Follow the clues….

[KMBeers]

I took my car out this morning, got a mile from the house and the car stalled at a light and would not restart. I pushed her into a parking lot, with the help of a policeman and started lo look at what may have gone wrong. To give everyone the recent history of the car, the engine was rebuilt over the winter. New bearings, timing gears, reground crank and cam, rebuilt distributor, new generator, rebuilt carburetor, and for the last 350 miles it has been running great. No issues, period. I have been getting it ready for the MARC meet in Gettysburg next month. I had painted my speedo cable and installed it along with a new grommet in the firewall just last week. I had the car out for a quick ride around the neighborhood after that to make sure everything was working properly.
While in the parking lot I went to cheek timing to make sure nothing came undone in the engine or distributor. I used the volt meter in my tool kit and found 6.3 volts at the battery but 1.7 volts at the points during the timing check. Being relatively new to the Model A, I went to changing the condenser and coil. No change. I did notice there was a current drain on the ammeter when the key was on, about 4 amps. That was the clue. I needed to figure out where the power was going. I pulled the cover off the terminal block, looked good, there was 6.3 volts on both terminals. There was also 6.3 on the negative side of the coil and 1.7 on the positive side. Another clue….
So I have a low voltage at the coil and points and a current drain and I can see it on the ammeter. I remembered I had removed the instrument panel previously so I removed the 4 screws and left it hang and turned on the key. No current drain. I double checked everything was reassembled, closed up the hood, and it started right up.
I learned a lot in this situation and felt I should share it with the rest of the Barners. Every detail matters while troubleshooting an issue with your car, so always follow the clues. I will be driving my car from Philly to Gettysburg and there are a few things I will need to add to my kit to make things easier if I have an issue on the road. As P.S. always says, “I am the warranty”!

[JayJay]

Good detective work. Just a thought, when I get done diddling the wires inside the instrument panel, I wrap electrical tape around the switch terminals and around the ammeter to be sure to add an extra layer of insulation between those current-carrying conductors and anything they might touch.

[KMBeers]

I also did a better job insulating and isolating the wires connected to the ammeter and ignition switch by wrapping them in tape. I could see evidence of scratches in the paint behind them and one of them was grounding out.

[J Franklin]

It is always exciting when smoke rolls out from the gauge cluster and gas tank!

[Tom Endy]

https://www.santaanitaas.org/wp-cont...l-Block-TE.pdf

Tom Endy

[German guy]

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If there is one thing I have learned about my 'Henry' ('30 Tudor) it is to insulate the heck out of every wire connection. I have been caught off guard too often and stuck pushing my 'Henry' to get him started for having done a less than perfect job of crimping a simple wire terminal or not using common sense when routing a wire away from potential abrasion due to vibration. The tight space behind the 'chrome' console and ammeter have become my favorite location for developing advanced insulating skills. General rule is that if it can possibly vibrate lose it will do so.

[Wick]

Every model A that I bring home I pull the dash. Always a bare wire or loose screw at the switch.
Second is the terminal box, usually a loose connection or loose post.
This will save you alot of time in the future ,chasing misfires,cutting off for no reason,not starting.

[Bob Bidonde]

This slide may help some of you.

[Flathead]

Originally Posted by Wick

Every model A that I bring home I pull the dash. Always a bare wire or loose screw at the switch.
Second is the terminal box, usually a loose connection or loose post.
This will save you alot of time in the future ,chasing misfires,cutting off for no reason,not starting.

That is very good advice!!

[ThirstyThirty]

Originally Posted by Flathead

That is very good advice!!

at the risk of sounding redundant... I thought so, too!

[rackops]

I've also had the same issue with a short under the panel.

I wonder...how crazy would it be to cut and install a piece of fish paper behind the dash panel? It would prevent any contact from anything on the dash and the gas tank.

I have a roll of fish paper and might just try it out. Worst that could happen is that I end up tossing a chunk of relatively cheap vulcanized fiber.

[BButturff]

Instead of using shiny vinyl electrical tape on automotive wiring I've been using Gardner Bender GTF-600 3/4" x 60' black friction coated fabric electrical tape. It's available through hardware stores and home improvement stores. Of course it's also available on the jungle website. I like it because it insulates well, is easy to use, doesn't come loose by itself, can be removed if wanted and, most of all, it looks just like it belongs on old vehicles.
https://www.amazon.com/Gardner-Bende...44&sr=8-3&th=1

[Wick]

I picked up a 31 barn find yesterday, it would start then not start. Shake the popout and terminal box made a difference.
I pulled the dash and sure enough both connections on the Amp guage were very loose, along with the ignition wire. Also adjusted the points and lube the cam.

[katy]

Originally Posted by BButturff

Of course it's also available on the jungle website

What website are you talking about?

[David in San Antonio]

Jungle = Amazon
Also a mythical race of giant warrior women. Although, if you ever visited my family at Thanksgiving you’d know it isn’t a myth.

[Fullraceflathead]

Often people nickname amazon for the jungle!!!

[JayJay]

Originally Posted by David in San Antonio

Jungle = Amazon
Also a mythical race of giant warrior women. Although, if you ever visited my family at Thanksgiving you’d know it isn’t a myth.

I call it the "river" website. Same deal, I don't want to get Bezos all excited.

[larrys40]

You need to come to my roadside troubleshooting seminar at Gettysburg!
Come find me around the repair tent and introduce yourself.
Larry Shepard
Marc Tech advisor