Spark when starting a warm car?

[Ian Curtis]

Last night I was perusing my copy of the Service Bulletins, and noticed in the January '28 Bulletin it says:

1928 Ford Service Bulletin for January
Warm Engine Starting
With spark control lever about half way down quadrant and throttle lever advanced two or three notches, turn on ignition and depress starter switch. It is usually unnecessary to use choker when the engine is warm.

I had always been under the impression that you should always retard the spark when starting the car. The 1930 owner's manual hosted online as .pdf doesn't mention a special spark position for starting a warm engine.

Does the heat in the block of a warm engine guarantee that combustion will start earlier and the engine won't kick back?

http://www.motormayhem.net/wp-upload...ion-Manual.pdf

[Purdy Swoft]

I always fully retard the spark lever when starting the engine. Some model A's start fine without choking when warm, most like a small touch of choke.

[Tom Wesenberg]

You should retard the spark when starting, or you may get kickback and hard cranking. I have forgotten to retard the spark a few times, and my stock (50 lbs. per cylinder) engine starts fine.

[tbirdtbird]

always with spark retarded no matter what anyone tells you unless you like replacing bent starter armature shafts.

Same rule for every car of that vintage with manual spark....

[C26Pinelake]

Originally Posted by tbirdtbird

always with spark retarded no matter what anyone tells you unless you like replacing bent starter armature shafts.

Same rule for every car of that vintage with manual spark....

I agree, retard the spark no matter what ! I did not on one occasion and wrecked a starter.
Wayne

[Mike V. Florida]

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Originally Posted by Ian Curtis

Last night I was perusing my copy of the Service Bulletins, and noticed in the January '28 Bulletin it says:

1928 Ford Service Bulletin for January
Warm Engine Starting
With spark control lever about half way down quadrant and throttle lever advanced two or three notches, turn on ignition and depress starter switch. It is usually unnecessary to use choker when the engine is warm.

I had always been under the impression that you should always retard the spark when starting the car. The 1930 owner's manual hosted online as .pdf doesn't mention a special spark position for starting a warm engine.

Does the heat in the block of a warm engine guarantee that combustion will start earlier and the engine won't kick back?

http://www.motormayhem.net/wp-upload...ion-Manual.pdf

While I would not argue with the manual, I find it is just easier to remember to have the spark lever up and not have to try to determine if the engine is warm enough to do otherwise. I mean how warm an engine are they speaking about, stopped for a minute or two or for an hour?

[Brian T]

As a matter of habit and since having a few stuck starters and broken bendix bolts I move the spark lever up before shutting off the engine regardless of temperature.

[mshmodela]

I made it a habit to move both the spark and throttle all the way up after my engine stops.

[Purdy Swoft]

A hot or warm engine is more likely to kick back when starting if the spark isn't fully retarded . Most of us at one time or another have forgotten to retard the spark and got lucky and didn't damage an armature shaft . My daughter bent a few when she was younger .

[BlueSunoco]

Originally Posted by mshmodela

I made it a habit to move both the spark and throttle all the way up after my engine stops.

Good idea, I guess it's just a habit with me to retard the spark before starting, I do it and never think about it. But I can see your plan being a good one around a newcomer to Model A's.