Has anybody hooked up and used the electric heater coil on a Simmons carb?
No. I don't think it is a good idea. Gas in the T days was closer to kerosene, and not as volatile as modern gas. Up draft carbs with gravity feed are prone to leaking. Watch how many guys are beating their carbs on a tour to keep them from leaking after a rest stop. I doubt that my insurance would pay for the burned down car if they found out that I had hooked it up. YMMV.
The heater coil is meant to be used when starting your T on cold wintery mornings. I've got a Simmons on the '14 right now. Two or three pulls with the key off and the choke pulled. Turn the key to "BAT" and 99 times out of 100 it starts without touching the crank handle again.
I can't imagine why anyone would want to hook the coil up. It certainly would not improve the performance of my Simmons carb.
I wish I had a new set of stickers for mine:
Reading past posts on this carb, some people say NH parts are interchangeable with the Simmons. Is this so? And Royce, how do you like the performance?
I have a Simmons Super Power that I have been wanting to try, but the rear flapper is out of it that gives the main advantage for wanting to using it.
Interesting that the Vaporizer had the same flapper to regulate air flow and the Simmons was patented after the Vaporizer came out.
The heater coil is also missing, but that is not a problem.
The Kingstons have flappers in them as does my straight through Marvel, so the idea of a door that opens as the air flow increases and is closed to enrich the fuel when starting is older then the vaporizer.
Re the heater coil, most guys take them out and close off the hole with a bolt/screw and sealing washer.
Runs fantastic, about the same as an NH Straight thru.
The coil is not JUST for heating the mixture. While the engine is running the coil vibrates or pulses as the intake strokes occur. The vibration of the coil helps to break up the droplets of fuel coming out of the orifice. Fuel comes off the orifice in droplets as a liquid and has to vaporize before igniting in the cylinder. That is why carbs are not mounted directly to the intake port, to give time for gasification of the liquid to an ignitable vapor. Heavier fuels are assisted in the gasification by passing over a spring or coil. See their patent and many others for devices to assist in breaking up the droplets of heavy fuel.
Royce, if you can get someone (Martin Vowell perhaps?) to do the art work, I can print up decals for you.
You fellows with Simmons carburetors with missing flappers - Jack Daron makes the flappers. He made the one in my Simmons and I, too, feel it's performance is about the same as a NH Straight Through.
Is the one that Jack makes an exact copy of the original?
Does he make any other Simmon parts?
James, I no longer make the flappers. Kenny Edmunson did,for awhile.I have made needles for them,but not recently.
I don't know if its an exact copy or not but the carb makes my tudor run like a scalded ape. However, in all truthfulness, I have to initially stick a large bent nail in the carb intake because the flap must be so new it sticks closed. Once the Model T is started I take the bent nail out. I don't know what other Simmons parts he makes
Jack nice to see you back on here, hope you are doing better now that surgery is over, our prayers are w/ you and your family
I see in Royce's picture a spring for the choke. Mine is missing. Is this an available part? No one mentioned if NH parts will fit. Any ideas?
The NH spring will fit and work on a Simmons.All the other NH parts work well,except for the needle.
Jack, are you saying the needle valve that lets gas into the bowl is different or the one that adjusts the mixture is different.
I found a rather rusty Simmons that had a good flapper in it. I'm not sure if it is pot metal or aluminum, but it looks good and came out rather easily.
It is interesting that the screw on the choke flapper has to be accessed all the way through the carb and then the air flapper has to be installed.
The main idle valve is the odd one,as it is much shorter.
Jack, are you well enough to do another Simmons for me? It does have a (crusty) flapper and the electric coil.
I too need a flapper for a Simmons.
The fuel needs to be atomized(many, many very small fine droplets). If the fuel is vaporized, then it's large volume will displace combustion air and reduce power.
Got my Simmons rebuilt and on the car. There is a definite power increase. Mid range and top end are better and it has a nice smooth idle. I like it. PK