Hi all, I am trying to go over the ignition system in my 26 touring car to make it easier to hand start, I pulled the plugs to begin with and noticed that they did look a little rough and dirty as I have not checked them in awhile ( they are champion 25's, I think I put them in a couple of years ago), but I noticed that the number 1 plug was extremely dirty with black soot! I think that normally this would indicate an overly rich condition, but was curious about why only the first plug would be so much more sooty than the others? I ordered a set of champion x's from Reilly's and am awaiting delivery, any idea's?
My number one does the same thing and I think it's generic. Theories I've heard: [1] Oil tends to pool at the front of the engine due to the factory oil pipe and especially as the car tilts downhill. This causes no. 1 to pump oil. [2] As the fuel air moves to no.1 it tends to cool and pool and runs richer than the other cylinders. Also old no.1 tends to run cooler due to incoming air.
[3] It could just be set of new rings, sorta where I am at now.
Hope this helps ya, and maybe some others will pitch their hats and theories into the ring.
Joe R.
Dennis did you mean o,Riley's auto?
I always figured it was due to more coolant circulating towards the front of the engine and less movement of the coolant thermo-syphoning in the rear cylinders. My front plug runs cooler as well. I just rotate the plugs front to rear, and keep moving them forward periodically. Seems to work OK.
Yes Ronnie, oreilly's. 85 bucks free shipping! the soot was very black and powdery!
Dennis
"Hand start" on magneto or battery?? Are you using a distributor or coils??
The plug appearance you noticed is normal and caused by the Siamese port design and ignition firing order of the Model T engine. Try leaning the mixture and periodically swap the plug around as has been suggested.
Ron the Coilman
Take a compression test and find out what's really going on inside your engine.
I have never hand started it on magneto Ron, I have started it numerous times on bat, though, except that it is hard to start the first time of the day. i did try to start it with the crank on mag a few days ago but after trying about 6 or 7 times, it failed to kick over, but the strangest thing was when I gave up and went to switch the key to bat, she kicked over and started immediately (free start), It caught me off guard and my reaction was to turn the key off almost as soon as she started! I have the coils that you rebuilt a few years ago and they still look new! Just trying to get it to start a little quicker on the first start of the day! It seems to start on one or two pulls all day after that initial start.
den
Dennis, remember when starting on magneto you'll have to advance the ignition a few clicks to get any chance for sparks if you have the ignition timed to Ford specifications 15 degrees ATDC.
Dennis ; Look at the Book; THE MODEL T FORD OWNER ,THE BEST OF MURRAY FAHNESTOCK pages 303 - 306 .That tells you all about your dirty # 1 plug
Toon
Dennis
Are you manipulating the mixture control when you start the engine for the first time each day?
Ron the Coilman
Dennis what procedure are you using for the first start of the day? i.e. priming, timer position, throttle position, mixture position, etc.
Charlie..funny how you mention that and Dennis I've started to experience similar problems in "Pete", my '12 Commercial Roadster P.U. Finally bought a compression tester, and voila...he's very very sick. 30,30,32,28 from #1-#4, respectively!
Out comes the engine this fall for off-season rebuild! Poor Pete. Wait a minute...my poor WALLET!! LOL.
Dennis
A hot air pipe helps and consider a heating manifold.
Ron the Coilman