The Ford Barn

Jacksonlll · 11-08-2016, 06:55 PM

The probability of a new condense being bad is higher that an old one going bad. Don't get fooled by a bad new one. Drove me crazy years ago.

Flathead · 11-09-2016, 11:36 PM

A and L has a dependable condenser.

BoysToys1928A · 11-10-2016, 08:55 AM

Okay I am going to tread out into very deep water so dont shoot me right away, I know you guys have forgot more then I know !!! But I went through this same thing and as a dumb beginner does I tried things that can't work... So I took the picture from Tom and set the timing to fire the exact opposite then what it should (instead of pointing at number one tab on the distributor I turned it to point at number 4) and it fired right up... some one suggested that either I really didn't have the timing set up right or that the timing gear was made wrong which some people on here have said they have seen. If I were you I would spin that rotor toward each point on the distributor and turn over the engine to see if it does something... Okay you can fire at will at me if you want.

30AAFord · 11-14-2016, 09:31 AM

Sorry for the delay in answering (I was hauling another AA project home this weekend). UPDATE: The AA started and she is running great. Everyone who mentioned a potential issue with the timing gear was correct.

On Friday, I reset the timing again (5th time now) and lined the rotor up exactly with #1 contact point in the distributor as pictured in Tom Wesenberg's photo. No start - just the same symptoms as I had before. I then began adjusting where the rotor fell in relation to the contact point. Nothing. I did all of this with the timing pin in the dimple on the timing gear (absolutely certain, no question, confirmed by another Model A guy who came over to help) and confirmed TDC looking through the plug hole.

My friend then said "It's almost like she's on exhaust stroke, but the pin is seating in the dimple. For the hell of it, let's set it 180 opposite." So we did and she fired on first push of the starter button. In fact, with a minor carb adjustment, she ran beautifully!!

Some background on the vehicle: she's a '30 AA that had been used for 50+ years as a log skidder in upstate NY. When I got her back in May, she had been sitting idle for at least 10 years. Her oil pan had been removed by the previous owner as "an anti-theft measure" (had to dig around to find it). In any case, when looking over the lower end of the engine before buttoning it back up, I noted that she had an aluminum timing gear. I have no idea when that timing gear was produced, installed or who made it - I only know the dimple was 180 off.

Ray in La Mesa · 11-14-2016, 09:35 AM

Had the same problem on a buddies '30 coupe 40 years ag, timing dimple was 180 out. it's a challenge to discover that!

SeaSlugs · 11-14-2016, 09:56 AM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by 30AAFord

Sorry for the delay in answering (I was hauling another AA project home this weekend). UPDATE: The AA started and she is running great. Everyone who mentioned a potential issue with the timing gear was correct.

On Friday, I reset the timing again (5th time now) and lined the rotor up exactly with #1 contact point in the distributor as pictured in Tom Wesenberg's photo. No start - just the same symptoms as I had before. I then began adjusting where the rotor fell in relation to the contact point. Nothing. I did all of this with the timing pin in the dimple on the timing gear (absolutely certain, no question, confirmed by another Model A guy who came over to help) and confirmed TDC looking through the plug hole.

My friend then said "It's almost like she's on exhaust stroke, but the pin is seating in the dimple. For the hell of it, let's set it 180 opposite." So we did and she fired on first push of the starter button. In fact, with a minor carb adjustment, she ran beautifully!!

Some background on the vehicle: she's a '30 AA that had been used for 50+ years as a log skidder in upstate NY. When I got her back in May, she had been sitting idle for at least 10 years. Her oil pan had been removed by the previous owner as "an anti-theft measure" (had to dig around to find it). In any case, when looking over the lower end of the engine before buttoning it back up, I noted that she had an aluminum timing gear. I have no idea when that timing gear was produced, installed or who made it - I only know the dimple was 180 off.

oooh what do I win for guessing the timing dimple was in the wrong spot back on post #20?

glad you got it fixed!

Big hammer · 11-14-2016, 12:53 PM

Another anti-thief device installed by previous owner!

11-08-2016, 06:55 PM	#21
Jacksonlll Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Michigan-- Member of Oakleaf of MARC Posts: 1,686	Re: '30 AA Will Not Start - Ideas Appreciated!! The probability of a new condense being bad is higher that an old one going bad. Don't get fooled by a bad new one. Drove me crazy years ago.

11-09-2016, 11:36 PM	#22
Flathead Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Southern Maine Posts: 1,497	Re: '30 AA Will Not Start - Ideas Appreciated!! A and L has a dependable condenser.

11-10-2016, 08:55 AM	#23
BoysToys1928A Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Tower City, PA Posts: 46	Re: '30 AA Will Not Start - Ideas Appreciated!! Okay I am going to tread out into very deep water so dont shoot me right away, I know you guys have forgot more then I know !!! But I went through this same thing and as a dumb beginner does I tried things that can't work... So I took the picture from Tom and set the timing to fire the exact opposite then what it should (instead of pointing at number one tab on the distributor I turned it to point at number 4) and it fired right up... some one suggested that either I really didn't have the timing set up right or that the timing gear was made wrong which some people on here have said they have seen. If I were you I would spin that rotor toward each point on the distributor and turn over the engine to see if it does something... Okay you can fire at will at me if you want. __________________ "All you have to be is smarter than what you are working with" Larry Stout Quote thats me... Few old men finish well.

11-14-2016, 09:31 AM	#24
30AAFord Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 72	Re: '30 AA Will Not Start - Ideas Appreciated!! Sorry for the delay in answering (I was hauling another AA project home this weekend). UPDATE: The AA started and she is running great. Everyone who mentioned a potential issue with the timing gear was correct. On Friday, I reset the timing again (5th time now) and lined the rotor up exactly with #1 contact point in the distributor as pictured in Tom Wesenberg's photo. No start - just the same symptoms as I had before. I then began adjusting where the rotor fell in relation to the contact point. Nothing. I did all of this with the timing pin in the dimple on the timing gear (absolutely certain, no question, confirmed by another Model A guy who came over to help) and confirmed TDC looking through the plug hole. My friend then said "It's almost like she's on exhaust stroke, but the pin is seating in the dimple. For the hell of it, let's set it 180 opposite." So we did and she fired on first push of the starter button. In fact, with a minor carb adjustment, she ran beautifully!! Some background on the vehicle: she's a '30 AA that had been used for 50+ years as a log skidder in upstate NY. When I got her back in May, she had been sitting idle for at least 10 years. Her oil pan had been removed by the previous owner as "an anti-theft measure" (had to dig around to find it). In any case, when looking over the lower end of the engine before buttoning it back up, I noted that she had an aluminum timing gear. I have no idea when that timing gear was produced, installed or who made it - I only know the dimple was 180 off.

11-14-2016, 09:35 AM	#25
Ray in La Mesa Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: La Mesa Ca Posts: 1,166	Re: '30 AA Will Not Start - Ideas Appreciated!! Had the same problem on a buddies '30 coupe 40 years ag, timing dimple was 180 out. it's a challenge to discover that!

11-14-2016, 12:53 PM	#27
Big hammer Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Land of Lincoln Posts: 3,127	Re: '30 AA Will Not Start - Ideas Appreciated!! Another anti-thief device installed by previous owner!