The Ford Barn

daveymc29 · 01-31-2018, 10:31 PM

So, here's the ace mechanic off to help a friend. I have this new acquisition so why not take it? Since it's new to me and doesn't have OD I will drive the back roads for about a 30 mile trip. Tools in the shoe box, spent all my money on cars so can't afford a tool box, but I'm off to be of assistance. Well, not quite. A couple of miles down the road he feels like it he's on a steep hill, though it is flat, spews a little water and as I pull to the curb it backfires and dies. Get the hook to take us home and tear into the problems. Since all gas problems are usually electrical I pull the distributor and check it out after finding the timing retarded slightly, Clean the plugs, points are at .020 and retime and that is fine for now. Even made sure that it has a good ground. Now he idles wonderfully, just as before, but gently let the clutch out a bit, backfires and dies. Same O same O.

Overheating seemed to be a radiator problem so pulled it and went to the radiator shop. Mario tells me it has to be recored. I tell him to try to save it. When I get home he calls and says it still has to be recored so there goes that problem, solved $$$.

Off with the carburetor and do a thorough cleaning and have a look at the gross valve. Seems okay to me so put it all back together and do a half minute test so as not to get it too hot. (Radiator is still with Mario.) Still pops and dies as soon as I let the clutch engage and try to move at all. Idles great.

Talk to a friend that is smart and he tells me about electrical things and also that gross valves aren't always foolproof. Tells me to pull the cap off the bottom of the carb and find out if I'm getting good fuel flow, being aware that even if it doesn't work I'll get fuel until the carb is empty. So I do all that and sure enough, as soon as the carb has drained there is no longer any fuel flow.

Good, I have some more valves and it wont take long to cure this. But wait, there is more. I suddenly realize I had left the fuel shut off in the off mode during my clever test. I open that a gas runs happily onto my drip pan. Close it and tomorrow will be spent checking voltages and polarity around the system.

Good night,
The Ace Mechanic (Confused)
To be continued

zzlegend · 01-31-2018, 10:44 PM

LOL.

Get a good nights sleep Ace. Tomorrow will be a better day.

That's some funny stuff there.

1930-Pickup · 01-31-2018, 11:19 PM

You had me worried about the Grose-Jet Valve

. Never seen or heard of a failure. Not even when I converted a left-over Grose-Jet to work on my 1925 Dodge Brothers using a Stromberg OD-1 carb..it never failed.

So after you successfully diagnose and repair the issue, if it has anything to do with the Grose-Jet, please don't tell me.

cpf240 · 02-01-2018, 01:55 AM

Battery cable shorting when the pedals are moved?

Rex_A_Lott · 02-01-2018, 02:23 AM

I think at one point or another, we have all tried to wean the car off that nasty old gas, only to find it won't cooperate.

Better luck tomorrow!

kenparker · 02-01-2018, 06:48 AM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Sounds just like one of my "off to help a friend" episodes. My troubles usually turn out to be more trouble than the friend. ken

Great Lakes Greg · 02-01-2018, 07:41 AM

"...all gas problems are usually electrical...". That was funny enough to spit my coffee all over the keyboard.

jb-ob · 02-01-2018, 08:51 AM

1930Pickup; Rule # 1, Never say never in front of these cars. Their very existence is to keep us humble !

Gross Jets Fail. Park a running car for a month only to have no start problem. Seemed the little ball gummed itself to it's base, stopping all gas from the tank into the carb.

Ace Mechanic; 'Just a couple of tools & I'll be a hero to my buddy.'

Now we have two broken cars and a x-friend who thinks you stiffed him !

Never under estimate these cars from knowing just when to bite.

Certainly keeps it interesting, JB

Brentwood Bob · 02-01-2018, 03:13 PM

Did you get any advice from the previous owner?

1931 flamingo · 02-01-2018, 03:37 PM

condenser.............................
Paul in CT

Synchro909 · 02-01-2018, 04:07 PM

Even though you say you cleaned the carby, did you make sure there is no junk in the main jet? When I got a new (to me) car a while ago, it behaved just as you describe. I found a small piece of crud in the main jet. Cleaned it out and haven't stopped since.

SeaSlugs · 02-01-2018, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Synchro909

Even though you say you cleaned the carby, did you make sure there is no junk in the main jet? When I got a new (to me) car a while ago, it behaved just as you describe. I found a small piece of crud in the main jet. Cleaned it out and haven't stopped since.

Yea electrical wouldn't be effected by engine load unless like mentioned above some wire or main battery cable is rubbed thru. The idle circuit of the carb sounds OK but has no extra oomph when the load increases it needs more fuel it aint got. Does pulling the choke out when it starts bogging affect anything? It should help if youve got fuel issue.

Ive had lawnmowers behave as OP describes - usually crud in the fuel system. Ive ran them in a pinch using cardboard covering the air intake to act like a choke valve.

01-31-2018, 10:31 PM	#1
daveymc29 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Danville, CA Posts: 1,566	Mechanic So, here's the ace mechanic off to help a friend. I have this new acquisition so why not take it? Since it's new to me and doesn't have OD I will drive the back roads for about a 30 mile trip. Tools in the shoe box, spent all my money on cars so can't afford a tool box, but I'm off to be of assistance. Well, not quite. A couple of miles down the road he feels like it he's on a steep hill, though it is flat, spews a little water and as I pull to the curb it backfires and dies. Get the hook to take us home and tear into the problems. Since all gas problems are usually electrical I pull the distributor and check it out after finding the timing retarded slightly, Clean the plugs, points are at .020 and retime and that is fine for now. Even made sure that it has a good ground. Now he idles wonderfully, just as before, but gently let the clutch out a bit, backfires and dies. Same O same O. Overheating seemed to be a radiator problem so pulled it and went to the radiator shop. Mario tells me it has to be recored. I tell him to try to save it. When I get home he calls and says it still has to be recored so there goes that problem, solved $$$. Off with the carburetor and do a thorough cleaning and have a look at the gross valve. Seems okay to me so put it all back together and do a half minute test so as not to get it too hot. (Radiator is still with Mario.) Still pops and dies as soon as I let the clutch engage and try to move at all. Idles great. Talk to a friend that is smart and he tells me about electrical things and also that gross valves aren't always foolproof. Tells me to pull the cap off the bottom of the carb and find out if I'm getting good fuel flow, being aware that even if it doesn't work I'll get fuel until the carb is empty. So I do all that and sure enough, as soon as the carb has drained there is no longer any fuel flow. Good, I have some more valves and it wont take long to cure this. But wait, there is more. I suddenly realize I had left the fuel shut off in the off mode during my clever test. I open that a gas runs happily onto my drip pan. Close it and tomorrow will be spent checking voltages and polarity around the system. Good night, The Ace Mechanic (Confused) To be continued

01-31-2018, 10:44 PM	#2
zzlegend Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Reseda, Calif. Posts: 2,191	Re: Mechanic LOL. Get a good nights sleep Ace. Tomorrow will be a better day. That's some funny stuff there.

01-31-2018, 11:19 PM	#3
1930-Pickup Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: southern California Posts: 725	Re: Mechanic You had me worried about the Grose-Jet Valve . Never seen or heard of a failure. Not even when I converted a left-over Grose-Jet to work on my 1925 Dodge Brothers using a Stromberg OD-1 carb..it never failed. So after you successfully diagnose and repair the issue, if it has anything to do with the Grose-Jet, please don't tell me. __________________ *"That's my wild unsubstantiated guess, and I'm sticking to it regardless of the facts!"*

02-01-2018, 01:55 AM	#4
cpf240 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2017 Location: Northern Idaho Posts: 282	Re: Mechanic Battery cable shorting when the pedals are moved?

02-01-2018, 02:23 AM	#5
Rex_A_Lott Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Upstate South Carolina Posts: 794	Re: Mechanic I think at one point or another, we have all tried to wean the car off that nasty old gas, only to find it won't cooperate. Better luck tomorrow!

02-01-2018, 06:48 AM	#6
kenparker Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Van, Texas Posts: 1,122	Re: Mechanic Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Sounds just like one of my "off to help a friend" episodes. My troubles usually turn out to be more trouble than the friend. ken

02-01-2018, 07:41 AM	#7
Great Lakes Greg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 1,369	Re: Mechanic "...all gas problems are usually electrical...". That was funny enough to spit my coffee all over the keyboard.

02-01-2018, 08:51 AM	#8
jb-ob Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 787	Re: Mechanic 1930Pickup; Rule # 1, Never say never in front of these cars. Their very existence is to keep us humble ! Gross Jets Fail. Park a running car for a month only to have no start problem. Seemed the little ball gummed itself to it's base, stopping all gas from the tank into the carb. Ace Mechanic; 'Just a couple of tools & I'll be a hero to my buddy.' Now we have two broken cars and a x-friend who thinks you stiffed him ! Never under estimate these cars from knowing just when to bite. Certainly keeps it interesting, JB

02-01-2018, 03:13 PM	#9
Brentwood Bob Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: brentwood, ca Posts: 4,420	Re: Mechanic Did you get any advice from the previous owner?

02-01-2018, 03:37 PM	#10
1931 flamingo Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: new britain,ct 06052 Posts: 9,428	Re: Mechanic condenser............................. Paul in CT

02-01-2018, 04:07 PM	#11
Synchro909 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 8,044	Re: Mechanic Even though you say you cleaned the carby, did you make sure there is no junk in the main jet? When I got a new (to me) car a while ago, it behaved just as you describe. I found a small piece of crud in the main jet. Cleaned it out and haven't stopped since. __________________ I sometimes wonder what happened to the people who asked me for directions. Even at my age, I still like to look at a young, attractive woman but I can't really remember why.