The Ford Barn

daveymc29 · 02-16-2018, 12:11 AM

You may have read my story about going to help a friend and that I didn't arrive as I had to get a hook to bring me home? Well here's an interesting bit I found out about a few days later. My friends are brand new owners of a nice little coupe that the acquired from her father. Both of them are very interested in getting the car running and functioning as well as possible. Both get their hands dirty and both are avid readers of anything they can find that says Model A somewhere on it or in it. Both are intelligent folks and fast learners. A couple of us got them headed in the right direction and they took to it with eagerness of new parents.

Well they got the car running and each took a couple of trips around the block and analyzed their results. Some adjustments were made, more reading and ordering parts until it was time to put it to bed for the night.

He leaped back into the car and tried his best to light it off but there was no response from the starter. She did likewise with the same result. Stymied, they pushed the little beast back in the garage and shut the fuel off and pulled the fuse.

Midnight, or there abouts, they both awoke and realized this is an old car, turning the key doesn't start it, one must step on the starter. Out to check it and it fired right up with gas on, key on, fuse in and step on the starter. A good laugh at themselves and back to bed.

Anyone else been there or in the neighborhood? So easy to do.

texas webb · 02-16-2018, 12:23 AM

Yep!

Y-Blockhead · 02-16-2018, 01:08 AM

Not the same but close... Got in the Town Sedan one morning to meet the club for an outing and the car was dead. Dead battery! In a panic I tried to jump start it but still no go. Hmmm.
I called the tour director and told her I'm not going to make it.
Went back out and fiddled around and then I realized I forgot to turn on the Master Shut-Off switch... Not going to start with no ground

.
Well we missed breakfast but made it in time for the tour. Had a great time in spite of my... ah... Brain Phart.

pooch · 02-16-2018, 03:18 AM

I once saw a guy trying tyre levers to remove a tyre from a split rim car.

Bruce Adams · 02-16-2018, 05:40 AM

You mentioned "Checking the fuse" when no starter was present.
FWIW, Davey, the fuse they checked has no effect on the operation of the starter motor.

daveymc29 · 02-16-2018, 09:43 AM

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But it does turn the ignition on and off very effectively. We know it has nothing to do with the starter and neither does the key, yet both need to be used to start the machine, as does the gas valve and sometimes the choke and spark advance.

Bill G · 02-16-2018, 02:02 PM

At a street car show event all day. At the end while everyone is exiting, started it up and headed out and it died. Cranked and cranked and then I realized I had forgotten to turn the gas valve on! grrr. I am probably not the first or last to have that happen.

California Travieso · 02-16-2018, 03:16 PM

That probably goes for everyone over 70 (including me) on Ford Barn, at one time or another.

David Serrano

Synchro909 · 02-16-2018, 03:27 PM

I have to admit to not turning on the fuel, only to get out onto the road and have it die. Not fun!
Other than that, all I have done is, when driving outback, we fill the tank and don't stop until it is empty. Often on the side of the road, we have to add fuel from a jerrycan. I have come to a stop and forgotten to disengage the O/D. Once fuel has been replenished, I take off in O/D. It is a bit sluggish but I still prefer not to do it.

pooch · 02-16-2018, 04:12 PM

Synchro I sent you a PM, no reply, are you going to Ballarat?

KGBnut · 02-16-2018, 10:19 PM

Somebody told me once that if you forget turn on the gas valve you will have just enough gas to get you to the middle of the intersection.

Sadly, I have found it to be true...more than once...

BILL WILLIAMSON · 02-17-2018, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KGBnut

Somebody told me once that if you forget turn on the gas valve you will have just enough gas to get you to the middle of the intersection.

Sadly, I have found it to be true...more than once...

Minerva only got to the END of my short driveway!
Bill Stalled

02-16-2018, 12:11 AM	#1
daveymc29 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Danville, CA Posts: 1,554	Ace mechanic missed this one. You may have read my story about going to help a friend and that I didn't arrive as I had to get a hook to bring me home? Well here's an interesting bit I found out about a few days later. My friends are brand new owners of a nice little coupe that the acquired from her father. Both of them are very interested in getting the car running and functioning as well as possible. Both get their hands dirty and both are avid readers of anything they can find that says Model A somewhere on it or in it. Both are intelligent folks and fast learners. A couple of us got them headed in the right direction and they took to it with eagerness of new parents. Well they got the car running and each took a couple of trips around the block and analyzed their results. Some adjustments were made, more reading and ordering parts until it was time to put it to bed for the night. He leaped back into the car and tried his best to light it off but there was no response from the starter. She did likewise with the same result. Stymied, they pushed the little beast back in the garage and shut the fuel off and pulled the fuse. Midnight, or there abouts, they both awoke and realized this is an old car, turning the key doesn't start it, one must step on the starter. Out to check it and it fired right up with gas on, key on, fuse in and step on the starter. A good laugh at themselves and back to bed. Anyone else been there or in the neighborhood? So easy to do.

02-16-2018, 12:23 AM	#2
texas webb Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: San Antonio Texas Posts: 636	Re: Ace mechanic missed this one. Yep!

02-16-2018, 01:08 AM	#3
Y-Blockhead Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Redondo Beach, CA Posts: 5,849	Re: Ace mechanic missed this one. Not the same but close... Got in the Town Sedan one morning to meet the club for an outing and the car was dead. Dead battery! In a panic I tried to jump start it but still no go. Hmmm. I called the tour director and told her I'm not going to make it. Went back out and fiddled around and then I realized I forgot to turn on the Master Shut-Off switch... Not going to start with no ground . Well we missed breakfast but made it in time for the tour. Had a great time in spite of my... ah... Brain Phart. Last edited by Y-Blockhead; 02-16-2018 at 11:47 AM.

02-16-2018, 03:18 AM	#4
pooch Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: South Coast NSW Australia Posts: 2,596	Re: Ace mechanic missed this one. I once saw a guy trying tyre levers to remove a tyre from a split rim car.

02-16-2018, 05:40 AM	#5
Bruce Adams Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Northport, NY Posts: 1,597	Re: Ace mechanic missed this one. You mentioned "Checking the fuse" when no starter was present. FWIW, Davey, the fuse they checked has no effect on the operation of the starter motor. Last edited by Bruce Adams; 02-17-2018 at 07:24 AM.

02-16-2018, 09:43 AM	#6
daveymc29 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Danville, CA Posts: 1,554	Re: Ace mechanic missed this one. Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) But it does turn the ignition on and off very effectively. We know it has nothing to do with the starter and neither does the key, yet both need to be used to start the machine, as does the gas valve and sometimes the choke and spark advance.

02-16-2018, 02:02 PM	#7
Bill G Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Walla Walla, WA Posts: 1,045	Re: Ace mechanic missed this one. At a street car show event all day. At the end while everyone is exiting, started it up and headed out and it died. Cranked and cranked and then I realized I had forgotten to turn the gas valve on! grrr. I am probably not the first or last to have that happen.

02-16-2018, 03:16 PM	#8
California Travieso Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Moreno Valley, CA Posts: 946	Re: Ace mechanic missed this one. That probably goes for everyone over 70 (including me) on Ford Barn, at one time or another. David Serrano

02-16-2018, 03:27 PM	#9
Synchro909 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 7,496	Re: Ace mechanic missed this one. I have to admit to not turning on the fuel, only to get out onto the road and have it die. Not fun! Other than that, all I have done is, when driving outback, we fill the tank and don't stop until it is empty. Often on the side of the road, we have to add fuel from a jerrycan. I have come to a stop and forgotten to disengage the O/D. Once fuel has been replenished, I take off in O/D. It is a bit sluggish but I still prefer not to do it. __________________ I'm part of the only ever generation with an analogue childhood and a digital adulthood.

02-16-2018, 04:12 PM	#10
pooch Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: South Coast NSW Australia Posts: 2,596	Re: Ace mechanic missed this one. Synchro I sent you a PM, no reply, are you going to Ballarat?

02-16-2018, 10:19 PM	#11
KGBnut Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Southwestern Connecticut Posts: 931	Re: Ace mechanic missed this one. Somebody told me once that if you forget turn on the gas valve you will have just enough gas to get you to the middle of the intersection. Sadly, I have found it to be true...more than once... __________________ Style beats speed any day, and with a lot fewer tickets.