|
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
02-23-2024, 03:36 PM | #1 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Daniel Island,SouthCarolina/Knoxville, Tennessee/Sanibel Island,Florida
Posts: 293
|
good spark at plugs but no Henry jiggle
My '31 Tudor with 12v negative ground is not starting. Cranks fine though.
I've got a good strong spark on a grounded spark plug when cranking the engine, but no deflection of the ammeter when turning the ignition switch on or when cranking the engine. Does that tell something maybe? |
02-23-2024, 05:43 PM | #2 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 889
|
Re: good spark at plugs but no Henry jiggle
Quote:
__________________
The Master Cylinder Enjoying life at the beach in SoCal... |
|
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) |
|
02-23-2024, 05:59 PM | #3 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Daniel Island,SouthCarolina/Knoxville, Tennessee/Sanibel Island,Florida
Posts: 293
|
Re: good spark at plugs but no Henry jiggle
I am not sure of that.
I lost spark, swapped distributor out and now with a different distributor have spark but no Henry Jiggle. Seems I used to have the Henry jiggle in past times. |
02-23-2024, 08:33 PM | #4 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Kankakee, Illinois
Posts: 226
|
Re: good spark at plugs but no Henry jiggle
are you sure your getting fuel to the carb.
|
02-23-2024, 08:45 PM | #5 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2021
Location: Central Illinois
Posts: 499
|
Re: good spark at plugs but no Henry jiggle
Spark at one plug isn't strong enough evidence. I would pull the coil wire out of the distributor cap, use an insulated pony clamp to position the wire 1/4" from a clean head nut, make sure the coil wire is full up into the coil secondary terminal.
Parking brake set, tranny in neutral, ig switch on, stand at the left side of the car and use your hand to engage the starter switch. Turn the engine over and you should get a clean, snappy blue spark on every compression. If you only get a weak, yellowish white spark, or only an occasional spark every few cylinders, suspect the primary ignition, i.e. points, condenser, unintended current draw, coil etc. If you get a good, snappy blue spark on each compression, I'd check for fuel as stated above.
__________________
"It ain't what you know for certain that gets ya in trouble. It's what ya know for certain that just ain't so!" Last edited by Rob Doe; 02-23-2024 at 08:55 PM. |
02-24-2024, 07:14 AM | #6 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Western North Carolina
Posts: 3,929
|
Re: good spark at plugs but no Henry jiggle
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
To read the ignition current, the current to the points must be down stream from the ammeter. Consult the Service Bulletins for the wiring change, page 390.
__________________
A is for apple, green as the sky. Step on the gas, for tomorrow I die. Forget the brakes, they really don't work. The clutch always sticks, and starts with a jerk. My car grows red hair, and flies through the air. Driving's a blast, a blast from the past. Last edited by nkaminar; 02-24-2024 at 07:20 AM. |
02-25-2024, 12:55 PM | #7 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Santa Maria, CA
Posts: 985
|
Re: good spark at plugs but no Henry jiggle
What is a Henry Jiggle - an old time dance step?
__________________
Alan 1929 Special Coupe 1941 Pick-Up 1955 Victoria |
02-25-2024, 04:49 PM | #8 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Western North Carolina
Posts: 3,929
|
Re: good spark at plugs but no Henry jiggle
Alan, After the ignition wiring was changed sometime in the production of the Model A, the ammeter would show the current that the ignition was using when the points were closed. When the points were open no current was flowing through the ammeter. When the car is cranking with the starter motor the ammeter would wiggle back and forth when the points were closing and opening. This is usually a good way to check that the ignition system is working. But not always. Take the rotor out and try to start the car. You will get the Henry Jiggle but the engine will not run.
__________________
A is for apple, green as the sky. Step on the gas, for tomorrow I die. Forget the brakes, they really don't work. The clutch always sticks, and starts with a jerk. My car grows red hair, and flies through the air. Driving's a blast, a blast from the past. |
02-25-2024, 09:02 PM | #9 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Land of Lincoln
Posts: 3,136
|
Re: good spark at plugs but no Henry jiggle
You can get the jiggle but no spark because the points dirty ( high resistance ) it will allow voltage to ground but but with no amperage to power the coil and creat a spark or very weak spark………… clean and gap the points ! Quit chasing you tails Tom Wesenberg carried a piece of abrasive paper in his billfold to clean points RIP. I use cereal box, parts box cardboard with the ruff side and pull it through the points until there is no more black showing on the cardboard. I then go for a drive and enjoy !
__________________
Don't force it with a little hammer tap, tap, tap get a bigger hammer tap done |
02-26-2024, 09:57 AM | #10 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Daniel Island,SouthCarolina/Knoxville, Tennessee/Sanibel Island,Florida
Posts: 293
|
Re: good spark at plugs but no Henry jiggle
In my case, I have spark when cranking the engine, but no Henry jiggle.
Is that logical? |
02-26-2024, 02:26 PM | #11 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Land of Lincoln
Posts: 3,136
|
Re: good spark at plugs but no Henry jiggle
Let’s get away from the jiggle for now, an A will run with or without the jiggle. You say you have spark ! at one cylinder or all 4 ? It would be nice to know if all 4 are sparking.
Check to see if your timing is correct, with all of the spark plugs out, connect the #1 on the distributor to a spark plug laying on a head nut ( you can use a jumper wire ) , with the hand timing lever up turn on the key switch and crank the engine over by hand watch for spark at the grounded plug. If you have a good spark ? remove the timing pin and invert it back in the hole, with your thumb on it pushing in hand crank the engine while looking for spark at the grounded plug, you should feel the timing pin move in slightly and see the spark at the same time. This will verify that the timing is correct. Now that you know the timing is correct and you have spark at all 4 cylinders, put everything back in its place . With a fully charged battery let’s see if it will start, turn the GAV open 3/4 to 1 turn open , gas valve open , hand timing lever up , throttle lever down about halfway, key switch on , pull out the choke and hold , hit the starter cranking 2-3 times and release the choke, it should fire up now. If it doesn’t fire up repeat one more time pulling the choke out for 2-3 , it should be running. If it doesn’t start up, get out and see if you have fuel dripping out of the carburetor. In the Ford operation/ instruction manual after turning your engine over 7 times you should have fuel dripping out of the carburetor. If no fuel dripping you have issues with the fuel system.
__________________
Don't force it with a little hammer tap, tap, tap get a bigger hammer tap done |
02-26-2024, 03:05 PM | #12 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Between Seattle & Tacoma
Posts: 2,356
|
Re: good spark at plugs but no Henry jiggle
Are you sure it’s an ignition problem? After trying to start the engine, are the plugs wet? I like to spray a little ether in, to see if it will cough, to prove whether the problem is fuel or spark. How old is your gas? Old gas sometimes will not ignite!
|
02-26-2024, 07:43 PM | #13 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Western North Carolina
Posts: 3,929
|
Re: good spark at plugs but no Henry jiggle
Fried, Consult the Service Bulletins for the wiring change, page 390
__________________
A is for apple, green as the sky. Step on the gas, for tomorrow I die. Forget the brakes, they really don't work. The clutch always sticks, and starts with a jerk. My car grows red hair, and flies through the air. Driving's a blast, a blast from the past. |
02-26-2024, 08:26 PM | #14 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Daniel Island,SouthCarolina/Knoxville, Tennessee/Sanibel Island,Florida
Posts: 293
|
Re: good spark at plugs but no Henry jiggle
Thanks, nkaminar......Service Bulletins are on order, hope to get them soon!
|
|
|
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) |
|