Cranking up my '39 A.

Enar · Sep 29, 2010

I have done just about everything I could to restore my A, so now it's time to get it running for the first time in about three years. I put in new clean gas, oil, water, plugs all gapped, wiring checked. And I have given it about 20 or 30 "practice" cranks. Yes, it is a hand cranker. And gas is getting to the carb. Before I took it apart it would start on one pull.

So today, I took off the air cleaner and sprayed some starting fluid into the carb. Cranked it about 5 times and it coughed once. Sprayed again. 4 or 5 cranks and a bigger cough. Promising. Again. Smaller cough. Again. Turned over about three times. Very good. Again. Cough. Again cough. Again, Turned over 4 or 5 times. A couple more coughs. My arm is dead. Try again tomorrow. Any suggestions out there? How can I tell if gas is getting into the cylinders short of cranking the hell out of it and pulling a plug?

Do you think cough drops would help?

Tyler Jackson · Sep 29, 2010

Just pull a plug now. If they're new and it's gettin gas they should smell like it. Also crankin the hell out of it might be the easiest way to see

Dave_Id · Sep 29, 2010

With that much cranking, their should be gasoline all over the floor. I would guess you aren't getting enough gas. Pull a couple of plugs to see if they are wet. And check for spark on those same plugs as you crank it. Ask your wife or some other unsuspecting person to hold the spark plug and then crank it over. If they get a good shock, then you have spark... I had a long day today.

Tom Fleming · Sep 29, 2010

Enar, one thing you didn't say is if you did anything to the engine as part of your restoration efforts. Did you have the mag off? did you do anything else to the engine or carb? Is the aircleaner oil cup plugged with old dirt? Wires new? Firing order correct?

We may need a bit more info before we can answer.

El Toro · Sep 29, 2010

You should pull the sparkplugs and pour some engine oil on top of the pistons, then crank over the engine a few times then, reinstall the plugs and see if will start. If it won't start hold your hand over the throat of the carburetor and see if you have much suction. You will need a helper to crank the engine. Make sure its out of gear too. You need good suction which is your intake manifold vacuum to pull that fuel into the engine.

Did you pull the mag? If you did your mag not be in time. An easy way to check that is bring No1 piston near the radiator to TDC on the compression stroke. You will need to remove No1 plug and hold your thumb over the plug hole while someone cranks the engine. Once you feel pressure against your thumb drop a long plastic straw on top of the piston and you watch the straw rise as your helper slowly cranks the engine. When the straw quits rising your No1 piston should at TDC on the compression stroke. Pull the mag's cap and see where your rotor is pointing. It should be pointing to the No1 plug tower which is around 1 o'clock. Here's the firing order. Hal

2-1
4-3 Rotor turns CW.

Enar · Sep 29, 2010

Thanks for the info, guys. I didn't touch the magneto when doing the work so it should be in time. I'll pull out a couple plugs tomorrow to see if they're wet. We used to do that with our cars back in the 50's and before. It was easy with flatheads! I will shoot a little oil into the cylinders also. I did rebuild the carburetor, but I think I got it done right and reset as the instructions said. Thanks again.

Cranking up my '39 A.

Enar

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Tyler Jackson

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Dave_Id

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Tom Fleming

Well-known Member

El Toro

Well-known Member

Enar

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