The Ford Barn

katy · 10-24-2019, 09:34 AM

Does it start OK when the engine is warm?

rivcokid · 10-24-2019, 03:05 PM

Katy - yes, once it's warmed up it starts again just fine.

wmws · 10-24-2019, 03:33 PM

Since it only does it when it is cold I would suspect the choke plate is not closing properly. If you crank it for a bit with the choke on do you get gas at the carb throat?

rivcokid · 10-24-2019, 03:35 PM

Yes I do

ronn · 10-24-2019, 03:36 PM

my rpu is also a bit hard to start- def the carby. should just change it out, but once it warms up, runs just fine.
wmws I flood out very quickly if I dont watch it...........

wmws · 10-24-2019, 04:10 PM

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When you choke it and get gas at the carb throat are the plugs also wet? Seems like you have a lean condition on cold start up. Is the idle circuit adjusted properly. You might try screwing the needle in a little. Remember it is an air screw so screwing it in will cut the air and richen the mixture.

JBill · 10-24-2019, 04:14 PM

Do you have a fuel filter either in the tank or in the sediment bowl (or both) that might be restricting flow?

barnstuf · 10-24-2019, 08:17 PM

We had a fellow join our "A club a few years ago who had the same problem. It turned out to be that he knew enough to turn the choke to make the mixture richer, but no one had told him that the adjusting rod was pulled out for a cold engine start.

rivcokid · 10-24-2019, 08:39 PM

The problem with the carb being the issue is that it was this way before I rebuilt the carb - and we went through it very thoroughly because the car had been sitting for quite some time. There does not seem to be any issue with fuel - again, it's fine once it starts and will restart just fine when warm. I will try the idle screw though.

As for a fuel filter, no, neither have them. just the sediment bowl.

The GAV has been turned out about 1.5 turns (and many points in between) trying to see if that is an issue. It does not seem to be.

That said - thanks for the ideas. I'm going to go through most if not all of them this weekend!

Wick · 10-25-2019, 04:50 AM

From the comments I suspect a Crack in the intake manifold or it's warped. The engine is pulling air when it's cold. Warmed up the Crack will close up.or the intake gasket is leaking. I've run into this situation a few times. If you are using a Tillotson carb,put a second flange gasket on it.

Every A. That I set up can sit for months and with Just a pull of the choke for one revolution then release it,fires up and starts to idle. When warm just bump the starter and it starts.
Good luck
Wick

Jacksonlll · 10-25-2019, 05:37 AM

Be very careful with that stuck dist. That base will break right off and leave you with a mess. Don't pry too hard.
Just put a new manifold gasket on. Easy and cheap.

katy · 10-25-2019, 10:53 AM

What spark plugs and gap are you using?

Tom Wesenberg · 10-26-2019, 06:25 AM

When you try to start it cold, first have the coil wire 1/4" from a head bolt to make sure you have a strong blue spark. Even new points can have continuity problems from oil or hands touching the contacts, dirt, etc.

Ernie Vitucci · 10-26-2019, 06:28 PM

Years ago (60's) with my first 'A', I had trouble starting it cold. An old guy reached into the cockpit and pulled the hand throttle down close to half way and said 'crank the damn thing'...and guess what? The damn thing started! Then he quickly closed the throttle to a bit above normal idle and that was it. To this day, I set the hand throttle and the spark before I start the engine...Just a quick pop on the choke rod. Ernie in Arizona

10-24-2019, 09:34 AM	#21
katy Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Red Deer, Alberta Posts: 5,044	Re: Roadster getting harder to start Does it start OK when the engine is warm? __________________ If you don't hear a rumor by 10 AM, start one!. Got my education out behind the barn!

10-24-2019, 03:05 PM	#22
rivcokid Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2018 Location: Riverside, CA Posts: 173	Re: Roadster getting harder to start Katy - yes, once it's warmed up it starts again just fine.

10-24-2019, 03:33 PM	#23
wmws BANNED Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Coatesville, Pa Posts: 719	Re: Roadster getting harder to start Since it only does it when it is cold I would suspect the choke plate is not closing properly. If you crank it for a bit with the choke on do you get gas at the carb throat?

10-24-2019, 03:35 PM	#24
rivcokid Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2018 Location: Riverside, CA Posts: 173	Re: Roadster getting harder to start Yes I do

10-24-2019, 03:36 PM	#25
ronn Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: NNNNNNNNJJJJJJJJJJ Posts: 6,789	Re: Roadster getting harder to start my rpu is also a bit hard to start- def the carby. should just change it out, but once it warms up, runs just fine. wmws I flood out very quickly if I dont watch it...........

10-24-2019, 04:10 PM	#26
wmws BANNED Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Coatesville, Pa Posts: 719	Re: Roadster getting harder to start Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) When you choke it and get gas at the carb throat are the plugs also wet? Seems like you have a lean condition on cold start up. Is the idle circuit adjusted properly. You might try screwing the needle in a little. Remember it is an air screw so screwing it in will cut the air and richen the mixture.

10-24-2019, 04:14 PM	#27
JBill Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 702	Re: Roadster getting harder to start Do you have a fuel filter either in the tank or in the sediment bowl (or both) that might be restricting flow?

10-24-2019, 08:17 PM	#28
barnstuf Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Cape Cod MA Posts: 2,840	Re: Roadster getting harder to start We had a fellow join our "A club a few years ago who had the same problem. It turned out to be that he knew enough to turn the choke to make the mixture richer, but no one had told him that the adjusting rod was pulled out for a cold engine start.

10-24-2019, 08:39 PM	#29
rivcokid Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2018 Location: Riverside, CA Posts: 173	Re: Roadster getting harder to start The problem with the carb being the issue is that it was this way before I rebuilt the carb - and we went through it very thoroughly because the car had been sitting for quite some time. There does not seem to be any issue with fuel - again, it's fine once it starts and will restart just fine when warm. I will try the idle screw though. As for a fuel filter, no, neither have them. just the sediment bowl. The GAV has been turned out about 1.5 turns (and many points in between) trying to see if that is an issue. It does not seem to be. That said - thanks for the ideas. I'm going to go through most if not all of them this weekend!

10-25-2019, 04:50 AM	#30
Wick Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Gwynn's Island Va Posts: 1,386	Re: Roadster getting harder to start From the comments I suspect a Crack in the intake manifold or it's warped. The engine is pulling air when it's cold. Warmed up the Crack will close up.or the intake gasket is leaking. I've run into this situation a few times. If you are using a Tillotson carb,put a second flange gasket on it. Every A. That I set up can sit for months and with Just a pull of the choke for one revolution then release it,fires up and starts to idle. When warm just bump the starter and it starts. Good luck Wick

10-25-2019, 05:37 AM	#31
Jacksonlll Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Michigan-- Member of Oakleaf of MARC Posts: 1,686	Re: Roadster getting harder to start Be very careful with that stuck dist. That base will break right off and leave you with a mess. Don't pry too hard. Just put a new manifold gasket on. Easy and cheap.

10-25-2019, 10:53 AM	#32
katy Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Red Deer, Alberta Posts: 5,044	Re: Roadster getting harder to start What spark plugs and gap are you using? __________________ If you don't hear a rumor by 10 AM, start one!. Got my education out behind the barn!

10-26-2019, 06:25 AM	#33
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: Roadster getting harder to start When you try to start it cold, first have the coil wire 1/4" from a head bolt to make sure you have a strong blue spark. Even new points can have continuity problems from oil or hands touching the contacts, dirt, etc.

10-26-2019, 06:28 PM	#34
Ernie Vitucci Senior Member Join Date: May 2016 Location: Scottsdale, Arizona Posts: 612	Re: Roadster getting harder to start Years ago (60's) with my first 'A', I had trouble starting it cold. An old guy reached into the cockpit and pulled the hand throttle down close to half way and said 'crank the damn thing'...and guess what? The damn thing started! Then he quickly closed the throttle to a bit above normal idle and that was it. To this day, I set the hand throttle and the spark before I start the engine...Just a quick pop on the choke rod. Ernie in Arizona