The Ford Barn

Tom Wesenberg · 08-15-2011, 04:17 AM

I've been working several weeks on my new Model A shed and I had so much wood and tools piled behind and on the Model A that I haven't been able to drive it for a couple months. Also during this time we've had so much rain, heat and high humidity that I probably wouldn't have been out with it anyway. This past week nice weather has finally returned and Saturday I went to the New Brighton antique car run, driving the Model A. Since it has sat for a couple months in such high humidity I was wondering if I'd have to clean the points or dry the cap or coil to get it started. It spun over fine with my old junk yard battery, but never fired, so I pulled the coil wire and held it near a head nut. The spark was very small while cranking with the starter, but very good when I opened the points with my fingers. The cap and coil were perfectly dry. I gave the points a light sanding and pulled a piece of cardboard through them, but it still had weak spark with the starter. I got the hand crank out and it started right off on the first pull. Everything was fine the rest of the day and today, but I can't explain the weak spark Saturday morning when using the starter for the first time in two months.

Every winter the car sets untouched for 5 to 7 months and fires right up first time in the spring, and I never have had to use a battery charger or maintainer. Just another one of those unsolved gremlins that may never show up again.

08-15-2011, 04:17 AM	#1
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	No Spark Mystery? I've been working several weeks on my new Model A shed and I had so much wood and tools piled behind and on the Model A that I haven't been able to drive it for a couple months. Also during this time we've had so much rain, heat and high humidity that I probably wouldn't have been out with it anyway. This past week nice weather has finally returned and Saturday I went to the New Brighton antique car run, driving the Model A. Since it has sat for a couple months in such high humidity I was wondering if I'd have to clean the points or dry the cap or coil to get it started. It spun over fine with my old junk yard battery, but never fired, so I pulled the coil wire and held it near a head nut. The spark was very small while cranking with the starter, but very good when I opened the points with my fingers. The cap and coil were perfectly dry. I gave the points a light sanding and pulled a piece of cardboard through them, but it still had weak spark with the starter. I got the hand crank out and it started right off on the first pull. Everything was fine the rest of the day and today, but I can't explain the weak spark Saturday morning when using the starter for the first time in two months. Every winter the car sets untouched for 5 to 7 months and fires right up first time in the spring, and I never have had to use a battery charger or maintainer. Just another one of those unsolved gremlins that may never show up again.