Trouble with spark lever

[JPModelA]

Once I start my 31A and try to retard the spark, I lose power. As long as I have the spark fully I gaged, Al the way down the car runs fine. I am green as grass having just purchased this car. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thank.

[Smurkey]

Sounds right.

Start the car with the spark fully retarded (up). After it starts move it down 1/2 to 3/4 of the way down.

Retarding the spark will make the car have less power.

Check out this site...It's great:
http://modelabasics.com/Starting%20&%20Driving.htm

Steve

[QGolden]

Originally Posted by JPModelA

As long as I have the spark fully I gaged, Al the way down the car runs fine. .

Are you saying the car runs fine with the Spark Advance Lever all the way down, so you raise the Spark Advance Lever to start the car?

[Mike V. Florida]

Originally Posted by QGolden

Are you saying the car runs fine with the Spark Advance Lever all the way down, so you raise the Spark Advance Lever to start the car?

Yes

Let me edit this. The lever is moved down until the engine runs the best. At a given speed one can move the lever down and the engine rpm will increase, if you go further nothing more will be gained and as a matter of fact the engine can be damaged. All this depends on the initial timing, engine condition and the like.

So the statement or start with it up then pull if all the way down is not correct.

This is from the owners manual;

[Tom Endy]

If you drive the car any distance in the fully retarder position (spark handle all the way up) you will have diminished power and the engine will get hot and the exhaust manifold will likely glow cherry red.

Tom Endy

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

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Yo, J.P, Read ALL the info you can about basic operation, then, take time to LEARN about your car's idiosynchrocies & it's personality & quirks. Not tryin' to be smart assed, Model A's are great FUN!! www.modelabasics.com has lots of good info!! (THANKS, PAUL!) Bill W.

[QGolden]

Originally Posted by Mike V. Florida

Yes

Let me edit this. The lever is moved down until the engine runs the best. At a given speed one can move the lever down and the engine rpm will increase, if you go further nothing more will be gained and as a matter of fact the engine can be damaged. All this depends on the initial timing, engine condition and the like.

So the statement or start with it up then pull if all the way down is not correct.

This is from the owners manual;

Yup, I aware of that, I just wanted to be clear that I understood his issue through the typos.

Seems he needs to do a bit of homework and check his timing if the the answer to my question is yes, and learn a bit more about the car. Lots of threads here with details on timing for him.

This video is worth a thousand posts!

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3Xc7r0d...%3D3Xc7r0djEKo

Procure a copy of the owners manual is also a great start, and Post some pictures. Oh, and welcome!

[Patrick L.]

Yup, I think it wouldn't hurt to recheck/ reset the point gap and timing [ lever full up].
Start with lever full up.
Once stated, pull lever down about 1/2 way [ 9:00] for normal driving.
For highway driving, lever may come down more.

If timing is set correctly, engine will start without kick back. Engine speed will pick up when lever is pulled to half position [9:00] and still run smooth. If lever is pulled full down [ advanced] the engine will run poorly and roll.

[Mitch//pa]

i also would reset the points and timing then operate the advance lever the way the boys said

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Originally Posted by Mitch//pa

i also would reset the points and timing then operate the advance lever the way the boys said

"BOYS"--"BOYS"??? You are much TOO kind, callin' us "BOYS" I'm 77 11/12 eons OLD & my ELBOW that I klobbered, HURTS inside my MITCH'S sweat shirt & I DON'T have any more ANTI-PAIN PILLS, coffee doesn't seem to help But the Dog sympathyzes (sp?) with me! Is anybody out there havin' a GOOD DAY?? Bill W.

[Jazzjr]

Check this, being you have a 1931, with a 2 tooth steering box. Put the spark advance lever all the way up, look at the advance lever at the Distributor, is it touching the outside of the window, on the Distributor Cap, toward the Passenger side of the car? if not You have to adjust you steering column, until it does, then reset the timing.

Check out these to Video links by Les Andrews, on how to time your Model A, and he explains, what I have wrote.
Good Luck you will fix it, and Welcome to the Forum, in your avatar, put you city and state, maybe some one close by would Help You, if you still have trouble's.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Xc7r0djEKo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zju4nagtiCU

[JD 1931]

Maybe start with set timing again....