The Ford Barn

1930Bug · 12-12-2019, 01:46 PM

1930 Standard Roadster will not start.
* the distributor is getting a spark to the plugs
* the gas line is not plugged
* the plugs have been cleaned/sanded
* the points have been cleaned/sanded
Before I start taking apart the carb, any suggestions?

Jacksonlll · 12-12-2019, 02:09 PM

Try to start it with a little choke. Then stick your finger in the carb throat and see if it gets wet with fuel. If it comes out dry, then fuel is your problem. Easiest thing to do is tap the carb bowl with a wrench or small hammer to free a stuck float valve. Just might be the problem. Keep playing with the fuel system until you get a wet finger or she starts.
If it ran last week, don't start taking things apart until you find the problem.
With a little fuel and spark at the right time, Model A's want to start.

Curtis in MA · 12-12-2019, 02:19 PM

How long since it has run?
Did you change anything?
Is the timing correct?

Tom Endy · 12-12-2019, 03:44 PM

If the fuel has been sitting in the tank for a long period of time it will turn sour and not light of. Try draining the tank if that is the case and put fresh fuel in it.

Tom Endy

Mike V. Florida · 12-12-2019, 10:30 PM

Get a can of starter fluid and try that.

Patrick L. · 12-13-2019, 09:15 AM

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No spark ? But spark to the plugs ? So there is no spark going thru the plugs ?

Take drain plug from carburetor and see how long fuel runs thru it.
Where is the timing set ? Where is the lever being set ?
What are the points set at ? Is there voltage at the open point arm ? Is there no voltage at the closed point arm ?
Have you tried adding some oil to the cylinders ?
Have you performed a compression test ? What are the readings ?

Big hammer · 12-14-2019, 12:10 PM

A few days after my last drive I had a few issues to work on. Let me start it, no start, no fuel dripping from carburetor, choked it more, fuel now dripping and no start. Checking point gap it had closed up, reset to .020 , still no start. Cranked it over with ignition off and throttle wide open ,pulled choke turned on ignition and cranked, start on the second revolution !

Gary WA · 12-16-2019, 06:20 PM

Any Spark Yet?

1930Bug · 12-17-2019, 05:02 PM

Thanks! I'll give this a try!

Tom Endy · 12-17-2019, 05:33 PM

If you still do not have spark, the two attached articles may be of help in trouble shooting.

Tom Endy

mike657894 · 12-18-2019, 09:48 AM

My car passes all other tests and runs different levels of bad when the grounds rattle loose or get corroded. Also suffers from slightly dirty battery posts and clamps that look like they should work. One sign of bad ground is that your horn will sound out of tune.

burner31 · 12-18-2019, 09:57 AM

Back your ignition cable out of the distributor a couple of turns

1930Bug · 03-29-2020, 08:51 AM

Okay, guys . . . thanks . . . it started with a bit of extra throttle and cranking. I think it had just been sitting too long and it was very damp. I'll keep all your notes for next time this happens.

12-12-2019, 01:46 PM	#1
1930Bug Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2019 Posts: 5	No Spark . . . not going! 1930 Standard Roadster will not start. * the distributor is getting a spark to the plugs * the gas line is not plugged * the plugs have been cleaned/sanded * the points have been cleaned/sanded Before I start taking apart the carb, any suggestions?

12-12-2019, 02:09 PM	#2
Jacksonlll Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Michigan-- Member of Oakleaf of MARC Posts: 1,686	Re: No Spark . . . not going! Try to start it with a little choke. Then stick your finger in the carb throat and see if it gets wet with fuel. If it comes out dry, then fuel is your problem. Easiest thing to do is tap the carb bowl with a wrench or small hammer to free a stuck float valve. Just might be the problem. Keep playing with the fuel system until you get a wet finger or she starts. If it ran last week, don't start taking things apart until you find the problem. With a little fuel and spark at the right time, Model A's want to start.

12-12-2019, 02:19 PM	#3
Curtis in MA Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Leicester, MA Posts: 296	Re: No Spark . . . not going! How long since it has run? Did you change anything? Is the timing correct?

12-12-2019, 03:44 PM	#4
Tom Endy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Southern California Posts: 3,130	Re: No Spark . . . not going! If the fuel has been sitting in the tank for a long period of time it will turn sour and not light of. Try draining the tank if that is the case and put fresh fuel in it. Tom Endy

12-12-2019, 10:30 PM	#5
Mike V. Florida Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: South Florida Posts: 14,054	Re: No Spark . . . not going! Get a can of starter fluid and try that. __________________ What's right about America is that although we have a mess of problems, we have great capacity - intellect and resources - to do some thing about them. - Henry Ford II

12-13-2019, 09:15 AM	#6
Patrick L. Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Largo Florida Posts: 7,225	Re: No Spark . . . not going! Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) No spark ? But spark to the plugs ? So there is no spark going thru the plugs ? Take drain plug from carburetor and see how long fuel runs thru it. Where is the timing set ? Where is the lever being set ? What are the points set at ? Is there voltage at the open point arm ? Is there no voltage at the closed point arm ? Have you tried adding some oil to the cylinders ? Have you performed a compression test ? What are the readings ?

12-14-2019, 12:10 PM	#7
Big hammer Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Land of Lincoln Posts: 3,126	Re: No Spark . . . not going! A few days after my last drive I had a few issues to work on. Let me start it, no start, no fuel dripping from carburetor, choked it more, fuel now dripping and no start. Checking point gap it had closed up, reset to .020 , still no start. Cranked it over with ignition off and throttle wide open ,pulled choke turned on ignition and cranked, start on the second revolution ! __________________ Don't force it with a little hammer tap, tap, tap get a bigger hammer tap done

12-17-2019, 05:02 PM	#9
1930Bug Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2019 Posts: 5	Re: No Spark . . . not going! Thanks! I'll give this a try!

12-18-2019, 09:48 AM	#11
mike657894 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Bay City Michigan Posts: 1,050	Re: No Spark . . . not going! My car passes all other tests and runs different levels of bad when the grounds rattle loose or get corroded. Also suffers from slightly dirty battery posts and clamps that look like they should work. One sign of bad ground is that your horn will sound out of tune.

12-18-2019, 09:57 AM	#12
burner31 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Shawnee, Ok Posts: 3,471	Re: No Spark . . . not going! Back your ignition cable out of the distributor a couple of turns __________________ Keith Shawnee OK '31 SW 160-B

03-29-2020, 08:51 AM	#13
1930Bug Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2019 Posts: 5	Re: No Spark . . . not going! Okay, guys . . . thanks . . . it started with a bit of extra throttle and cranking. I think it had just been sitting too long and it was very damp. I'll keep all your notes for next time this happens.

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