The Ford Barn

vetpenny · 06-02-2016, 10:27 AM

I have no problem starting my car after it has been sitting for a while. However, after running the car for a few miles, the car is often difficult to start. The car hardly turns over before it finally starts. Do I have a starter problem or possibly a bad connection to the solenoid form the battery? Any suggestions would be welcomed. Thanks for your help.

39topless · 06-02-2016, 11:29 AM

A warm engine is tighter and takes more power to turn it over. Seems simple but have you made sure your battery is holding it's charge? That's where I would start.

oldford2 · 06-02-2016, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 39topless

A warm engine is tighter and takes more power to turn it over. Seems simple but have you made sure your battery is holding it's charge? That's where I would start.

curious why you say that. Any specifics??

Tom/SC · 06-02-2016, 12:38 PM

I would suspect that the coil is your problem.If you have not already done do, send your ignition coil to Skip Haney in Florida. He rebuilds the coil and does a super job. This is one of the first steps that I take when we restore a flathead Ford with the coil mounted one top of the distributor. Even the NOS ones tend to break down when they are hot. His ad is listed in the V8 Times.

39topless · 06-02-2016, 12:40 PM

An engine has a bit more compression when warm so it takes more juice to turn it over.

G.M. · 06-02-2016, 01:16 PM

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For these engines to start they don't have spin, they will start with a
hand crank. With a good spark and gas they will start on the first or
second turn of the engine. Battery needs to be charged so it reads
about 6.3 after sitting. Bad battery connections and loose or dirty
grounds also could be the problem but you would see this even when
engine is cold. Check the spark from a plug wire to a head nut, not
to the spark plug when the engine is cold and look at the spark to
see it is blue and jumps close to 1/2". Then try it when it gets hot
and I bet you have a small fuzzy yellow spark. ALL stock old Ford
coils have this problem. Contact [email protected] He rebuilds
the coils, send your condenser so he can check that also. G.M.

WestCoast · 06-02-2016, 02:13 PM

coils have nothing to do with the engine turning over slow, I would first have the batt checked, make sure all batt connections on batt and cables are clean and tight, then make sure the ground to the engine is clean and tight, no rust under the cable between it and the engine, , if that doesn't cure the problem I would then check the solenoid and starter, make sure you don't have the ground hooked to an exhaust bolt, heat causes a bunch of resitance `and lowers voltage to the starter, make sure you have the big 6v batt cables not the skinny 12v cables

mhsprecher · 06-02-2016, 03:10 PM

When I got my 39, it had a jury rig ground. Battery to body, body to exhaust manifold and manifold to starter bolt, for some reason. And the braided cable ground was too small. I hooked the ground up like it was supposed to be, to the manifold and mine spins over very fast now. I have a similar problem with my truck. I cleaned all the connections. There was a lot of paint on the body where it should have been cleaned, but it has not totally resolved the problem. It is better but not cured.

06-02-2016, 10:27 AM	#1
vetpenny Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Posts: 103	1940 ford V-8 difficult to start after running I have no problem starting my car after it has been sitting for a while. However, after running the car for a few miles, the car is often difficult to start. The car hardly turns over before it finally starts. Do I have a starter problem or possibly a bad connection to the solenoid form the battery? Any suggestions would be welcomed. Thanks for your help.

06-02-2016, 11:29 AM	#2
39topless Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Posts: 1,027	Re: 1940 ford V-8 difficult to start after running A warm engine is tighter and takes more power to turn it over. Seems simple but have you made sure your battery is holding it's charge? That's where I would start.

06-02-2016, 12:38 PM	#4
Tom/SC Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Blythewood, SC Posts: 242	Re: 1940 ford V-8 difficult to start after running I would suspect that the coil is your problem.If you have not already done do, send your ignition coil to Skip Haney in Florida. He rebuilds the coil and does a super job. This is one of the first steps that I take when we restore a flathead Ford with the coil mounted one top of the distributor. Even the NOS ones tend to break down when they are hot. His ad is listed in the V8 Times.

06-02-2016, 12:40 PM	#5
39topless Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Posts: 1,027	Re: 1940 ford V-8 difficult to start after running An engine has a bit more compression when warm so it takes more juice to turn it over.

06-02-2016, 01:16 PM	#6
G.M. Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Florida and Penna. Posts: 4,471	Re: 1940 ford V-8 difficult to start after running Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) For these engines to start they don't have spin, they will start with a hand crank. With a good spark and gas they will start on the first or second turn of the engine. Battery needs to be charged so it reads about 6.3 after sitting. Bad battery connections and loose or dirty grounds also could be the problem but you would see this even when engine is cold. Check the spark from a plug wire to a head nut, not to the spark plug when the engine is cold and look at the spark to see it is blue and jumps close to 1/2". Then try it when it gets hot and I bet you have a small fuzzy yellow spark. ALL stock old Ford coils have this problem. Contact [email protected] He rebuilds the coils, send your condenser so he can check that also. G.M. __________________ www.fordcollector.com Last edited by G.M.; 06-03-2016 at 07:38 AM.

06-02-2016, 02:13 PM	#7
WestCoast Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: oroville calif Posts: 893	Re: 1940 ford V-8 difficult to start after running coils have nothing to do with the engine turning over slow, I would first have the batt checked, make sure all batt connections on batt and cables are clean and tight, then make sure the ground to the engine is clean and tight, no rust under the cable between it and the engine, , if that doesn't cure the problem I would then check the solenoid and starter, make sure you don't have the ground hooked to an exhaust bolt, heat causes a bunch of resitance `and lowers voltage to the starter, make sure you have the big 6v batt cables not the skinny 12v cables

06-02-2016, 03:10 PM	#8
mhsprecher Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Takoma Park, MD Posts: 2,817	Re: 1940 ford V-8 difficult to start after running When I got my 39, it had a jury rig ground. Battery to body, body to exhaust manifold and manifold to starter bolt, for some reason. And the braided cable ground was too small. I hooked the ground up like it was supposed to be, to the manifold and mine spins over very fast now. I have a similar problem with my truck. I cleaned all the connections. There was a lot of paint on the body where it should have been cleaned, but it has not totally resolved the problem. It is better but not cured.