The Ford Barn

TinCup · 10-12-2010, 07:12 PM

By accident I left the ignition in the on position. The battery is dead and now has the charger on it. The points appear to be ok so what else should I check before trying to start it.

Special Coupe Frank · 10-12-2010, 07:22 PM

Coil & points should have been the only load... if they look good, charge the battery and see what happens...

I did this once; forgot to turn the switch off after running the carb out of gas... came back the next day, saw the keys in the switch and the switch "on"... I expected the worst, but the battery still had juice in it, and the car started easily, so I guess I got lucky.

I have burned-up points in Stovebolt Chevy sixes by leaving the ignition switched on...

Good luck with yours !

Mitch//pa · 10-12-2010, 07:26 PM

you should be fine, my buddy did that at a car show so we hand cranked it and off we went

Jack '29 Sport Coupe · 10-12-2010, 07:47 PM

I've done that a couple of times. Fortunately, on the rare occasion that I forgot I remembered to turn off the disconnect switch. I did it once before I had the Disconnect switch and the crank worked just fine.

Jack

John Butts in CT · 10-12-2010, 07:54 PM

You'll likely be fine. Otherwise, the car wouldn't have lasted 80 years!

I always Run into the garage, open the hood, turn off the gas (late '31) and let it run dry. Then I pull the fuse and switch off the ignition.

Just my routine, and it's served me well since 1967.

JWB

tuneman · 10-12-2010, 09:45 PM

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I did it and burned up my coil. But my car is 12 volts and don't know if that mattered or not

Special Coupe Frank · 10-12-2010, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tuneman

I did it and burned up my coil. But my car is 12 volts and don't know if that mattered or not

Probably depends on whether the engine comes to rest with the points open or closed... if the points are open and the switch left-on, there shouldn't be any current flowing through coil... if their closed or just beginning to break and are arcing, that could concievably toast something...

TinCup · 10-12-2010, 10:21 PM

Luckily they were open. Charged the battery and it started right up.

Tom Wesenberg · 10-13-2010, 04:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TinCup

Luckily they were open. Charged the battery and it started right up.

Just wondering, if the points were open, then what killed the battery?

A friend left his key on and the engine had stopped with the points closed. After 30 minutes he saw the key was on, but by then the aftermarket coil was toast on a stock 6 volt system.

Freddie (Memphis) · 10-14-2010, 09:42 AM

I've done the same thing ... but, thankfully, just once. Battery went flat, and I'm running a transitorized ignition module instead of points. I called FS Ignitions and they said it should be fine, just charge the battery and go for it...so, I did. Started fine, ran fine...still does.

Now...my shut down procedure calls for me to turn off the fuel as I pull into the garage....then fully retard the spark...close the GAV finger tight...wait for the carb to run dry. Then, raise the gas lever to fully off...and turn off the switch. I remove the key and MAFCA key ring and hang the ring over the gas lever where it stays till we're ready to go for another drive. If I look into the car...I better see the key hangin' over the gas lever...or I know I probably left the switch on again.

So far...it's worked fine for me. I keep our car in our locked garage, and it's blocked in by my wife's Honda on the drive way...plus, I live in a gated community where there is no access to public streets, etc. I wouldn't recommend my little ritual to just anyone, but it's worked for me since I inadvertantly left the switch on that one time.

Kevin - Illinois · 10-14-2010, 04:51 PM

I did this after a 350 mile treck to see Dad in Michigan in 2008. I have a 12 volt negative ground system with an FS Ignition. The battery was completely dead. I jumped it the next day and it started right up. Both Dad & I were shocked...

10-12-2010, 07:12 PM	#1
TinCup Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: OKC / Tonkawa, Ok. Posts: 1,977	Left the key in the on position By accident I left the ignition in the on position. The battery is dead and now has the charger on it. The points appear to be ok so what else should I check before trying to start it.

10-12-2010, 07:22 PM	#2
Special Coupe Frank Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Northeast Penna Posts: 2,108	Re: Left the key in the on position Coil & points should have been the only load... if they look good, charge the battery and see what happens... I did this once; forgot to turn the switch off after running the carb out of gas... came back the next day, saw the keys in the switch and the switch "on"... I expected the worst, but the battery still had juice in it, and the car started easily, so I guess I got lucky. I have burned-up points in Stovebolt Chevy sixes by leaving the ignition switched on... Good luck with yours !

10-12-2010, 07:26 PM	#3
Mitch//pa BANNED Join Date: May 2010 Location: Bucks County, PA Posts: 11,454	Re: Left the key in the on position you should be fine, my buddy did that at a car show so we hand cranked it and off we went

10-12-2010, 07:47 PM	#4
Jack '29 Sport Coupe Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 798	Re: Left the key in the on position I've done that a couple of times. Fortunately, on the rare occasion that I forgot I remembered to turn off the disconnect switch. I did it once before I had the Disconnect switch and the crank worked just fine. Jack __________________ Cincinnati, Ohio

10-12-2010, 07:54 PM	#5
John Butts in CT Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Southeastern Connecticut Posts: 464	Re: Left the key in the on position You'll likely be fine. Otherwise, the car wouldn't have lasted 80 years! I always Run into the garage, open the hood, turn off the gas (late '31) and let it run dry. Then I pull the fuse and switch off the ignition. Just my routine, and it's served me well since 1967. JWB

10-12-2010, 09:45 PM	#6
tuneman Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 264	Re: Left the key in the on position Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) I did it and burned up my coil. But my car is 12 volts and don't know if that mattered or not

10-12-2010, 10:21 PM	#8
TinCup Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: OKC / Tonkawa, Ok. Posts: 1,977	Re: Left the key in the on position Luckily they were open. Charged the battery and it started right up.

10-14-2010, 09:42 AM	#10
Freddie (Memphis) Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Germantown, TN Posts: 109	Re: Left the key in the on position I've done the same thing ... but, thankfully, just once. Battery went flat, and I'm running a transitorized ignition module instead of points. I called FS Ignitions and they said it should be fine, just charge the battery and go for it...so, I did. Started fine, ran fine...still does. Now...my shut down procedure calls for me to turn off the fuel as I pull into the garage....then fully retard the spark...close the GAV finger tight...wait for the carb to run dry. Then, raise the gas lever to fully off...and turn off the switch. I remove the key and MAFCA key ring and hang the ring over the gas lever where it stays till we're ready to go for another drive. If I look into the car...I better see the key hangin' over the gas lever...or I know I probably left the switch on again. So far...it's worked fine for me. I keep our car in our locked garage, and it's blocked in by my wife's Honda on the drive way...plus, I live in a gated community where there is no access to public streets, etc. I wouldn't recommend my little ritual to just anyone, but it's worked for me since I inadvertantly left the switch on that one time. __________________ Freddie (Memphis) "...an opinon on everything...an expert on nuthin'..." I'm still doin' the rhumba, Baby...I just can't seem to quit. If momma catches us doin' the rhumba....momma would just pitch a fit. I can't help myself....it's much bigger than me. If I were you I'd hang on to a rhumba man like me...!

10-14-2010, 04:51 PM	#11
Kevin - Illinois Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Ottawa, Illinois Posts: 401	Re: Left the key in the on position I did this after a 350 mile treck to see Dad in Michigan in 2008. I have a 12 volt negative ground system with an FS Ignition. The battery was completely dead. I jumped it the next day and it started right up. Both Dad & I were shocked...