The Ford Barn

braol · 07-26-2018, 08:56 AM

So...the wife says "let's go out to dinner and take "the car." I'm all for it. Restaurant is only, like, half a mile away. What can go wrong?

Well, we get started...clutch chatter seems to be getting better...or I'm just getting better at managing it. Lots of thumbs up. We get passed by everybody. I discover a slight 'death wobble' from the front end but it's not too bad. We discover that the speedo is inoperative. Needless to say I was very nervous that something was going to happen...but we made it.

I have a LARGE beer to celebrate.

The guy at the table leans over and tells me I have a nice car. He came in an old Studebaker, oddly enough. He tells me that my taillights are still on. OH NO!

I didn't turn the lights on...in fact I made sure to turn the switch "all the way off". So I go outside and, sure enough, the taillights are on. I flip the switch all around and when I put it back...still on. I didn't bring any tools (ooops) and I struggle to try to fidget the positive ground at the battery free. I figured I'd just disconnect power and reconnect...go home...and figure it out there. Well, I can't get the terminal off.

I get under the brake sender and disconnect the wires there, thinking the brake is sticking. Nope...still on. I go under the rear-end and snip the wires to the taillights at what I discover are some VERY poorly connected butt terminals. problem solved.... Then some guys tell me it looks loike the parking lamps (2nd small bulb in the headlights) are on. AHHHhhhhh!!! I cycle the light switch AGAIN and discover that if I turn the switch all-the-way clockwise that it puts it into a sort of 'parking' mode??? I move the switch one click counterclockwise and lights are off. WHEW!!!!

I go in an have ANOTHER beer! I guess the old '31 has a parking setting on the switch? We travel home later without incident...

old31 · 07-26-2018, 09:16 AM

At least you made it home, congrats. The worst is when you have to call a flatbed to get home.

Don't ask me how I know this.

Bob C · 07-26-2018, 09:30 AM

You need to read the owners manual. http://www.motormayhem.net/wp-upload...ion-Manual.pdf

eagle · 07-26-2018, 09:47 AM

Yep! You DO have a parking light position. As said above, read the operators manual. It also has good info about shifting etc.

braol · 07-26-2018, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eagle

Yep! You DO have a parking light position.

Thought so. I must have glossed over that part of the manual...

BILL WILLIAMSON · 07-26-2018, 10:24 AM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

And you lurned that BEER still tastes like CRAP!
Bill Smart

braol · 07-26-2018, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BILL WILLIAMSON

And you lurned that BEER still tastes like CRAP!
Bill Smart

I love beer. Being from Chicago I am a firm beer consumer. Go Cubs!

Badpuppy · 07-26-2018, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob C

You need to read the owners manual. http://www.motormayhem.net/wp-upload...ion-Manual.pdf

Find a copy for 1930-31. That one is for 1928-29.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BILL WILLIAMSON

And you lurned that BEER still tastes like CRAP!
Bill Smart

It's an acquired taste, Bill. Tastes wonderful after the first 5 or 6.

daveymc29 · 07-26-2018, 10:50 PM

Bottles cooling in the creek below the house. Who will ever miss one. Two young lads snockered, who will notice. Well it turned out the did notice and it was two beers each befroe we figured that it might raise suspicion. 4 and 5 years old we were at the time. Thankfully our aunt laughed it off and we got off Scott free. They did hide the beer cooling spot from then on though.

Jim Brierley · 07-27-2018, 11:55 AM

I would install a master switch, preferably in the battery ground strap, and always turn it off when stopped.

Badpuppy · 07-27-2018, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Badpuppy

It's an acquired taste, Bill. Tastes wonderful after the first 5 or 6.

Some of us have acquired a staggering amount of taste over the years. Stupefying, even.

Fred K-OR · 07-28-2018, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Brierley

I would install a master switch, preferably in the battery ground strap, and always turn it off when stopped.

This is a good idea. It would have helped you out so you could have had more beers instead of working on your A.
.

DHZIEMAN · 08-03-2018, 07:58 AM

Consider it all part of the learning curve of your Model A Ford! And I venture the beer was great!

Kahuna · 08-03-2018, 09:33 AM

Did a Model A come with a Master Switch?
The one I had didn't.
Maybe the later ones did?
Mine was a 30.

Ruth · 08-03-2018, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kahuna

Did a Model A come with a Master Switch?
The one I had didn't.
Maybe the later ones did?
Mine was a 30.

Oh Boy. here we go.

Kahuna · 08-03-2018, 10:22 AM

What?

07-26-2018, 08:56 AM	#1
braol Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Endeavor, WI Posts: 119	First 'incident'... So...the wife says "let's go out to dinner and take "the car." I'm all for it. Restaurant is only, like, half a mile away. What can go wrong? Well, we get started...clutch chatter seems to be getting better...or I'm just getting better at managing it. Lots of thumbs up. We get passed by everybody. I discover a slight 'death wobble' from the front end but it's not too bad. We discover that the speedo is inoperative. Needless to say I was very nervous that something was going to happen...but we made it. I have a LARGE beer to celebrate. The guy at the table leans over and tells me I have a nice car. He came in an old Studebaker, oddly enough. He tells me that my taillights are still on. OH NO! I didn't turn the lights on...in fact I made sure to turn the switch "all the way off". So I go outside and, sure enough, the taillights are on. I flip the switch all around and when I put it back...still on. I didn't bring any tools (ooops) and I struggle to try to fidget the positive ground at the battery free. I figured I'd just disconnect power and reconnect...go home...and figure it out there. Well, I can't get the terminal off. I get under the brake sender and disconnect the wires there, thinking the brake is sticking. Nope...still on. I go under the rear-end and snip the wires to the taillights at what I discover are some VERY poorly connected butt terminals. problem solved.... Then some guys tell me it looks loike the parking lamps (2nd small bulb in the headlights) are on. AHHHhhhhh!!! I cycle the light switch AGAIN and discover that if I turn the switch all-the-way clockwise that it puts it into a sort of 'parking' mode??? I move the switch one click counterclockwise and lights are off. WHEW!!!! I go in an have ANOTHER beer! I guess the old '31 has a parking setting on the switch? We travel home later without incident... __________________ "I have not yet begun to defile myself." -Doc Holliday '31 Tudor, '69 F100, '66 Mustang, '11 Ford Flex

07-26-2018, 09:16 AM	#2
old31 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Posts: 2,103	Re: First 'incident'... At least you made it home, congrats. The worst is when you have to call a flatbed to get home. Don't ask me how I know this.

07-26-2018, 09:30 AM	#3
Bob C Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: So Cal Posts: 8,755	Re: First 'incident'... You need to read the owners manual. http://www.motormayhem.net/wp-upload...ion-Manual.pdf

07-26-2018, 09:47 AM	#4
eagle Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Eagle Bend, MN Posts: 2,025	Re: First 'incident'... Yep! You DO have a parking light position. As said above, read the operators manual. It also has good info about shifting etc. __________________ "There are some that can destroy an anvil with a teaspoon and shouldn't be allowed to touch anything resembling a tool."

07-26-2018, 10:24 AM	#6
BILL WILLIAMSON Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: FRESNO, CA Posts: 12,560	Re: First 'incident'... Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) And you lurned that BEER still tastes like CRAP! Bill Smart __________________ "THE ASSISTANT GURU OF STUFF"

07-26-2018, 10:50 PM	#9
daveymc29 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Danville, CA Posts: 1,554	Re: First 'incident'... Bottles cooling in the creek below the house. Who will ever miss one. Two young lads snockered, who will notice. Well it turned out the did notice and it was two beers each befroe we figured that it might raise suspicion. 4 and 5 years old we were at the time. Thankfully our aunt laughed it off and we got off Scott free. They did hide the beer cooling spot from then on though.

07-27-2018, 11:55 AM	#10
Jim Brierley Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Temecula, CA Posts: 4,091	Re: First 'incident'... I would install a master switch, preferably in the battery ground strap, and always turn it off when stopped.

08-03-2018, 07:58 AM	#13
DHZIEMAN Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Sunrise Beach, Mo Posts: 439	Re: First 'incident'... Consider it all part of the learning curve of your Model A Ford! And I venture the beer was great!

08-03-2018, 09:33 AM	#14
Kahuna Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: NorCal Posts: 2,617	Re: First 'incident'... Did a Model A come with a Master Switch? The one I had didn't. Maybe the later ones did? Mine was a 30. Last edited by Kahuna; 08-03-2018 at 09:42 AM. Reason: Sp

08-03-2018, 10:22 AM	#16
Kahuna Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: NorCal Posts: 2,617	Re: First 'incident'... What? Last edited by Kahuna; 08-03-2018 at 10:39 AM.