The Ford Barn

BUBBAS IGNITION · 04-19-2012, 08:37 AM

I have always enjoy hearing a flathead startup. Got to be the best starting engine in the world!!
This one was by the shop yesterday with a customer wanting us to check out his missing and hard starting flathead.
Wally and i looked her over and asked the customer to crank the engine , it took a very long time to start. Just didnt sound like it had any spark or very little at the best. It had a Bubbas distributor in it ( that i sold to a engine builder some time ago) a new engine, rebuilt carb and a new electric fuel pump. All suggested fixes along the way . You have all heard the story "my friend says to use this and that etc".
Wally pulled out the coil wire and held it next to the block and i did see the smallest spark i had ever seen and then nothing at all.
The coil wire was burnt off at both ends!!!!!![B]

[/B]
Someone had told him the carb needed work, maybe it does but lets fix this problem first. A new coil wire an the engine starts right up like a flatheadx should .......

BUBBAS IGNITION · 04-19-2012, 08:39 AM

Opps the picture...

This is a carbon resistor wire and both ends have burnt out and has been jumping to the brass... not a good thing for sure ......

Barry-ct · 04-19-2012, 09:05 AM

I try to check the simple things first. But being human, we tend to go for the worst scenario. I'll bet he's kicking himself now for throwing things at it, hoping that one of them would fix the problem!

Mark Slight · 04-19-2012, 09:44 AM

Thanks Bubba, we learn something every day!

Will Kimble · 04-19-2012, 11:28 AM

I find myself saying again and again, "These are simple cars, but you have to get the little things right."

Thanks for sharing the story, my Autolite distributors sure look purty.

Will Kimble

Bruce Lancaster · 04-19-2012, 12:05 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

And a simple car begins to look complicated if you start your diagnosis and repair in the wrong system!

Ol' Ron · 04-19-2012, 09:14 PM

Funny story:
Back in the 60 the gas station where we ran the stock car out of bought one of those engine analizers that had the gid scope in it. During a demonstration the sales men showed how the scope found ONE bad spark plug wire. The owner said "We replace them all"

04-19-2012, 08:37 AM	#1
BUBBAS IGNITION Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: SPEEDWAY INDIANA Posts: 4,148	Hard start of the day "flathead" I have always enjoy hearing a flathead startup. Got to be the best starting engine in the world!! This one was by the shop yesterday with a customer wanting us to check out his missing and hard starting flathead. Wally and i looked her over and asked the customer to crank the engine , it took a very long time to start. Just didnt sound like it had any spark or very little at the best. It had a Bubbas distributor in it ( that i sold to a engine builder some time ago) a new engine, rebuilt carb and a new electric fuel pump. All suggested fixes along the way . You have all heard the story "my friend says to use this and that etc". Wally pulled out the coil wire and held it next to the block and i did see the smallest spark i had ever seen and then nothing at all. The coil wire was burnt off at both ends!!!!!![B] [/B] Someone had told him the carb needed work, maybe it does but lets fix this problem first. A new coil wire an the engine starts right up like a flatheadx should ....... __________________ If it Makes Spark, we do it !!!! www.bubbasignition.com [email protected]

04-19-2012, 08:39 AM	#2
BUBBAS IGNITION Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: SPEEDWAY INDIANA Posts: 4,148	Re: Hard start of the day "flathead" Opps the picture... This is a carbon resistor wire and both ends have burnt out and has been jumping to the brass... not a good thing for sure ...... __________________ If it Makes Spark, we do it !!!! www.bubbasignition.com [email protected]

04-19-2012, 09:05 AM	#3
Barry-ct Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Newington, Connecticut Posts: 1,374	Re: Hard start of the day "flathead" I try to check the simple things first. But being human, we tend to go for the worst scenario. I'll bet he's kicking himself now for throwing things at it, hoping that one of them would fix the problem! __________________ Barry 50 F-1

04-19-2012, 09:44 AM	#4
Mark Slight Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Dixon, CA Posts: 473	Re: Hard start of the day "flathead" Thanks Bubba, we learn something every day!

04-19-2012, 11:28 AM	#5
Will Kimble Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 165	Re: Hard start of the day "flathead" I find myself saying again and again, "These are simple cars, but you have to get the little things right." Thanks for sharing the story, my Autolite distributors sure look purty. Will Kimble

04-19-2012, 12:05 PM	#6
Bruce Lancaster Member Emeritus Join Date: May 2010 Location: Madison, NJ Posts: 5,230	Re: Hard start of the day "flathead" Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) And a simple car begins to look complicated if you start your diagnosis and repair in the wrong system!

04-19-2012, 09:14 PM	#7
Ol' Ron Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Chester Vt Posts: 8,862	Re: Hard start of the day "flathead" Funny story: Back in the 60 the gas station where we ran the stock car out of bought one of those engine analizers that had the gid scope in it. During a demonstration the sales men showed how the scope found ONE bad spark plug wire. The owner said "We replace them all"