Smoke! ouch!

[socalplanedoc]

I made a short video of running an errand in my Fordor for me kids, who are all off living in other states:
http://youtu.be/b600KQv1dZY

On the way back home the switch for the dome light fell apart in pieces, slipped back behind the panel and shorted out! It was put in by the previous owner and I hadn't got to doping it out yet. Turns out there was 18G lamp cord wiring and no fuse.. the resulting smoke caused me to slam on the brakes and bail out while in the middle of the road.. when I realized the smoke was coming from somewhere near the gas tank, I reach back in and yanked the whole harness out. smoke stopped and I got some wicked burns.


well, I didn't like the white lamp wires anyway.

oh, i found out the starter will drive the car up the driveway nicely when it has 12V on it

Funny.. when folks see a 1930 car disabled on the road, they don't seem to mind going around at all...

[Jordan]

Do you not have a safety fuse on your car?

[socalplanedoc]

Originally Posted by Jordan

Do you not have a safety fuse on your car?

Yes I do.

Let me make this prefectly clear to all the "why no fuse" questions.

I got this car a few months ago from an estate of a guy who had passed at a nice old age. He had a couple of As and used this one as his "experimenter".
Clearly, he lacked basic electrical skills as I had to go completely through the under-hood wiring and redo it. wierd wire, loose connections, wire nuts, masking tape.. it was a mess. and, he used no fuses on anything and I have to wonder if any of the lamps in his house still had cords attached

I had not yet looked at the wiring under the panel for the domelight or the fuel pump. Sure wished I had now. he ran a hot straight from the battery to the two switches and no fuse. No biggie, I'll sort it out too.

The car looks like it has been owned by a guy with all the tools but only about half the knowledge needed to use them. He had a huge shop, lift, machine tools, even had an industrial quality paint booth. But, the machine equipment was chinese and looked abused, and the paint has runs, orange peel and overspray all over the place along with areas where primer still shows. Still, the frame is straight, the body has no damage or corrosion anywhere, the wood is good, all 6 tires and wheels look great, interior is period and nice, the title was clear and registration current, and I got it for a very very low price.
It needs a lot of TLC but heck, don't they all?
I need to figure out the carb situation next. It has a downdraft 2 barrel that looks like a single barrel until you look down inside it. Idle is wierd. I'll make a seperate posting for that though...

[Special Coupe Frank]

You do carry a good ABC fire extinguisher, right ?

SC Frank

[socalplanedoc]

Originally Posted by Special Coupe Frank

You do carry a good ABC fire extinguisher, right ?

SC Frank

Of course! that habit comes from the aviation side in me.

Removed all the wires yesterday. I'm putting in Tefzel for replacement (another aviation habit). After crawling under vintage plane panels installing avionics, working on the car seems like cheating.

[Jim Brierley]

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If you have run out of smoke I think Lucas in the UK sells it in bulk as their system uses a lot of it! :-)

[flatheadernie]

The avatar Franklin or cont ? 41 65ca areonica, ernie

[socalplanedoc]

Originally Posted by flatheadernie

The avatar Franklin or cont ? 41 65ca areonica, ernie

It has an Cont IO-470, the plane is a '59 14-19-3, not the pre-war 14-13 series. You cant tell by the nosewheel peeking out just behind the prop.

[socalplanedoc]

Originally Posted by Jim Brierley

If you have run out of smoke I think Lucas in the UK sells it in bulk as their system uses a lot of it! :-)

I have no idea what that means.

[Woodie1]

Glad the smoke damage wasn't worse & you bailed out safely.

[Jim Johnston]

Jim Brierley, I know I'm showing my age but I know what you mean! I recall the employees motto at the Lucas Factory - 'a good day's work and 'ome before dark' !!

[WTSHNN]

[Bob C]

Planedoc,
These links will help explain the Lucas electrical system.
http://www.peizhang.com/forfun/forfu...ings_smoke.htm
http://www.mez.co.uk/lucas.html

Bob

[RUNNERBUN]

Originally Posted by socalplanedoc

I have no idea what that means.

Do a Google search on The theory of smoke, Lucas. You will find it entertaining reading. Lucas electrical equipment not highly regarded by many.
According to the theory, it is smoke that makes all electrical equipment work. Once the smoke leaks out it is observed that the appliance then no longer works. So therefore it is quite obvious that smoke, not electricity makes it work. "Obviousely tongue in Cheek"

[700rpm]

I would be surprised if you didn't ruin your starter using it to drive your car. I sure wouldn't make a habit of that practice.

[Hyperion]

Ahh, Lucas....the prince of darkness.

[socalplanedoc]

Originally Posted by 700rpm

I would be surprised if you didn't ruin your starter using it to drive your car. I sure wouldn't make a habit of that practice.

Surprise! the starter is fine. ran for 5 secs tops, probably less than some have to run it to start their engines

[socalplanedoc]

Originally Posted by Bob C

Planedoc,
These links will help explain the Lucas electrical system.
http://www.peizhang.com/forfun/forfu...ings_smoke.htm
http://www.mez.co.uk/lucas.html

Bob

Bahahaha! thanks, Bob. That was like reading a bunch of "yo mamma" jokes

[Jim Brierley]

The starter actually draws less amperage on 12v than it does on 6, so does not get as hot.

[Tom Wesenberg]

Originally Posted by Jim Brierley

The starter actually draws less amperage on 12v than it does on 6, so does not get as hot.

That would be true for a starter putting out the same horsepower, but if you apply 12 volts to the same 6 volt Model A starter the amps will increase, as well as the RPM and horsepower. I did some tests a few years ago and don't know if I still have my notes, but on 6 volts my starter draws about 100 amps and on 12 volts it draws about 140 amps.