Trouble shooting help - '46 Deluxe

[51woodie]

Ken/Alabama has a good point about the ign. sw.. I had to do the one for my '46, as I was getting intermittent ignition problems. If your has not been apart, you will need to drill or grind away the "crimps" (look closely at the bolting flange) at the mounting holes to split the case. Take note of the position to the sliding piece (see arrow on pic) when you reassemble, because the slot in it has to align with the pin on the switch lever. After you have it cleaned, put a short piece of tape from the back plate to each side of the case to hold the sw. together until it is bolted in place. Put a bit of Vaseline on the sw. contacts before assembling.
Make sure the lever pin is in the sw. plate before tightening the bolts, or you will damage the switch.

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by 51woodie

Ken/Alabama has a good point about the ign. sw.. I had to do the one for my '46, as I was getting intermittent ignition problems. If your has not been apart, you will need to drill or grind away the "crimps" (look closely at the bolting flange) at the mounting holes to split the case. Take note of the position to the sliding piece (see arrow on pic) when you reassemble, because the slot in it has to align with the pin on the switch lever. After you have it cleaned, put a short piece of tape from the back plate to each side of the case to hold the sw. together until it is bolted in place. Put a bit of Vaseline on the sw. contacts before assembling.
Make sure the lever pin is in the sw. plate before tightening the bolts, or you will damage the switch.

[JayChicago]

Switches can be bad. My car came to me with a full 1.0 volt drop thru the switch.

But then why does his car start OK when cold?

[FortyNiner]

It is the cold v warm restarts that is most perplexing.

[Ggmac]

Quick test . When cranking with switch in on position, put a little pressure pushing in on the switch. If it starts you found the answer . Easier than getting under the dash .

[hueyhoolihan]

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all solutions, IMO, must include address the "cold start success" vs "warm start failure" issue.

i would be thinking a short might be manifesting itself somewhere in the ignition system when wire resistances inevitably increase along with engine and engine bay temps.

[glennpm]

Any update FortyNiner?

[hueyhoolihan]

Originally Posted by FortyNiner

It is the cold v warm restarts that is most perplexing.

heat will increase resistance in just about any electrical circuit.

[FortyNiner]

Originally Posted by glennpm

Any update FortyNiner?

After posting, my flathead time was suddenly interrupted with some family matters. Hope to return to tending the '46 soon.

[FortyNiner]

So, what happened...

Thanks to all who commented and contributed to my initial post. The benefit of experience is multiplied when shared.

After installing a freshly rebuilt coil from Skip's House of Magic, things seem to be all better. The weather here as been on the cool side, but restarts have returned to being nearly immediate. In addition, the cold start seems a bit more energenic (not at all a subjective assessment).

The 'why did that happen' element of this business with moving the ignition switch while cranking is going to get tucked away in the Dunno File - along with other mysteries of the universe. Such ponderings require mental lubrication best left for smarter folk.

The '46 will get a complete workout during the weeks ahead and should be up to the task.

Thanks again, Barners.

[JayChicago]

Thanks for letting us know the end of the story. The classic failing coil; works OK when cool, starts failing when warm.

Original post said: "swapped out the coil for a NOS version on hand (no change)." Often NOS parts are actually used/bad parts removed from a car decades ago.

[FortyNiner]

Fair enough on the NOS.

When the Little Dearborn shop in Minnesota was selling out, I bought several lots. Included in the randomly organized parts grab-bags were supposedly NOS items. In the case of Little Dearborn, NOS was shorhand for No Organized System as broken, used, and rusty were unused, but accurate, descriptions.

[hueyhoolihan]

today i discovered why my car (1941 Ford Super Deluxe) would start only when cold. if it had been running for about 5-10 minutes or more and then shutdown, it would not start again until it cooled down a bit, and depending on a number of factors, that might take the better part of two hours.

anyway, the problem was a failing or failed condenser. neighborhood NAPA had one in stock for my diver's helmet distributor and coil!

[glennpm]

Originally Posted by FortyNiner

So, what happened...

Thanks to all who commented and contributed to my initial post. The benefit of experience is multiplied when shared.

After installing a freshly rebuilt coil from Skip's House of Magic, things seem to be all better. The weather here as been on the cool side, but restarts have returned to being nearly immediate. In addition, the cold start seems a bit more energenic (not at all a subjective assessment).

Thanks for the update. Too many here don't

I'm interested in what the primary coil resistances are for thee one you removed and the new one too. You can do this by measuring across the two terminal posts.

Thanks

[FortyNiner]

For better or worse, the misbehaving coil was one already sent off to Skip and has been rebuilt. So, no can check the before condition.