Does anybody with a non-starter T run without a battery, solely on magneto?
Stephen
Although my t has a battery and starter it is always hand cranked and ran on mag. The battery is only used for my turn signals and brake lights.
Not yet, but I'm going to try it when I get my roadster back together. After all, Ford sold them on that premise, even though they did bow to reality and provide battery capability.
I have a non-starter T that runs on the mag.
I use a battery when starting it because I don't have to spin it as fast.
I believe it would start on the mag but call me lazy. I also get free starts that impress the gawkers about 50% of the time
Stephen,
I have a 1914 Runabout and it is running and starting on the magneto but... . Just as Fred I am lazy and have a bad back so I put a battery in it to cold start it.
Before the battery here is how I started it.
Jack up the left rear wheel with a good jack, the car can't fall off. Block the front wheels. Put the hand brake the all way forwards so you have second gear. Prime the car (if it is cold) by hand cranking in the front, ignition off, advance full retarded and gas 1/3 open.
Put the key to Magneto and turn the rear wheel (drive direction) one or two tries and it will fire up. An 88 years old man showed me this and it works. By turning the wheel the revolution speed of the engine is higher as you ever will get by hand cranking. The magneto current is better and the Sparks will be better.
Just try it.
Andre
Belgium
LOL. Andre, you are cranking from the wrong end of the car
But it sounds like an interesting approach. Do you use your left or right hand?
I just pull on one of the spokes, never push the crank or the wheel. When it strickes back the crank or spoke will be pulled out of my hand and never push on my wrist.
Andre
Belgium
Just my 0.02 cents but my starter equipped '23 started cold on mag, hand cranking, after the coils had the caps replaced & were HCCT'd.
Even though I have a hot shot battery in my '13, there have been times when it was dead, and I had to spin start it on mag. It has always worked.
We have a 16 touring. We have a battery for headlights but I always crank on magneto (3rd pull every time)