…turns of the crank it might take to start this old, tired engine (block #7,195,959) for the first time in probably 35+ years.
This is what I have done so far:
remove the head and scrape off all of the old carbon that I could
grind/lap the valves and install all new valve springs
rebuild the coil box with a Fun Projects kit
rebuild 4 coils (new capacitors, re-tar, and new points) and set them up on a HCCT
rebuild Holley NH with new gaskets, seat, and float shut-off valve; new exhaust manifold (installed with gland rings on both manifolds) (the replacement that is supposed to be an exact copy of original) (Gas line routing a problem?)
hogshead and 4-dip inspection pan removed and as much old gunk cleaned out as I could get to;
front cover removed, new camshaft seal installed, and cover centered
4 old Champion X plugs scrounged together from a box of ones I have been collecting; compression checked out at 32, 31, 25, 30 (did I mention the engine is old and tired?)
new timer (one of the new black powder-coated ones with the small gaps between the contacts and roller track…hmm)
checked the magneto by spinning the crank as fast as I could with all spark plugs out and hooked up to the multi-meter/1156 light bulb test set-up; managed to read 2-3 volts with the bulb glimmering slightly (when putting the clutch in and out, the crankshaft and transmission tend to move back and forth 1/8+ of an inch or so…)
My plan is to open the cab adjustment about one and a quartet runs, give it 4 turns with the choke on, open the throttle 1/3 and set spark advance, try it on battery to see if there just might be a free start (one can dream, can’t one?), and then crank as needed to see if it will go.
I think it should start; how well it will run is another story…
So…any guesses as to how many turns of the crank it will take to get it going? I will post a YouTube video if I get it going...
3
3/4 turn on the mixture, two quarter pulls on crank with choke closed and two more quarter pulls on the crank and it will at least lit you know it's alive and should start...if the compression, carb and timing are all good.
"let"
1/2 hour, with arm rest stops in between.
I bet if you put the mixture at 1 turn from closed, then pull up on the crank three times with the spark off while choking, it will start on the fourth pull with the choke off and throttle half open.
Joseph,
bottom LIne Up Front: If the generator is not connected up -- STOP!
Additional details:
I don't see any wiring going to the generator and I don't see a cut out. It could be my old eyes, the small photo, or you are tricking me with the wiring not using a cut out. But DO NOT RUN THE ENGINE WITH THE GENERATOR NOT CONNECTED to the battery [and I’m guessing the next part -- or some type of load]. It will fry the generator.
Ref: http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/257047/288298.html
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/118802/122657.html
Respectfully submitted,
Hap l9l5 cut off
Does someone have Joseph's phone number? If so would you please give him a call or text him so he can laugh at the old guy concerned about he may forgot to hook up the generator? The radiator hoses aren't hooked up either -- but I'm not concerned that he will forget those. So he probability knows about the generator wiring also. But that is an expensive lesson to learn first hand.
Respectfully submitted,
Hap l9l5 cut off
41
Hap,
It looks like the generator may only be there to fill the hole and provide a bolt hole for the commutator strap. I don't think the windings are inside it.
I agree with 3-4 if you start it on the battery.
Crank 2-3 times with the switch off, choke closed, and throttle open full.
Then 0-2 with the choke open, throttle open about 1/4, advance at 2 clicks, switch on the battery.
You might get a free start if you move the advance lever a bit up and down!
Other wise retard it all the way and give it good jerk.
A motor like that wants to run!
I had one like that I got off of ebay. The engine went bad in my truck and I found one to replace it with. The new one had plugs in the holes and turned over when I got it. That is what I knew about it. It was a 1918, so no starter or generator.
I took the old engine out, but left the manifolds hooked up and laying to the side. The new engine was installed in the frame. I did a compression check and it was uneven. So I took the plugs out and put a tablespoon of oil in each one just to see if there were some stuck rings. I gave it a crank and it shot the plastic plugs that were in the exhaust holes across the shop. A good sign I thought!
So next was to clean out the gunk from the pan. I did this by pouring diesel fuel into the oil hole cranking the engine and draining it. I did this a lot and got a lot of gunk out of the engine and yes I took the hogshead off and blew out the oil lie to the front of the engine. I put things back together flipped the manifolds up and bolted them in place. With the key off I turned the gas on pulled the choke gave it a couple of turns, turned the key on gave it ONE crank and it started! We had to leave the shop as with the oil in the cylinders I had put there it fogged the place for a while, but man that was exciting!
The last time I ran it was about a month ago. I got it out for the birthday party for a friend. It started and ran. We gave rides and parked it to eat. when we came back to put it away I turned the switch on with a fence staple and got a free start!.
Herb
Sorry to take so long to get back with you, but there were a few technical issues…not with the Model T engine but with uploading the videos.
Speaking of videos, there are two, since I forgot to connect the battery before trying to start it… This first one is choking (4 pulls, full choke, switch off) and then flipping the switch to battery to see what happens. . But of course nothing happens when the battery is disconnected.
choking
So this second video was shot immediately after connecting the battery, no extra choking, just the 4 pulls when it then starts:
running
The smoke is coming off the exhaust manifold. I had rubbed anti-seize compound on it to stop the rust, and so far it is working. Now that it has mostly burned off, we will see how good the protection is. (It stops smoking so suddenly because I cut out a couple minutes of the video; it was getting too long.)
For those wondering, this is how I ran water through it when it was running and where the gas tank is—hence the gas line going through the block where the throttle connection usually goes.
And as far as the generator goes, it is no longer a generator but the makings of a governor. Still not working right in that it doesn’t control the engine speed in any significant way, but there may be hope for it yet.
Anyway, 4 pulls with choke and it started on the 4th pull on battery and ran just fine on magneto.
Overall a success, I would say. A lot of fun anyway.
Fred was right, i was wrong (mine takes sometimes 45 minutes of cranking lol)