Breakdown Sunday and Looking for Advice
 

Hi Guys,

Took my new 30 DLX Coupe out for a spin on Saturday, about 20 miles, she ran like a champ. Did the same on Sunday, maybe a little further, on the way home, maybe 5 miles away she started running really rough, no power, bad backfires, etc.

Pulled over a saw that there was a fuel leak coming from the top of the brass shut off valve (where the knob screws in, see picture) my father-in-law had added by the carburetor.

Ended up coming home on a flatbed, I think I could have fixed it on the side of the road but my wife did not have the same faith in my mechanical abilities as I had and she was afraid that the fuel that leaked out could catch on fire even if I could get her running.

Question....is that shut off even necessary, can I just reconnect the fuel line directly to the carburetor and leave that off completely....that would have been my plan on the side of the road.

Also, it appears the air filter caught a lot of the fuel that leaked out, should I replace that or is it it OK.

Unfortunately I have not been able to do anything with it since Sunday, Monday morning I found out I had a detached retina and had to have emergency surgery so I'm benched for a few weeks while I recover.

Thanks for the help in advance.

Re: Breakdown Sunday and Looking for Advice
 

Take that thing off!

Re: Breakdown Sunday and Looking for Advice
 

If it was mine I would do away with the shut off and the air cleaner. but check to make sure your inside shut off is working ok if not replace it and add one of the upright filters in the shut off valve. Would also go a complete new fuel line less fittings less chance for a leek.

Re: Breakdown Sunday and Looking for Advice
 

While we're in the mood to "that that thing off", ...I would also strongly suggest you consider replacing that fan with a 2-blade fan from Snyders. If you choose not to take it off, very likely it will take itself off for you. :o


BTW, I can empathize with you regarding the detached retina. I had that happen to my right eye several years ago while attending Hershey, and I did not lay face-down like they told me to do and I only have about 90% peripheral vision in that eye as a result. My suggestion is to do EXACTLY as they tell you.

Re: Breakdown Sunday and Looking for Advice
 

Thanks guys...

Will definetly take it off....inside fuel shutoff working great and understand on less fittings on the fuel line.

Re: Breakdown Sunday and Looking for Advice
 

Thanks Brent, it is already a two blade fan, is there a different one I should have on it.

And thanks on the eye thing, this is my second detached retina in 6 years, right eye about 6 years ago, left eye this time and you are exactly right on the face down thing for two weeks....way harder than the actual surgery.

Re: Breakdown Sunday and Looking for Advice
 

Question, so I should take off the air filter too?

Re: Breakdown Sunday and Looking for Advice
 

Looks like rust in the glass bowl, probably should be cleaned and you may also have rust in the carb ??

Re: Breakdown Sunday and Looking for Advice
 

you might find after removing the shutoff at the carb that the inside one does not shut off completely. i would buy a new inside valve and the little standup filter that goes on it. also a new line from the firewall to carb...
i wouild can the air filter also but if you must run one get the metal screen type.

maybe that was not the reason it broke down depending on the severity of the fuel leak.
could be coincidental

Re: Breakdown Sunday and Looking for Advice
 

Thanks Mitch, it was definetly the cause of the breakdown, the fuel was pouring out of there, the only way I could get it to stop was to shut off the valve under the dash and that would stop the leak...so pretty sure that valve is fine.

This may be a dumb question, but if I take off the air filter what goes in it's place.

And it makes perfect sense to replace the fuel line, way too many connections in it.

Re: Breakdown Sunday and Looking for Advice
 

I don't use an air filter on all three of my A's. The way I see it if Mr.Ford didn't put it on there then you don't need it. Keep in mind that I don't drive on unpaved roads either.

Re: Breakdown Sunday and Looking for Advice
 

nothing goes in its place, remove the whole snorkel off the carb held on with a single set screw.

Re: Breakdown Sunday and Looking for Advice
 

If you are going to run an air filter get the Hiboy filter that will sit above the carb making it impossible for fuel to saturate the filter in case of a carb leak. Throw the old filter out as it's laden with fuel and can catch fire if you get a carb backfire. Running any filter below the carb on a model A downdraft or any downdraft for that matter is just dangerous in my opinion. Otherwise run the airmaze. The air maze will not hold the fuel but will also not filter the air.

Re: Breakdown Sunday and Looking for Advice
 

Brent was referring to your original two blade fan which will probably
look like the one in the picture someday if you don't replace it.

Bob

Re: Breakdown Sunday and Looking for Advice
 

I would also recommend removing the air filter. The air filter will cause more problems than it will ever solve by causing rich opperation diluted crankcase oil and loss of power from restricted air flow . Ford didn't think that a filter was needed and didn't install one on ether the model T or A

Re: Breakdown Sunday and Looking for Advice
 

It might be a two bladed fan but something about it doesn't look right:confused:

Sewall Tyler

Re: Breakdown Sunday and Looking for Advice
 

I agree the fan doesn't look right. Just about any of the old repro fans can be dangerous ! A person really can't go wrong with a new Snyders balanced aluminum two blade fan .

Re: Breakdown Sunday and Looking for Advice
 

this and also remember most the the roads back then were unimproved so mostly packed dirt or gravel which = way dustier than most can imagine. That is unless you live in the boonies and still have gravel roads - then you know that dust gets everywhere:p

Re: Breakdown Sunday and Looking for Advice
 

I also thought the fan didn't look right, but would like to see a closer picture of the hub.
Has the fan been shortened?

Re: Breakdown Sunday and Looking for Advice
 

Engine pans did a pretty good job in keeping dust out of the engine compartment. Probably far,far more model A's have survived than any other old car. This in its self says a lot. Of course if running a filter makes a person feel better they should just go ahead and do it. Because of age impractacality and insurance restrictions, most won't get driven all that many miles anyway. Its mostly about thje fun of owning a model A any way and not about a car that is expected to be used for primary transportation. They really do run better not being choked down with any type air filter . I've run them since 1960 without a filter with no bad results.