|
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
09-20-2016, 02:16 AM | #1 |
Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Posts: 14
|
Model A - Pickup help
Hello everyone!
I'm getting a 1931 Model A pickup truck, from my wife's uncle. And I'm loving it already. I don't know much about these cars and I need some help. I drive it the other day, for about an hour, to get it to my house. When I got there, I try to start it again, right away. The issue is that it seemed like the battery was dead, but it was running for an hour, we thought it should've charge while I was driving. Anyway, after about 1 hour, I tried again and it started like nothing happened, went for a few rides around the block, and it happens again. Waited for about an hour again, and same story, started without any hiccups. Please if someone can point me in the right direction, for what I should be looking at, I'd really appreciate it. I'm leaving a picture of the beauty. |
09-20-2016, 02:40 AM | #2 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Keystone Heights, FL
Posts: 647
|
Re: Model A - Pickup help
Sweet looking pickup and welcome to the family!
As you did not indicate a battery recharge, I would begin by checking for loose connections between the battery and starter. Next item is the lug on the starter to ensure it's making proper contact - You will see the starter switch problem is well documented by reading through the archives. Could also be heat soak of the starter as I see you have Arizona plates. Bet it's pretty toasty there right about now Always a good idea to indicate what voltage battery you have when asking for electrical guidance. A 6 volt battery with 12 volt cables, will make the starter drag. Good luck and post back with your findings.
__________________
I Love Anything That Turns Money Into Noise |
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) |
|
09-20-2016, 02:50 AM | #3 | |
Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Posts: 14
|
Re: Model A - Pickup help
Quote:
I'm in Vegas, so yeah it's pretty hot around here. That was one of our questions, if maybe the heat was doing something. I can see the car's temp going up when going on a hill road. Oh and it has a 6 volt battery. |
|
09-20-2016, 03:04 AM | #4 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 7,496
|
Re: Model A - Pickup help
Once you hot the car running again, what did the ammeter show?
__________________
I'm part of the only ever generation with an analogue childhood and a digital adulthood. |
09-20-2016, 03:30 AM | #5 |
Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Posts: 14
|
Re: Model A - Pickup help
|
09-20-2016, 05:05 AM | #6 |
BANNED
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Bucks County, PA
Posts: 11,454
|
Re: Model A - Pickup help
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Read through this owners manual if you have not yet http://www.motormayhem.net/wp-upload...ion-Manual.pdf Nice truck good luck and welcome Ck the battery cells and do a charge and load test... CK your charging rate with an external meter Ck and clean all connections especially the ground at the battery cable to frame, remove and grind it to shiny metal Do some searches on the forum your not the first one with this issue Last edited by Mitch//pa; 09-20-2016 at 05:14 AM. |
09-20-2016, 05:31 AM | #7 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: NNNNNNNNJJJJJJJJJJ
Posts: 6,790
|
Re: Model A - Pickup help
I will bet you need thicker battery cables, as mentioned................
Nice looking truck! should provide lots of fun and great hauling vehicle! |
09-20-2016, 08:24 AM | #8 |
Junior Member
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Radcliff Kentucky
Posts: 26
|
Re: Model A - Pickup help
NICE Truck! Hum the dragging starter is the same problem I got I will have to check into that cables and make sure they are for 6 volt BUT that old car starts every time. The fordor got to the point I had to crank start it for a year. Once the battery got so dead it wouldn't even do that so I had to get a new battery and walla. When my cars or trucks are running that amp meter needs to be in the + side to show its charging. The old tractor runs on the plus side but once I shut it down it drains the battery so I got a battery shut off for that part but that still don't answer why you would be running on the - side. Of course i'mma NooB so what do I know lol. Good Luck and Keep on Truckin'!
|
09-20-2016, 09:31 AM | #9 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Fairfield, Virginia
Posts: 615
|
Re: Model A - Pickup help
Contact your local MAFCA (Model A Ford Club of America) at:
http://www.vegasmodela.com/home_page and ask for help. You will find a great group of fellow Model A owners. Ted |
09-20-2016, 10:41 AM | #10 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Temecula, CA
Posts: 4,089
|
Re: Model A - Pickup help
FYI, your truck appears to be an early model of the late 31's. Wide bed, but still has a soft top. Does it have the indented firewall, with the fuel shut-off on the front side of the firewall? And the steering column brace to the dash, not on the fuel tank?
|
09-20-2016, 11:13 AM | #11 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Lynden, Wa
Posts: 3,552
|
Re: Model A - Pickup help
Welcome and here is my two cents worth. Possibilities are:
Amp meter wired backwards Possible vapor lock-maybe a side issue? Gen not charging at full capacity Again thoughts Mike
__________________
1930 TownSedan (Briggs) 1957 Country Sedan |
09-20-2016, 05:23 PM | #12 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Portland, Oregon
Posts: 5,906
|
Re: Model A - Pickup help
"Could also be heat soak of the starter " I haven't heard this term before. Can you expand on cause and effect?
__________________
Ray Horton, Portland, OR As you go through life, keep your eye on the donut, not the hole. |
09-20-2016, 06:04 PM | #13 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Anchorage, Alaska
Posts: 9,115
|
Re: Model A - Pickup help
Jim, Mine is a '31, Steel top, indented firewall, steering column brace to the dash, and with a narrow bed. Go figure!
__________________
Alaskan A's Antique Auto Mushers of Alaska Model A Ford Club of America Model A Restorers Club Antique Automobile Club of America Mullins Owner's Club |
09-20-2016, 06:15 PM | #14 |
Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Huntington Beach, CA
Posts: 77
|
Re: Model A - Pickup help
You either have no generator output (bad generator), or your generator cutout points are not closing (connecting the battery to the generator).
The reason you can restart it in a while is because the battery voltage, which is being dragged down while the truck is running, recovers after sitting a while. If you have a DC voltmeter and it reads about 5 or higher across the battery terminals, your battery should still be good for now.
__________________
G. Alexander (Alex) Chompff Fervently Maintaining a 'State of Arrested Decay' |
09-20-2016, 07:14 PM | #15 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 7,496
|
Re: Model A - Pickup help
Coz of the time difference, others have taken your answer to my question about "what does the ammeter show?" and answered what I would have. I suspect you're not getting enough out of the generator for what ever reason.
Oh, by the way, Welcome and nice P/U.
__________________
I'm part of the only ever generation with an analogue childhood and a digital adulthood. |
09-20-2016, 09:21 PM | #16 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Hebron, CT
Posts: 432
|
Re: Model A - Pickup help
Make sure your battery cables are all clean and tight. Make sure the cable on the starter is also clean and tight. Case in point: I was at a local tractor show and a fellow with a monster sized Case diesel tractor drove in to the show. When he went to leave it wouldn't start. Everybody was saying the starter was no good or the solenoid was no good. I went over and slightly moved the cable connected to starter motor and the engine started immediately.
|
09-20-2016, 09:54 PM | #17 |
Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Huntington Beach, CA
Posts: 77
|
Re: Model A - Pickup help
Ahh, but since you're in the 'upside down' hemisphere, we didn't want you to mistake that -4A was a good thing...
__________________
G. Alexander (Alex) Chompff Fervently Maintaining a 'State of Arrested Decay' |
09-20-2016, 09:56 PM | #18 |
BANNED
Join Date: May 2012
Location: inside your RAM
Posts: 3,134
|
Re: Model A - Pickup help
" Everybody was saying the starter was no good or the solenoid was no good."
i love how 'everybody' can become such instant mechanics generally when something stupid like that happens, the solution is something equally stupid....and simple
__________________
'31 180A |
09-20-2016, 09:57 PM | #19 |
Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Posts: 14
|
Re: Model A - Pickup help
Thank you everyone for the responses. I'm checking a fee things tomorrow and will update on my findings.
I appreciate all the comments and please if there's any more, keep it coming. I want to learn as much as I can from everyone Sent from my ZTE A2017U using Tapatalk |
09-20-2016, 11:34 PM | #20 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 7,496
|
Re: Model A - Pickup help
Upside down??? Depends which way you hold the map! It's having the sun in the south that's weird.
__________________
I'm part of the only ever generation with an analogue childhood and a digital adulthood. |
|
|
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) |
|