Emergency Landing 30 Roadster

[William Kelchner]

My 30 A Roadster left me sitting today for the first time. Cruising around the area today and the car was running great, no overheating, nothing. Then I stop at a red light and pull out into traffic and the engine started poping like backfiring through the carb. Managed to get off the road into a parking lot. Opened the hood and gas running out of my fairly new expensive Zenith carb I recently bought from Brattons. I figured must be a hung float, no tools of course, I beat on it with a piece of wood to no avail. I can start it up great, idles good but dont try to go any further .

Anyway its back home via rollback, $45. Everything looks ok in the distributor so with the gas running out of the carb I believe this to be the culprit...any other possibilities before surgery?? Thanks

[oldredford]

I always carry a spare of just about everything. Yesterday my 30 coupe just quit, no spark. I had a spare electronic module and 20 minutes later going down the road. Change carbs would be my first choice....

[juke joint johnny]

There was a thread on here yesterday about these carbs, worth looking at!! condenser can also crap out like that when it gets hot and cause a backfire

John

[J Franklin]

If there are any houses near where I've broken down there always seems to be a helpful hand and spare tools. all I do is ask.

[1931 flamingo]

$45 for rollback was a bargain!!
Paul in CT

[William Kelchner]

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Yes $45 not bad considering I was exaxctly 1 mile from my house, the truck was there in 10- minutes and it was in the garage 25 minuts later. I did read that post(s) about the $300+ Zenith and since mine is pouring gas out the front looks like I'm about to join the crowd with Zenith problems -- I used that super-duper clear plastic tube to set the float level but guess I'll have to order a gasket set and see whats going on in there - definitely backfiring through the carb and like there is no gas to the engine no matter what I do..

[ctlikon0712]

Juke Joint Johnny is probably right, something caused the backfire, and the result was damadge to the carb's float or needle and seat. After you fix the carb look for another issue. And carry tools with you everywhere. Good luck!

[roadster31]

Model A's are wonderful cars; there is nothing like starting out, looking down the hood hearing the slight gear noise in 1st and second. Take her for a ride and no one sees you but have it quit and everyone you know says "hey, I thought you restored that thing" I saw you come home on a rope"" -- gas cap with a bad vent that time. EL

[Ed Saniewski]

Tool roll with basic wrenches,screwdrivers, pliers ,and test light under the seat of each of my vehicles. Spare dist. timed to engine also.

[William Kelchner]

Checked the fuel level with the float level gauge and it was spot on, 5/8" below the gasket. So it appears the float is working properly. With all the gas coming out of the air intake on the carb, never shut off, starts right up when I shut it off, and idles all points to this Zenith. The minute I let the clutch out the popping, backfiring starts. Perhaps I shall call the help number on the instructions I got with the carb and see what they say.

Local auction today featuring a 29 Sedan - this is a sweet little ride:

[700rpm]

Do you have an original ignition setup? If so, did you try replacing the condenser?

[William Kelchner]

On the capacitor - no I have one of the modern plates with the cap attached to the plate - think its a later model Ford part according to Brattons.

[Fred K-OR]

I get a similar type of thing happening when I start out when the engine is cold and I do not open the gas valve. Could it be that your carb is plugged up somewhere?

Sorry if this sounds simple because I am one that knows nothing about this sort of problem but just throwing in my $.02.

[1928Pickuppain]

This happened to me swore up and down it was the carb gas poring out ect... Keith True told me to try and replace my coil wire. It started right up all te gass was the result of it flooding from not having proper spark. Give it a try can't hurt my coil wire was one of thoughs with the carbon center, I put a new one in with a copper center.

[William Kelchner]

Thanks again for all the input - I'll sort this out Tuesday when I have a day off and post the results.

[700rpm]

An old mechanic once told me, "95% of carburetor problems are electrical."

[William Kelchner]

Good one 700RPM

[William Kelchner]

Had couple of hours before leaving for the office so I checked the points, gaps, timing, fuel filter in the Zenith, etc. Nothing obvious. Fired the thing up and it started great as usual, left it warm up and reset the idle air. Once warmed up I wound the thing up and it ran like a top with any problem - no leaking gas. If it is not pouring rain tomorrow I'll cruise around the cul-d-sac and see what happens..

[cradlescyth]

Did you ever think of AAA
I've found them of great help.
Membership is not muchj more than you paid, so
next tow is free.

[William Kelchner]

Humm I used to belong to AAA years ago but dropped it since I had other coverage and besiged with junk mail - akin to AARP. But, since I do enjoy driving the A so much you may have something with the AAA membership.