Air fuel mixture

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2012: Air fuel mixture
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Greg Charland on Sunday, May 27, 2012 - 10:23 pm:

New owner of a 26 roadster and ready to start her. I was wondering where to start on the air fuel mixture? How many turns in what direction? Any help is appreciated.

Thank you

Greg


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By jack daron-Brownsburg,In. on Sunday, May 27, 2012 - 10:25 pm:

Set carb to 1 1/4 turns open and then adjust after it starts.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Greg Charland on Sunday, May 27, 2012 - 10:31 pm:

Ok here is a dumb question, Which way opens it and closes it My mind says to the right is closing and left is opening.

Once it starts which way to adjust.


Thanks


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By jack daron-Brownsburg,In. on Sunday, May 27, 2012 - 10:34 pm:

Left to open.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Randy Milano on Sunday, May 27, 2012 - 10:46 pm:

I have a 26 with a Holley Vaporizer. I start it where Jack says and then run it at 1 to 1 1/8 open. You have to play with it. Even the smallest adjustment makes a difference.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Hal Schedler, Sacramento on Sunday, May 27, 2012 - 11:25 pm:

1 1/4" open and it'll flood real easy. Since 1945 I have always used 3/4" as an initial setting. After it starts adjust the mixture to the left, through the smooth spot, until the engine starts to run rough. Then turn it to the right until the engine starts to run rough again and then turn it back to the left until the engine runs smooth and you'll be in the ballpark for your engine/carb setup. Should I use coils or a distributor, crank with left or right hand, use multi vis oil or straight vis oil, 50 or 55 pounds for tire pressure and head bolts, pack your timer w/grease or just oil it periodically. You'll get as many opinions here as there are posters and they all will probably work.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Greg Charland on Monday, May 28, 2012 - 07:26 am:

Thanks guys all info is much appreciated.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Hap Tucker on Monday, May 28, 2012 - 08:50 am:

Greg,

You didn't ask -- but if you are a new owner and you are going to start the car -- are you planning to drive it? And if so do you already know how to drive it? And if you are not planning to drive it -- unless the wheels are off of the car -- you will probably have a strong urge to just test it out in the driveway etc. (Please don't ask me how I know that.) In that case -- is it licensed and ensured and/or do you live in a rural area etc.

Your profile has Oregon listed -- and there are lots of T folks in Oregon. If you are not already familiar with Ts, I would recommend contacting one of the local clubs and/or posting a note on the forum and asking someone to come over and give you some help. It is fun for them (new starts always are fun), you will meet a new friend, they will have a new member of their club, and the car will not accidently be driven into the garage (it's happen before -- and it will probably happen a few more times in the future).

For Model T Clubs near you see: http://mtfca.com/clubpages/chapters.htm and http://www.modelt.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5&Itemid=15

See also the safety info at: http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/257047/258265.html

Good luck with starting your T.

Respectfully submitted,

Hap l9l5 cut off


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dennis Halpin on Monday, May 28, 2012 - 10:02 am:

Welcome Greg. First off, if you ask a question on this forum, you are going to 10 different answers, most of which are going to be basically correct. A 'stock' 26 'probably' has a vaporizer carb on it. Many replaced the vaporizer with (much simpler) Holley NH. Twist your air/fuel screw clockwise until it just stops, not tight (we will get into ruining the air/fuel mixture screw later), then turn it 'about' 1 and 1/4 turns counter clockwise. Each carb is different and has it's own 'sweet spot' depending on a whole lot of other factors in the engine, humidity, temp, etc. That 'should' give you a decent air/fuel ratio to get it started.
There's no such thing as a 'stupid question' but you can make a whole lot of costly mistakes by not asking here first. Chock the wheels. If this car has been idle for a long time it would be better to jack one rear wheel off the ground. Clutches and bands in the trans could be seized and you don't want to introduce it to the work bench in your garage or the garage door (ask me how I know). The guys here are great and there is a wealth of Model T information here like no place else. Happy Motoring.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Greg Charland on Monday, May 28, 2012 - 10:10 am:

Thanks again guys. Been around cars many years but this is my 1st T and I want to make sure I treat her right so all advice is welcome. When I figure out how to post pictures on here I will try to post some.

Greg


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jim Patrick on Monday, May 28, 2012 - 12:29 pm:

Pull the emergency brake lever back all the way. If you are not sure of the emergency brake adjustment put blocks in front of the wheels so it does not take off without you. Gently seat the needle adjustment by turning it clockwise, then turn it counter clockwise 1 1/4 turns. Retard the spark and advance the throttle, switch the key to BATT, choke and start. After it starts, advance the spark, give it some gas, switch the Key to MAG then adjust to where it sounds the smoothest. Jim Patrick
PS this diagram of lever settings might help.




Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Frank Harris from Long Beach & Big Bear on Monday, May 28, 2012 - 12:32 pm:

Greg, The taper of the needle governs the number of turns of the enrichment details.
A short blunt needle is hard to adjust because an eighth of a turn will change things a lot. A long taper will give you a finer adjustment.

Screw the needle down until it just stops and count as you go, write down the number of turns so you will know where to place it for running and do not put too much pressure on it or you will make an annular ring on the needle and then it will not adjust properly.

I like to put the needle in a drill press and turn it on using a fine wet or dry sand paper to polish the needle to a fine point with a long taper. If your needle has a bend end on it for twisting and it will not go into a chuck simply swizzle it on some fine wet or dry paper to polish it to a fine taper.

Other people will not agree with me but that works for me and always has back from the 1940's when I first played with two cycle model airplane engines.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Greg Charland on Monday, May 28, 2012 - 01:22 pm:

This is great information.

Thanks everyone

Greg


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dan B on Monday, May 28, 2012 - 05:53 pm:

The position of the spark lever in the above chart is lost on me. I have two positions - retarded and fully advanced, for starting and running respectfully. Seems to run best with it fully advanced regardless of running conditions.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Cameron Whitaker on Monday, May 28, 2012 - 09:08 pm:

Just a friendly word of advice here.

Everyone is right on the money here, but I will just add to make sure that the clamp nut that the needle goes through is not too tight. If it is, the needle can feel like it has seated all the way, but it hasn't. I had to help a friend who couldn't get his T running properly for that exact reason.

I typically will loosen it all the way, turn the needle until it seats (this time, you can be sure that it's seated) and then snug down the clamp nut until the needle has about the right amount of friction.

A classic symptom of this problem is that the car runs rough, and you just can't seem to lean it out enough.


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