Ignition quits while running on magneto

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2013: Ignition quits while running on magneto
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By G.R.Cheshire on Monday, November 25, 2013 - 12:42 pm:

I have a 27 Roadster the other day I warmed up the T then as I went to pull out (running on magneto) it stopped but it cranked right back up. then yesterday I was at full advance and W.O.T cruising along when the ignition went dead for about 5 seconds then came back on, scratch one muffler from backfire! This is my first "T" Where should I start my trouble shooting this does not happen when running on battery.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tom Carnegie on Monday, November 25, 2013 - 12:53 pm:

Often the problem is in the ignition switch.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Charlie B actually in Toms River N.J. on Monday, November 25, 2013 - 12:58 pm:

The first things that come to mind are a loose connection in the wiring or an ignition switch that's making poor contact intermittently. If you turn the switch off or to batt to start I'd lean towards the switch because moving it can re-establish contact. Your mag & coils are apparently OK and a momentary loss of power to the coil box can cause your problem. You can pull & check/clean the mag post too.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Garnet on Monday, November 25, 2013 - 01:22 pm:

Sounds like an intermittent ignition switch, but you should be checking every single item in the circuit: timer, coilbox, coils, switch, magneto post, firewall terminals ... basically everything electrical. If you have an ohmmeter you can check for continuity between the magneto post on the transmission to the magneto terminal on the coilbox. With the engine off and the ignition switch on MAG you should see a low resistance reading there. Wiggle the switch a bit and see if the reading changes. You really need to go thru every connection and make sure it's all 'tight-and-right'.

Regards,
Garnet


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jerry VanOoteghem on Monday, November 25, 2013 - 05:02 pm:

If W.O.T. means "wide open throttle" then cut that stuff out. They're not meant to run wide open, not for very darn long anyway.

My dad used to say, "A horse that shits fast don't shit long". Same with Model T's!

Also, not safe, assuming it runs well enough, you're going too fast, especially since it's your first Model T and maybe you're not quite ready to respond to panic situation.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Will Copeland - Trenton, New Jersey on Monday, November 25, 2013 - 05:07 pm:

I second what the others say about a bad connection. I had an intermittent problem with my 19 and it turned out to be a loose with in the coil box. Jerry is right, A Model T will not go very far at full throttle.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Les Schubert on Monday, November 25, 2013 - 05:24 pm:

I have only driven T's for almost 40 years (close to 80,000 miles). I have run WOT quite often. Now the full spark advance I use with care though, especially climbing hills I find half advance works WAY better (assuming you are running on T mag). And these have all been essentially stock T engine. This is assuming I am on good driving conditions with safe traffic conditions. Perhaps in another 40 years and 80,000 miles I will find that I have been doing it all wrong!!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By G.R.Cheshire on Monday, November 25, 2013 - 07:27 pm:

Thanks for the help every one, I have found a bent magneto post (how did that happen) the wire attached to the magneto was almost broken Magneto contacts in the bottom of the box were corroded... I will re-try with an old harley slip on that fits prior to putting on the next stock style muffler. Will the man who sold me the model t and taught me how to drive the car made sure I was aware of emergency procedures And he marked a spot about 2/3 the way down and said that is W.O.T (yes wide open throttle) Until I attain his age of 85 He passed a bout 18 months ago... I really miss him.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By G.R.Cheshire on Monday, November 25, 2013 - 07:35 pm:

I almost forgot Les What are hills? I live in Florida......


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tom Carnegie on Tuesday, November 26, 2013 - 02:20 am:

If you can't drive your T all day long at wide open throttle without blowing it up, the wrong person rebuilt your motor IMHO.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mark Strange on Tuesday, November 26, 2013 - 08:04 am:

G.R., I used to live in West Palm Beach, if you go over the Blue Heron bridge you'll get an idea of what a hill is ;>)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By James A. Golden on Tuesday, November 26, 2013 - 08:47 am:

One of our club members had a similar problem with the lights going out at night.

That was dirty switch contacts too.

Another club member had the weight of other items and keys on the Ford key ring that while hitting a bump and straightening the key, would also turn off the Magneto in the process.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jerry VanOoteghem on Tuesday, November 26, 2013 - 12:38 pm:

Tom & Les,

You've got to admit that your cars are "dialed in" to drive flat out all day long while the average T is not. I was not referring to Montana 500 cars, or their equal, just regular Model T's. Let's not give newbies the impression that any T can be, or should be, driven that way.

G.R.,

However you drive your T, please be safe. Have fun. Welcome to the hobby.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Les Schubert on Tuesday, November 26, 2013 - 12:59 pm:

Jerry
Yes I balance the rods and flywheel. I run fibre cam gears. I run stock Ford cylinder heads. I run ball bearing 4th mains. I run T magnetos. I build my own engines and do my own babbitting and DON'T pean the babbitt. I straighten my own oil pans using just a straight edge. I don't balance wheels. For the last 2 years I have had front brakes on one of my cars, but only small drum AC's on the other
The thing I do is I LISTEN to my car. It tells me when it is happy and when it isn't. I run fast (I can outrun lots of model A's) in my '13 touring
I have adjusted the rods and centre main once in each car.
So if that qualifies as "dialed in" then guilty as charged. I figured it was just proper restoration!!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Les Schubert on Tuesday, November 26, 2013 - 01:18 pm:

Jerry
One more thing. I run synthetic motor oil and change it every couple of years. I also run air cleaners.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tom Carnegie on Tuesday, November 26, 2013 - 01:22 pm:

I was going to say much the same thing Les said. I'm not advocating driving your T full throttle all day, I'm saying that it should be able to do it. That is, I'm saying all T motors should be "dialed in".

I'm certainly not advocating driving in an unsafe manner, but there is a debate as to what is the safest way to drive a T. Since I drive my T nearly every day and have never gotten into trouble, I can only assume that I am driving it in a safe manner.

(end of thread drift from me)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By samuel pine on Tuesday, November 26, 2013 - 02:28 pm:

end of thread drift Tom Ok speed limit 30 I'm
speeding at 33 I am getting drafted I speed up to
50 I am geting drafted, she finally let go at 60.
a women & phone stuck in her ear. This is with a
F350 with a 460 in it. again same deal T doing
speed limit ?? 24-7 they get released around 5 am
Plan= I chose the spray pump with the filtyest diesel
drain oil, piped just under the spare tire. I flatened the end by the time they get sprayed, its
a shock thing, they dont remember my plate no. Now
they are "DOA" with no paper towels. Another new
sign of the time is, a truck mail, oil, what ever
making a delivery, them car phoners pass the truck
They DO NOT have the right of way = they have the obstuction. Learn your marine rules red port
green starboard. just sayin, I have a senior
citizen car I am a senior citizen ret police sgt.
therefore I should get grandfather rights. right!
not a cop gone wrong, I still cant get my car
registerd why taxachusetts needs the last reg?
woman died in 1944. know what? called "Jolly Roger" flag. My 23 runs perfectly with my Lincoln
plate screwed on it.. what a they goin ta do
take my cat away???????????????????????????????


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jerry VanOoteghem on Tuesday, November 26, 2013 - 05:09 pm:

Les,

"So if that qualifies as "dialed in" then guilty as charged."

I'm sorry if you believe I was accusing you of anything or telling you how to drive your car. If you'll reread my original statement I believe you'll see it was not directed at you, or Tom either for that matter. I'm not sure why you thought it was.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Gene Carrothers Huntington Beach on Tuesday, November 26, 2013 - 06:55 pm:

Don't mean to add to the drift but looks like GR might have it fixed..

Jerry looked to me like you were giving GR a bad time about using WOT. While I do not suggest a new T owner to over drive it carelessly and unsafely until they have experience I do think it's OK if you are listening and feeling how your car is reacting.

Like Tom and Les I use WOT frequently and for quite often fairly long periods of time. I rebuilt my '12 engine to run on tours and local freeways using the best parts available. Like others everything is balanced and kept in top condition for trouble free touring. Period correct 4 wheel brakes, Warford, floating hubs, mag/coils/ET, dyna beads, and hichory spokes.

I realize each T has its own happy speed but do not accept that a rebuilt to best standards car won't easily run at WOT all day if needed.

Just take it easy and enjoy!

YMMV


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Gene Carrothers Huntington Beach on Tuesday, November 26, 2013 - 07:04 pm:

Back on Topic,
Anyone think GR's issue could be a float level issue?
Reason I suggest a fuel problem is I believe that is what I have experienced a couple of times when running at WOT on the freeway at 60 plus for an extended time with a fairly low fuel level I had a similar occurrence. The engine just suddenly quit for a couple of seconds then back to speed. As I recall this has happened only a couple of times with about the same conditions. Never had it happen any time since mostly with a higher level fuel. My theory is that if mine was a E connection it would get worse over time.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By G.R.Cheshire on Tuesday, November 26, 2013 - 08:12 pm:

Gene, The reason I was able to afford this "T"was it had problems, but I have never backed away from grease,dirt, or a wrench. the car is a 27 roadster that someone before me "upgraded to 12 volt then added one of the modern carberators which necessitated the use of a fuel pump" ( I am currently re-building an original that was given to me) But at the time I had just filled up So I didn't even look at the fuel system. At one time this car had rocky mountain brakes but I guess they were removed to be used on another car.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jerry VanOoteghem on Tuesday, November 26, 2013 - 09:49 pm:

Gene,

Thanks. That's the problem sometimes with the written word. If I spoke those same words I promise it would have come out differently. And, if GR hadn't indicated that this was his first T, I wouldn't have made the comment at all.

I agree with your "rebuilt to best standards" statement as well. Just doubtful about how many actually are.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By G.R.Cheshire on Wednesday, November 27, 2013 - 07:21 am:

I did find the real problem, the new day timer brush is now about 7/16" long, well I guess the timers wont last forever.
Jerry It is my first model "T" but I have had it for about 2 years the first thing I had to learn to do is replace spokes here are a picture of my "T" and my spoke press thanks again every one I don't know what I was expecting but the response was tremendous thanks to allroadsterspoke press


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jerry VanOoteghem on Wednesday, November 27, 2013 - 02:15 pm:

GR,

That's one real purdy Model T!


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