Hesitation/dies when accelerating cold

[rivcokid]

Hi all - my all stock 1935 fordor hesitates/dies in 1st gear when it is cold. I had someone "work" on it and his "solution" was to drive it with the choke 1/3 - 1/2 out until it warms up. That is possible, but it seems to me that it is a workaround and not a fix. Is this normal, or is there something wrong with the carb or fuel pump. When it warms up, it purrs and runs just fine - this only happens when it is first started. Thanks in advance.

[FortyNiner]

Um, that's what chokes are meant to do.

[rivcokid]

Well, excuse me for not knowing all the intricacies of it. For your information, I'm used to the choke on the Model A which is used solely for starting.

I was under the impression that this was a forum for guidance and advice about Fords regardless of one's knowledge level. Apparently I was mistaken.

[1942deluxe]

I think normal. My 48 business coupe requires the choke out for about 3- 5 miles if it's cool outside.

[rivcokid]

Thank you 1942deluxe - THAT was the kind of answer I was looking for.

[tomcarman]

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On my '32 Avatar which has a '33 engine when I start it on full choke it will fire right up but then I need to reduce the choke about 1/2 way for a bit until it warms up. If it's not fully warm it will die when I try to move. After a full warm up it will run fine, but after sitting for not too long it needs to be choked again. Have you experimented with a longer warm up period and then driving vs. a shorter warm up? Sometimes they have their own nuances unique to each car. If it runs well after a full warm up then I'd go with that and not mess with it.

[rivcokid]

@tomcarmen - you are describing exactly what happens. It starts fine. I have experimented with a longer warm up period and it works better. As you say, it runs just fine once fully warmed up, so I will leave well-enough alone and pull out the choke. I just hadn't heard that before because the choke acts differently in the Model A, which I'm more used to. Thank you so much!

[tomcarman]

I know nothing of Model A's and frankly have very little mechanical knowledge but I tend to go with what works on an otherwise good running engine. Maybe it's just me but I have this thing in my head about driving with any of the choke pulled out, I don't know if it's good, bad or if it doesn't matter. All I know is after a full warm up off I go with no issues. Happy motoring!
Tom

[aussie merc]

maybe a little more advance after starting if not sound about right if it drives right after a short warm up it wont hurt it by the way whats the outside temp when this happens it has a big effect on the way they behave

[ford38v8]

Originally Posted by FortyNiner

Um, that's what chokes are meant to do.

Originally Posted by rivcokid

Well, excuse me for not knowing all the intricacies of it. For your information, I'm used to the choke on the Model A which is used solely for starting.

I was under the impression that this was a forum for guidance and advice about Fords regardless of one's knowledge level. Apparently I was mistaken.

As nobody else has as yet said anything, I will. Many of us on the Fordbarn, myself included, tend to insert a bit of humor in our replies. I believe that you misinterpreted FortyNiners' humor as antagonistic, and upped the ante in no uncertain terms. This is our hobby, something we enjoy. Please help us keep it fun!

[tomcarman]

Originally Posted by ford38v8

As nobody else has as yet said anything, I will. Many of us on the Fordbarn, myself included, tend to insert a bit of humor in our replies. I believe that you misinterpreted FortyNiners' humor as antagonistic, and upped the ante in no uncertain terms. This is our hobby, something we enjoy. Please help us keep it fun!

Well said. I might add in the absence of live conversation often statements and context are misinterpreted. Such is the internet. Nonetheless I'm sure we've all seen rude and condescending replies that in my opinion do nothing to further the interest in this hobby, particularly when a new member joins. To me there's no sense being rude or a primadonna when ultimately we all are interested in the same thing.

[richard crow]

i don,t know what model carburator is on your car.some carbs have a winter & summer knob on the linkage for the fuel plunger check to see if your carb has this. the winter setting giver the pump a longer stroke.witch would help to reduce the stumble

[GB SISSON]

Originally Posted by richard crow

i don,t know what model carburator is on your car.some carbs have a winter & summer knob on the linkage for the fuel plunger check to see if your carb has this. the winter setting giver the pump a longer stroke.witch would help to reduce the stumble

On most of the stock carbs on V8s there are three holes to plug the plunger on the accelerator pump into. There is a little link bar yhat you pop out with a flat screw driver. In cold weather choose the one that gives the longest stroke. And in thinking about Model As with their spring loaded choke knob, keep in mind that choke knob does double duty as it is rotated by the operator to enrich the mixture until the engine is warm. My Ford published 'Model A Handbook' says to open it one full turn for starting and warm-up. After the vehicle is warmed and under way it should be rotated clockwise until it is approximately 1/4 turn off it's seat. Just a different way of enriching the mixture.

[51 MERC-CT]

As stated previously.

Don't know what carb. you are using but generally there is a winter setting for the accelerator pump.
The farthest hole from the throttle plate shaft center line.

[FlatheadTed]

A model A has a choke Knob in the form of a needle in the carb end, to start you pull that up opening the needle ,as she fires you turn the knob anty clock wise to richen the mixture .As it warms up you start screwing it in ,its the same deal as a v8 ,Full out to start then 1/2 in etc

[rivcokid]

Ahhhh! I did not know about the Summer/Winter setting on the carb. I will take a look at that and let you know how it works.

Also - when I say cold, I'm talking Southern California cold. So 40s - 50s, but really it has to do more with not starting it for awhile. We don't get into the 10s and 20s here.

Thanks again all!

[GB SISSON]

Originally Posted by rivcokid

Ahhhh! I did not know about the Summer/Winter setting on the carb. I will take a look at that and let you know how it works.

Also - when I say cold, I'm talking Southern California cold. So 40s - 50s, but really it has to do more with not starting it for awhile. We don't get into the 10s and 20s here.

Thanks again all!

But a hot engine is like 160 degrees. Starting a cold engine in SoCal at 50 degrees still constitutes a cold engine startup. Chokes went out 50 years ago, it's pretty much like asking our kids if they advanced the ignitiion on the column before trying to start the family car......