The Ford Barn

bunnyc · 06-03-2015, 08:45 PM

My husband is just an average mechanic (his words), but he finally got our '29 running the way it's supposed to. He believes the root cause was the distributor drive shaft. He couldn't get it to keep in time. The groove on the end that the distributor fits into was enlarged, too much play we think.

So, new drive shaft and distributor ( it had too much side play).
He also got rid of the Tillotson carb and replaced it with a new Zenith. The Tillotson was warped. He tried the oven trick but it didn't work for him.
No overheating, so we're good with that.
Looking forward to many days of enjoyment to come.
Thanks to the forum for all the help.

SeaSlugs · 06-03-2015, 08:47 PM

Thanks for posting back what you found! Always helps us out so we know what the solution was to your problems!

Hopefully you can get it out ASAP and enjoy it!

Redbird · 06-04-2015, 05:55 AM

Pictures, pictures, pictures of your car!

Mike V. Florida · 06-04-2015, 08:12 AM

Great news. Drive it like you stole it!!!

burner31 · 06-04-2015, 12:09 PM

Tell us more about this "oven trick"
I'm an old dog that likes to learn new tricks.

FrankWest · 06-04-2015, 01:30 PM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by bunnyc

My husband is just an average mechanic (his words), but he finally got our '29 running the way it's supposed to. He believes the root cause was the distributor drive shaft. He couldn't get it to keep in time. The groove on the end that the distributor fits into was enlarged, too much play we think.

So, new drive shaft and distributor ( it had too much side play).
He also got rid of the Tillotson carb and replaced it with a new Zenith. The Tillotson was warped. He tried the oven trick but it didn't work for him.
No overheating, so we're good with that.
Looking forward to many days of enjoyment to come.
Thanks to the forum for all the help.

Great news!!! Way to go!
It is so satisfying to fix a problem!

bunnyc · 06-05-2015, 07:42 PM

Redbird, car photos are in my album on this site.

burner 31, oven trick came from member 'Ron in Quincy' on this forum. His post reads, in part, "Bare the carburetor, put a large hose clamp around the top and bottom and draw up very tight; ( when the wife is gone) put the carb in the oven, at 350 degrees, for 1/2 hour, remove and let cool with clamp in place. This works on the later Tillotson will probable work on the F-1A or B."
We tried this on our Tillotson, as the upper and lower halves were warped. Didn't work for us.

burner31 · 06-06-2015, 01:16 AM

A damn good idea/trick.
I will be giving this a try as I also have a small problem with the two halves mating.
Thanks

burner31 · 06-13-2015, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bunnyc

My husband is just an average mechanic (his words), but he finally got our '29 running the way it's supposed to. He believes the root cause was the distributor drive shaft. He couldn't get it to keep in time. The groove on the end that the distributor fits into was enlarged, too much play we think.

So, new drive shaft and distributor ( it had too much side play).
He also got rid of the Tillotson carb and replaced it with a new Zenith. The Tillotson was warped. He tried the oven trick but it didn't work for him.
No overheating, so we're good with that.
Looking forward to many days of enjoyment to come.
Thanks to the forum for all the help.

Was there a lot of rotor movement?
How much is normal?

I may have the same issue. my rotor move back and forth almost 1/2 inch

bunnyc · 06-13-2015, 04:32 PM

My husband thinks 1/2" rotor movement isn't right.
If you remove the distributor and look down the hole you can see the top of the distributor drive. Compare the slot that you see with the driven part of the distributor.
In our case, it was obvious that the drive shaft was too worn.
We aren't experts - just sharing what we saw/found.

burner31 · 06-13-2015, 05:39 PM

My shaft looks pretty much like yours, rusted and the lower end slot seems a little to wide/worn.
Have a new one coming from Bert's along with a thermostat, working/chasing many problems at once.
Almost looking forward to winter so I can take it off the road, but not now, having to much fun driving it.

burner31 · 06-16-2015, 11:19 AM

Does this look familiar?
I have a new one on the way from Bert's
Look at that right tang, worn and spread out.

Tom Wesenberg · 06-16-2015, 11:37 AM

Yes, it's usable, but I would also replace it. When the distributor is due for a new shaft and bushings, the lower shaft is also due for replacement.

burner31 · 06-16-2015, 12:19 PM

Yes it will work, but not as well as it could.
Slop in the distributor translates to poor performance.
At less than a fin I will replace it.

burner31 · 06-16-2015, 12:41 PM

Hey Tom:
Your pushing 18K posts, that's got to be near, if not, the record.
Does anyone know what the high post number is? And who has that record?
With those numbers "senior member" just doesn't seem to cut it.
Something special is needed for members with numbers like that ,truly dedicated members need recognition for that level of contributions.

And NO I'm not kiss'n ass, just believe "give credit where credit is due"

burner31 · 06-22-2015, 10:00 AM

Update:

Changed up the upper distributor shaft and what a difference, the engine runs so much better.
Thank you for bringing this to my attention, I may never have thought to check it.
You can see in the first pic how the slot was belled out.
For under five bucks, the best money I ever spent.
Once again...Thanks

06-03-2015, 08:45 PM	#1
bunnyc Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: KY Posts: 296	Finally, my A runs good My husband is just an average mechanic (his words), but he finally got our '29 running the way it's supposed to. He believes the root cause was the distributor drive shaft. He couldn't get it to keep in time. The groove on the end that the distributor fits into was enlarged, too much play we think. So, new drive shaft and distributor ( it had too much side play). He also got rid of the Tillotson carb and replaced it with a new Zenith. The Tillotson was warped. He tried the oven trick but it didn't work for him. No overheating, so we're good with that. Looking forward to many days of enjoyment to come. Thanks to the forum for all the help.

06-03-2015, 08:47 PM	#2
SeaSlugs Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Central, IL Posts: 3,968	Re: Finally, my A runs good Thanks for posting back what you found! Always helps us out so we know what the solution was to your problems! Hopefully you can get it out ASAP and enjoy it! __________________ 1929 Model AA - Need long splash aprons!

06-04-2015, 05:55 AM	#3
Redbird Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Georgetown, TX Posts: 535	Re: Finally, my A runs good Pictures, pictures, pictures of your car!

06-04-2015, 08:12 AM	#4
Mike V. Florida Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: South Florida Posts: 14,054	Re: Finally, my A runs good Great news. Drive it like you stole it!!! __________________ What's right about America is that although we have a mess of problems, we have great capacity - intellect and resources - to do some thing about them. - Henry Ford II

06-04-2015, 12:09 PM	#5
burner31 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Shawnee, Ok Posts: 3,471	Re: Finally, my A runs good Tell us more about this "oven trick" I'm an old dog that likes to learn new tricks. __________________ Keith Shawnee OK '31 SW 160-B

06-05-2015, 07:42 PM	#7
bunnyc Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: KY Posts: 296	Re: Finally, my A runs good Redbird, car photos are in my album on this site. burner 31, oven trick came from member 'Ron in Quincy' on this forum. His post reads, in part, "Bare the carburetor, put a large hose clamp around the top and bottom and draw up very tight; ( when the wife is gone) put the carb in the oven, at 350 degrees, for 1/2 hour, remove and let cool with clamp in place. This works on the later Tillotson will probable work on the F-1A or B." We tried this on our Tillotson, as the upper and lower halves were warped. Didn't work for us.

06-06-2015, 01:16 AM	#8
burner31 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Shawnee, Ok Posts: 3,471	Re: Finally, my A runs good A damn good idea/trick. I will be giving this a try as I also have a small problem with the two halves mating. Thanks __________________ Keith Shawnee OK '31 SW 160-B

06-13-2015, 04:32 PM	#10
bunnyc Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: KY Posts: 296	Re: Finally, my A runs good My husband thinks 1/2" rotor movement isn't right. If you remove the distributor and look down the hole you can see the top of the distributor drive. Compare the slot that you see with the driven part of the distributor. In our case, it was obvious that the drive shaft was too worn. We aren't experts - just sharing what we saw/found.

06-13-2015, 05:39 PM	#11
burner31 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Shawnee, Ok Posts: 3,471	Re: Finally, my A runs good My shaft looks pretty much like yours, rusted and the lower end slot seems a little to wide/worn. Have a new one coming from Bert's along with a thermostat, working/chasing many problems at once. Almost looking forward to winter so I can take it off the road, but not now, having to much fun driving it. __________________ Keith Shawnee OK '31 SW 160-B

06-16-2015, 11:37 AM	#13
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: Finally, my A runs good Yes, it's usable, but I would also replace it. When the distributor is due for a new shaft and bushings, the lower shaft is also due for replacement.

06-16-2015, 12:19 PM	#14
burner31 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Shawnee, Ok Posts: 3,471	Re: Finally, my A runs good Yes it will work, but not as well as it could. Slop in the distributor translates to poor performance. At less than a fin I will replace it. __________________ Keith Shawnee OK '31 SW 160-B

06-16-2015, 12:41 PM	#15
burner31 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Shawnee, Ok Posts: 3,471	Re: Finally, my A runs good Hey Tom: Your pushing 18K posts, that's got to be near, if not, the record. Does anyone know what the high post number is? And who has that record? With those numbers "senior member" just doesn't seem to cut it. Something special is needed for members with numbers like that ,truly dedicated members need recognition for that level of contributions. And NO I'm not kiss'n ass, just believe "give credit where credit is due" __________________ Keith Shawnee OK '31 SW 160-B