Model A

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2013: Model A
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Taylor Ward on Tuesday, May 14, 2013 - 09:44 pm:

I know this site for model T, but I also have a model A. It runs fine at idle but misses at higher speed. I usually run only about 2 gallons in tank at a time . Would that have anything to do with it?

Taylor


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ricks - Surf City on Tuesday, May 14, 2013 - 09:51 pm:

It's telling you to take it back to the barn and fire up the T. :-)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dana A. Crosby in Glendale, Az on Tuesday, May 14, 2013 - 10:09 pm:

Gas flow restriction? Is the carb a Zenith or Tillotson? Check the sediment bowl/stuck float/needle not seating....only 2 gallons at a time? You are in NC where humidity has to be dealt with. You may have rust and or water in the gas.....lots of possibilities. Good luck..


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mike Stitt-Southern Oregon on Tuesday, May 14, 2013 - 10:40 pm:

Regardless of what you may find I would be nervous with 2 gallons. I keep her full and 2 gallons is empty in my world, particularly if you have a pencil filter in the tank. The bottom of the tank is where the crud is...Did you try running a tad richer? Run the GAV back a tad? As Dana said lot's of possibilities.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mark Gregush Portland Oregon on Tuesday, May 14, 2013 - 11:05 pm:

Make sure you are advancing the spark 1/2 to 3/4 after starting, check your fuel system. Points .017 to .021, check the timing. The needle valve with the spring is only part of the idle/air adjustment, only comes into play as long as there is fuel in the well (if you have a Zenith). Good place to ask is at Fordbarn.com in the Model A section, lots of help there.
http://www.model-a.org/troubleshooting.pdf


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Wayne Rosenkrans on Wednesday, May 15, 2013 - 08:59 am:

Whenever one of my A's does that, I always find that the points have closed up. Ditto on a friend's car a couple weeks ago. Check the points and the timing.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By David Dewey, N. California on Thursday, May 16, 2013 - 12:49 am:

While you are checking the points, be certain the spring on the points is in place--the brass lead can provide enough tension to close the points at low speed, but they float at higher speeds. Also, coil beginning to break down could be the problem.
T'
David D.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John Stokes on Thursday, May 16, 2013 - 02:54 am:

Taylor - Ralph (Ricks) above is right. The A is not a very good car. It was only made for a short time, unlike the T and unlike the car that replaced it, the V-8!!!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Wayne Rosenkrans on Thursday, May 16, 2013 - 09:13 am:

Oh - them's fighting words....

I disagree - we have Model T's, A's, and an early V-8. We love them all, and they all have their quirks, both good and bad. The A was a transition car from the old T technology to the newer V-8 technology, I don't think that qualifies it as not a very good car per se.

We just finished the Blue Ridge Parkway tour, 470 miles over hill and dale in a completely stock 1930 Model A Town Sedan, in pouring rain and fog. The car did beautifully.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Roger Karlsson, southern Sweden on Thursday, May 16, 2013 - 10:14 am:

A's can't be all bad - I remember the blogger who recently used his as daily driver for a year: http://www.365daysofa.com/
But it's not flawless, I've heard A's eat capacitors since the distributor is in a such a hot position right over the head. Maybe something to check?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jerry Ostbye on Thursday, May 16, 2013 - 01:00 pm:

Sent you a PM.
Jerry


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Wayne Sheldon, Grass Valley, CA on Thursday, May 16, 2013 - 08:17 pm:

Reading the above, I was going to ad capacitor. But Roger K beat me to it.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Hap Tucker in Sumter SC on Thursday, May 16, 2013 - 09:00 pm:

Note, moving the condenser to the upper distributor plate solved the problem of the exhaust heat "frying" my Model A condenser. The old style condenser is emptied out / cut in half and fills the original space so it looks stock. I have also seen the condenser mounted externally.

For an example of that please see Snyder's: http://www.snydersantiqueauto.com/3777 Also for a stronger condenser see http://www.snydersantiqueauto.com/modelaparts/distributor?page=3

I've enjoyed all my Fords. When I only had one car to drive in Germany -- I took our 1931 Model A Ford and it work well. After two years there we purchased a modern car but for the first two years - the A was our only car. And for a couple of years in Florida it was my primary car. A performance T (one with high compression head, cam, etc and better brakes and better steering) could have worked. But Bessie our "A" was doing good to keep up with traffic as it was.



And my A has the screen filter inserted into the gas valve to help keep the rust out. Some day we may pull the tank and do a more thorough cleaning but for now -- it works fine. Two gallons of gasoline should work fine -- and as a teenager I routinely drove a 1929 Tudor with a gallon or less -- as 35 cents a gallon was a lot of time mowing lawns back then.

Respectfully submitted,

Hap l9l5 cut off


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