The Ford Barn

JoeCB · 04-13-2023, 01:28 PM

Summer has arrived big time here in S-E Michigan, 82F today. Rolled the A out of winter hibernation yesterday. Turned on the gas, drained a little. And NO start, first time in 50 years that she didn't start on the first try. Panic! ... brain start swirling. Check the electrical, good, check the condenser , good, even brought out the Merctronic and tested the coil, good! ,,, lesson to be learned, Start with the simple stuff first. Points, dirty and much neglected, likely for years. Clean, polish and set .020 and all is good with the world , once again.
Joe B

Rob Doe · 04-13-2023, 02:17 PM

Thanks for this post, Joe. Your problem description and cure is one I have not experienced, but have only read about. Thx.

wwirz · 04-13-2023, 06:55 PM

Usually something simple. I am glad you ran all the checks instead of throwing parts at it to try to get it to start

nkaminar · 04-13-2023, 07:07 PM

Most cars that sit for a while will have to have their point cleaned.

fried okra · 04-14-2023, 11:38 AM

Did you leave the points in place and use one of the points filing tools to clean them?

I have the same problem

JoeCB · 04-14-2023, 11:52 AM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Yes ,I left the points in place. used a file to remove just the built up nub. then , 600 "wet & dry" paper to polish. re-set to .020 Good for another 50 years.

Joe B

slatgrille · 04-15-2023, 08:42 AM

Yesterday (4/14), it was 83* here in Maine. Decided to get 'Bessie' the '29 RPU out for the first time in 6 months. Had it on a battery maintainer all winter and pulled the fuse on the starter too.

Did all the preliminary's, got in, turned on the gas, adjusted GAV, pulled choke briefly, hit the starter and it just turned over and over w/o firing. Figuring the points needed a bit of cleaning, I checked for 'arc' with the ignition on...nothing. Asked my son to get me the required tools. As he is rumbling around to find them (and having trouble), it dawned on me...I forgot to reconnect the fuse! After telling him to 'never mind'....Bessie fired right up. Took him for a ride, then put her back for the next few weeks while temps 'normalize' around here. Ran like a charm. Next time she's out will be at the 'Dust Off' Model A round up on April 29 at the Bean Farm in Wakefield, NH.

Craig

Dino's A · 04-15-2023, 09:22 AM

I had a rare, momentary stutter on the jeep last year and
first thought of a carb issue or fuel. I inspected the points
and noticed there was metal transferred onto the arm part
and it was built up of metal a bit.

I filled the part down and the stutter was gone.
Some condensers are not good and create this problem.

I have a new set of points in & new condenser from a
company that swears it's all gone and within spec.

Time will tell.....

Jeff/Illinois · 04-16-2023, 02:44 PM

82 here Saturday in NW Illinois sun actually felt kind of hot.

34 right now and snowing

We hadn't had a good enough rain to wash off the roads from winter salt (IDOT went wild about three weeks ago we had a 'frost' and they dumped 100 million tons of salt on the highways) and been dry ever since, no rain, got a hard rain last night, roads are finally clean, but they will be out tonite doing the excessive salt dance getting that OT.

Haven't been able to get the cars out looks like it will still be a while. Probably May by the way things are going.

Ignorant what they do...........

04-13-2023, 01:28 PM	#1
JoeCB Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: Farmington MI Posts: 284	First start of summer 2023 Summer has arrived big time here in S-E Michigan, 82F today. Rolled the A out of winter hibernation yesterday. Turned on the gas, drained a little. And NO start, first time in 50 years that she didn't start on the first try. Panic! ... brain start swirling. Check the electrical, good, check the condenser , good, even brought out the Merctronic and tested the coil, good! ,,, lesson to be learned, Start with the simple stuff first. Points, dirty and much neglected, likely for years. Clean, polish and set .020 and all is good with the world , once again. Joe B

04-13-2023, 02:17 PM	#2
Rob Doe Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2021 Location: Central Illinois Posts: 496	Re: First start of summer 2023 Thanks for this post, Joe. Your problem description and cure is one I have not experienced, but have only read about. Thx. __________________ "It ain't what you know for certain that gets ya in trouble. It's what ya know for certain that just ain't so!"

04-13-2023, 06:55 PM	#3
wwirz Senior Member Join Date: May 2020 Location: Corning NY Posts: 244	Re: First start of summer 2023 Usually something simple. I am glad you ran all the checks instead of throwing parts at it to try to get it to start

04-13-2023, 07:07 PM	#4
nkaminar Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Western North Carolina Posts: 3,903	Re: First start of summer 2023 Most cars that sit for a while will have to have their point cleaned. __________________ A is for apple, green as the sky. Step on the gas, for tomorrow I die. Forget the brakes, they really don't work. The clutch always sticks, and starts with a jerk. My car grows red hair, and flies through the air. Driving's a blast, a blast from the past.

04-14-2023, 11:38 AM	#5
fried okra Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2018 Location: Daniel Island,SouthCarolina/Knoxville, Tennessee/Sanibel Island,Florida Posts: 292	Re: First start of summer 2023 Did you leave the points in place and use one of the points filing tools to clean them? I have the same problem

04-14-2023, 11:52 AM	#6
JoeCB Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: Farmington MI Posts: 284	Re: First start of summer 2023 Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Yes ,I left the points in place. used a file to remove just the built up nub. then , 600 "wet & dry" paper to polish. re-set to .020 Good for another 50 years. Joe B

04-15-2023, 08:42 AM	#7
slatgrille Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2021 Location: Limerick, ME Posts: 158	Re: First start of summer 2023 Yesterday (4/14), it was 83* here in Maine. Decided to get 'Bessie' the '29 RPU out for the first time in 6 months. Had it on a battery maintainer all winter and pulled the fuse on the starter too. Did all the preliminary's, got in, turned on the gas, adjusted GAV, pulled choke briefly, hit the starter and it just turned over and over w/o firing. Figuring the points needed a bit of cleaning, I checked for 'arc' with the ignition on...nothing. Asked my son to get me the required tools. As he is rumbling around to find them (and having trouble), it dawned on me...I forgot to reconnect the fuse! After telling him to 'never mind'....Bessie fired right up. Took him for a ride, then put her back for the next few weeks while temps 'normalize' around here. Ran like a charm. Next time she's out will be at the 'Dust Off' Model A round up on April 29 at the Bean Farm in Wakefield, NH. Craig

04-15-2023, 09:22 AM	#8
Dino's A Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Arcadia, Ca. Posts: 251	Re: First start of summer 2023 I had a rare, momentary stutter on the jeep last year and first thought of a carb issue or fuel. I inspected the points and noticed there was metal transferred onto the arm part and it was built up of metal a bit. I filled the part down and the stutter was gone. Some condensers are not good and create this problem. I have a new set of points in & new condenser from a company that swears it's all gone and within spec. Time will tell..... __________________ 1928 Roadster Pickup 1930 Tudor 1943 Ford WWII Jeep 1968 Taco Minibike Member, Santa Anita Model A's Arcadia Ca.

04-16-2023, 02:44 PM	#9
Jeff/Illinois Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 2,789	Re: First start of summer 2023 82 here Saturday in NW Illinois sun actually felt kind of hot. 34 right now and snowing We hadn't had a good enough rain to wash off the roads from winter salt (IDOT went wild about three weeks ago we had a 'frost' and they dumped 100 million tons of salt on the highways) and been dry ever since, no rain, got a hard rain last night, roads are finally clean, but they will be out tonite doing the excessive salt dance getting that OT. Haven't been able to get the cars out looks like it will still be a while. Probably May by the way things are going. Ignorant what they do...........