Ignition Abnormality

[David Williams]

Had a weird thing happen today, I was troubleshooting my ignition system. First, the truck has sit since late fall in my farm shop, was going to bring it over to my basement shop for some work. When it wouldn't fire, I checked fuel,OK then went to ignition. With coil wire loose and closing open points with screwdriver to check for spark to a head bolt, the starter actually kicked,l saw the fan move. Couldn't believe it tried again same thing. Distributor has been rebuilt,along with engine,starter. I did have a hot spark. Am I having a ground issue between distributor and block? Truck ran and started fine til I put it up for winter. Any thoughts. Ghost in my shop.
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[Tom Wesenberg]

I had a similar problem 3 years ago after not being driven for 4 months during the monsoon season. Even after cleaning the points it didn't fire up until I tried the hand crank. It fired right up with one pull of the crank. Once fired up it was fine the rest of the summer.

[WestCoast]

check for cross firing , maybe a cracked dist cap, or a carbon track inside the dist cap

[daveymc29]

Ever turn your key to the "on" position and find that the engine was now running? I have done that twice with a Model A. Glad I make a habit of putting the shifter into neutral, hand brake on and the clutch in whenever I start these machines.

[pat in Santa Cruz]

it could be the battery is low, or the battery ground is poor, so the starter sucks up so much battery that there is not enough to spark. Then when you activate the points or hand crank it, it has enough juice to spark

[Mike V. Florida]

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Originally Posted by pat in Santa Cruz

it could be the battery is low, or the battery ground is poor, so the starter sucks up so much battery that there is not enough to spark. Than when you activate the points or hand crank it, it has enough juice to spark

Originally Posted by Tom Wesenberg

I had a similar problem 3 years ago after not being driven for 4 months during the monsoon season. Even after cleaning the points it didn't fire up until I tried the hand crank. It fired right up with one pull of the crank. Once fired up it was fine the rest of the summer.

Something to look at.

[1930artdeco]

Somehow I think your starter switch is somehow sticking, even though you did not touch it. Sounds interesting though.

Mike

[Mitch//pa]

it sounds like when you energized the points it combusted some gas in one of the cylinders