I've been "fighting" with the carburator, and the great guys at Speedway Motors recommended trying the dyno at "The Shop" in Lincoln. I scheduled a slot for 8 am this morning.
Then, Sunday afternoon, I was working on a coil that was acting up, and lost all power to the coil and magneto. Well, who you gonna call (no not ghost busters)? Dean Yoder. After walking me through a few things via phone, I told Dean I hoped to have everything working because I had a slot for Tuesday morning on a dyno.
Say no more, Dean was on his way. Yesterday afternoon he arrived in Milford and by late afternoon we were cruising in the K. He also brought some "improved" parts and the K was running better than ever.
This morning we took it to Lincoln, and Chad at The Shop hooked up everything and we were on the dynometer. First we set the rich lean mixture on idle (using their CO2 indicator). Next we took it up to about 30 mph and set the rich lean on the high speed mixture adjustment.
Next, we checked results at an early shift (Ford advertising said you could shift to high at about 5 mph). After a bit we had everything working great. Between the coils Dean rebuilt, and the carb dialed in correctly, we were able to shift to high at under 10 mph, and took the motor up to 50 mph with no problems.
I've never used a dyno before, and am certainly no expert on them, but I think it was well worth the time and money to help get the carburator adjusted properly. Again, thanks to Dean's great help and Chad at The Shop, I think we're ready for the Speedster Reunion next week. Following are a few photos Dean took:
Adjusting the carb "on the go". This is the only way to adjust a Carburator as your going "40 mph".
We stopped at 49 mph. There was a lot left on the throttle.
Glad to see you're back on your feet, Rob. The car looks just incredible and now, at the beginning of the driving season, with the engine expertly tweaked, I'd guess you're in for a fun summer. Enjoy it in good health!
nice photo's, ok what's the bit that is missing in the numbers, the horsepower at the rear wheels....49 mph at 1435 rpm is pretty darn impressive.
Way cool! I would have like to watched that. I know the speedsters will have an opportunity to be on the Dyno next week.
Looks like 3:1 final ratio in the K's rear axle?
I'm Impressed. Not much chance of it pulling a stunt like this Ford did though.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVmCPM6N6oI
OUCH!!
Very cool! Thanks for sharing!!!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXMYfNDHkxE&feature=player_detailpage
look closely at 32 secs, the beginning of the end, the frame moves at 34 secs its all over.
They should know better than to put a Ford on that Dyno....obviously engineered for a Chevrolet.
I've blew up a dyno with my Montana 500 car just like that. The explosion woke me up.
Isn't the AFR kind of low? That 10.94 indicates it's running rich. Of course, I haven't seen anything to compare it against so maybe that's normal for the K. ???
Rob
Are you going to be running in the hill climb next week?
Anybody else going? I am trying to get my A speedster ready.
I will be there. Just don't plan on doing the hill climb. I prefer to watch since all I have is a stock T. The Speedway Museum has got to be the cream of the crop in auto museums, especially for the Model T era.
Rob - that Model K is just awesome.
Has Chad at the shop ever done an old car on the dyno before? If so was your K the oldest?
Bob, thank you. Lot's of good things scheduled this summer if it all works out.
David, We showed about 42-43 horsepower at the wheels at 49 mph. Ford advertised the 1907-08 Model K at 20 percent over the original 40 hp, so pretty darn close.
Mike, I should have called. I may do it again next Saturday at the reunion.
Roger, yes, 3-1. The Model K also offered another ratio, I think (memory) it was 3.4-1.
Dennis, Kerry, Darren, Dave, Greg and all, thank you.
Jon, yes, I should have our K and N at the reunion. We live about 20 miles from there.
Dennis S., Chad did the speedsters at the reunion two years ago. He said hp ranged from 20 up on the speedsters testing. He said our 07 was the oldest he's done.
Ken, yes, the lean/rich rating would go "out of range" during increases and decreases in speed, then settle in to the middle range once sustained. I'm using a Schebler with an "automatic" air valve, so I suspect that may have something to do with how erratic it is while changing speed. Chad said that was pretty good for a carburetor.
He also said the Model K had tremendous torque. I'm not sure how he could tell that.
Rob
Where is the speedster reunion being held?
Bill,
Next week in Lincoln NE.
I had this picture too, that shows h.p. and torque. Chad, the dyno operator, said when torque is greater than h.p. that indicates (to him) good torque to h.p..
So when are you going to take the 1909 and the N in for their test? Only fair that everyone gets a chance to take the test.
See you next week.
that is a phenomenal amount of torque from that huge 6 cyl.
Rob,if just out for a drive with your wife and kids, what speed suits the car on the road, T or faster ??
On that graph, the AFR spikes and then drops, is that you or chad leaning the mixture down or the engine working better while running ??
Dave, I'm looking forward to seeing the T and A dyno s next week. I'll have to try the N and our Ts sometime too. See you in Lincoln.
David, I'm a slow "routine" driver. I like to drive 25 - 32 with our Ts, and 22 - 27 with the N. I'd say the K is really comfortable at 35.
On the graph it's the carb doing it's own thing. You can see my shift and the AFR (air fuel) spike, then it seems to settle in.
Rob