I try to explain to my son and daughter and wife that the timing is similar to riding a bicycle. When going up hill there is constant pressure against your feet as you pedal but as soon as you roll over the top of the hill that pressure changes and any of us who have tried to go as fast as we could knows what happens next. If you're not careful you'll wipe out just trying to keep the pedals under pressure. I'll admit I don't have a total understanding yet but I'm sure with enough experience I'll get it. |
11-19-2019, 10:47 AM | #7 |
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Re: Spark Control . . . on hills, under load, etc.
I don't know if it's just me, but I've never heard any ping in my A. Seems it wants to run 1/2 way down the quadrant all the time. I'm running a 6:1 head, so it does the hills pretty effortlessly.
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11-19-2019, 11:15 AM | #8 |
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Re: Spark Control . . . on hills, under load, etc.
I scold only get pinging when the engine had a worn camshaft and sunk wide valve seats--- now even with gas that made lawnmower knock no setting gets spark knocking
The owners instruction book says to use full advance for high speeds---- what speed would be considered "high speed " in 1931, |
11-19-2019, 11:57 AM | #9 | |
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Re: Spark Control . . . on hills, under load, etc.
Quote:
I'm considering installing a knock sensor: http://www.viatrack.ca
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11-19-2019, 12:42 PM | #10 | |
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Re: Spark Control . . . on hills, under load, etc.
Quote:
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