Go Back   The Ford Barn > General Discussion > Model A (1928-31)

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 08-30-2010, 01:21 AM   #1
Baumi
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Landshut, Bavaria, Germany
Posts: 7
Default A Newbie Question: My A starts right up but dies after a few seconds.... ideas?

Hi there, I´m knew here and I´d like to introduce myself. My name is Chris Baumgartner and I´m from around Munich, Southern Germany. I´m into old American tin as long as I can think , I´ve got a 62 Impala coupe, a 56 Bel Air 2dr, a 1934 Plymouth 2dr Hot Rod , a 1967 Ford F100 I restored by myself and my latest old car is now a 1930 A Tudor.

And the A´s also what is keeping me busy right now, haha

So, here´s what´s happening: The car starts right up, runs well for a couple of seconds and then dies . I rebuilt the carb and checked for clocked fuel lines. Everything is clean and fuel is getting to the carb, so I assume the reason for dying could be on the ignition side.
but that´s just a feeling...

What would you look for?

Thanks for letting me in and helping me out!

Chris
Baumi is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-30-2010, 01:40 AM   #2
Jim/GA
Senior Member
 
Jim/GA's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Young Harris, GA
Posts: 1,808
Default Re: A Newbie Question: My A starts right up but dies after a few seconds.... ideas?

It really sounds like fuel.

See if opening the mixture knob on the dash (going down to the carb) helps any. It is common to have that knob open up to 1 full turn to start and then close to 1/2 open after a minute. Close to 1/4 open after several minutes.

See if you can keep it running by partially choking it a bit once it starts.

Check the ignition timing.

Make sure your fuel cap is vented. Radiator caps are not and they look alike.

See what the fuel level is in the carb bowl by connecting a small sight glass to the bottom plug under the main jet. It should be 5/8 inch, as I recall (but it has been a long time).

Hope this helps. Ther are others that are much more experienced with these cars than me that can answer.

Jim
__________________
Jim Cannon
Former MAFCA Technical Director
"Have a Model A day!"
Jim/GA is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Old 08-30-2010, 02:27 AM   #3
Mike V. Florida
Senior Member
 
Mike V. Florida's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: South Florida
Posts: 14,054
Send a message via AIM to Mike V. Florida
Default Re: A Newbie Question: My A starts right up but dies after a few seconds.... ideas?

Yea try running it with the gas cap off as step one.
__________________
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
Mike V. Florida is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-30-2010, 05:13 AM   #4
Tom Wesenberg
Senior Member
 
Tom Wesenberg's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Mpls, MN
Posts: 27,582
Default Re: A Newbie Question: My A starts right up but dies after a few seconds.... ideas?

Make sure the fuel line isn't too long past the brass ring where it screws into the carb. If the fuel line is pushed in too far it will block off the fuel flow, and this sounds like a fuel flow problem to me.
Tom Wesenberg is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-30-2010, 05:48 AM   #5
2manycars
Senior Member
 
2manycars's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Eastern CT
Posts: 2,732
Default Re: A Newbie Question: My A starts right up but dies after a few seconds.... ideas?

If your fuel line is OK as per Tom's suggestion, re check your carburetor inlet valve and float level.
2manycars is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-30-2010, 06:18 AM   #6
Bruce Adams
Senior Member
 
Bruce Adams's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Northport, NY
Posts: 1,597
Default Re: A Newbie Question: My A starts right up but dies after a few seconds.... ideas?

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Do you advance the spark lever immediately after it starts from the 11 o'clock to the 9 o'clock position?
Bruce Adams is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-30-2010, 06:30 AM   #7
Brad in Germany
Senior Member
 
Brad in Germany's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Potomac, Maryland
Posts: 909
Default Re: A Newbie Question: My A starts right up but dies after a few seconds.... ideas?

Hallo Chris,

I had a similar problem and found out that the fuel line was partially clogged. The flow of fuel seemed OK when tested, but really it wasn't.

The partial clog occurred in the fuel shut off valve where a small piece of something plastic looking was partially blocking the fuel flow. I believe it was a piece of teflon type tape that had been used to seal the threaded joints of the fuel lines.

Mit freundlichen Grüßen aus Hessen!

Fordially,
Brad in Germany
Brad in Germany is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-30-2010, 08:25 AM   #8
Mitch//pa
BANNED
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Bucks County, PA
Posts: 11,454
Default Re: A Newbie Question: My A starts right up but dies after a few seconds.... ideas?

you didnt mention if after the car dies out does it restart again or does it have to sit a bit. if the float bowl is full it should run for more than a couple seconds before it dies. do your basic first checks spark, fuel. to decide where to go next.
Mitch//pa is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-30-2010, 09:29 AM   #9
Baumi
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Landshut, Bavaria, Germany
Posts: 7
Default Re: A Newbie Question: My A starts right up but dies after a few seconds.... ideas?

Guys, thanks a lot for the warm welcome!!!
Brad, if you were a little closer you could come around for a cold one and help me clean out the tank, hahahaha :lol:

As most of you said "fuel problem " I just checked that again. Fuel is only dripping from the line right now. I had blown through the fuel line with compressed air and there was plenty of fuel to the carb but now there was some debris in the show glass and not even enough fuel to power a lawnmower.

Thanks again, I´ll let you know what happens next!
Chris
Baumi is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-30-2010, 02:35 PM   #10
Mike V. Florida
Senior Member
 
Mike V. Florida's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: South Florida
Posts: 14,054
Send a message via AIM to Mike V. Florida
Default Re: A Newbie Question: My A starts right up but dies after a few seconds.... ideas?

Try this,
http://www.fordgarage.com/pages/kellyshutoff.htm
__________________
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

Last edited by Mike V. Florida; 12-14-2010 at 01:12 AM.
Mike V. Florida is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-30-2010, 02:56 PM   #11
Aerocraft
Senior Member
 
Aerocraft's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Naperville, IL
Posts: 1,387
Default Re: A Newbie Question: My A starts right up but dies after a few seconds.... ideas?

Chris, it would seem worthwhile to insert a screen (available from the parts houses) in the inlet portion of the fuel valve. Many Model A fuel tanks have rusted, especially in areas behind the baffles you can't see through the filler. If the fuel line clogged once, there is a good chance it will happen again. It doesn't take much to clog the idle jet in the carburetor. If you search for threads about this subject you will find some very informative comments and excellent pictures. Gar Williams
Aerocraft is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-30-2010, 03:29 PM   #12
John Butts in CT
Senior Member
 
John Butts in CT's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Southeastern Connecticut
Posts: 464
Default Re: A Newbie Question: My A starts right up but dies after a few seconds.... ideas?

An earlier poster hinted at this, but I have to share a suspicion that there may be an electrical problem, too. read on:

(1) Be sure that you have a dependable flow of fuel to the carb.

(2) Don't forget to clean out all of the carb's internal passages. (For now. just blow them out in both directions with your air compressor.)

(3) Even with poor fuel flow, a carb full of gas should allow your "A" to start and idle for more than a "few seconds." So, if you still have a problem, check the pigtail wire in your distributor. A frayed wire may allow you to start with the spark retarded, but short out when you move the spark lever down, causing the engine to die a "few seconds" after starting.

Let us know how you make out.
John Butts in CT is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-31-2010, 12:42 AM   #13
Baumi
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Landshut, Bavaria, Germany
Posts: 7
Default Re: A Newbie Question: My A starts right up but dies after a few seconds.... ideas?

Ok, here´s what I found: The fuel shut of valve was extremely clogged by debris.
I ultrasoniccleaned the carb, the lines, the valve and flushed the tank. I also tried to blow out the gas tank with compressed air but I don´t think it is possible to get all that old gunk out that way. I already have a filter between the glass and the carb but I´m pretty sure, that the shut off valve will clog up again .

At least the car starts right up AND keeps running now I drives well too!
I try to insert a screen, but in the long run I´ll have to figure out how to clean out the tank...


Thanks for all youtr help!!!
Chris
Baumi is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-31-2010, 01:37 AM   #14
roddyb34
Senior Member
 
roddyb34's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Geelong Australia
Posts: 119
Default Re: A Newbie Question: My A starts right up but dies after a few seconds.... ideas?

Dont do what a local rodder with dirt in his A tank did and use his moms vacuum cleaner ,it was dry and what he thought was aired out enough, but the vacuum moor picked up enough fumes to explode it,,,he was not popular with mom,,,,
roddyb34 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-31-2010, 08:31 AM   #15
1931 flamingo
Senior Member
 
1931 flamingo's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: new britain,ct 06052
Posts: 9,389
Default Re: A Newbie Question: My A starts right up but dies after a few seconds.... ideas?

If tank inside is rusty try putting several small magnets (strong) on the bottom of the tank, you could also install a "dead-leg(?sp) at the bottom of the tank. Do a search, there were pictures posted and many discussions on this subject. We don't have problems, we have opportunities (sometimes too many).
Paul in CT
1931 flamingo is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:26 PM.