I tried to start my 1914 Roadster and it had a loud noise. I tightened the fan belt a little and wondered if the bushing was going out and causing problems. It sounded like something was hitting and it was a loud chatter. Then in the middle of the night I wondered if it could be a gasket that had gone bad. It ran fine when I ran it last weekend. Could a manifold gasket sound like something was hitting (sounded like the fan hitting something), or could it be the bushing on the fan? I am going to loosen the fan belt and see if it goes away. The fan doesn't appear to be hitting anything like the radiator or anything on the side. Hopefully someone has a suggestion. Marvin MIller
Marvin - check your crank pulley as well.
Check the spring on the crank handle. I had the spring pop out of the hole in the crank handle and it was sliding forward (the crank handle) and banking into the crank pulley pin. It made quite a racket..
You mentioned you adjusted the fan belt. Is a fan blade now hitting the lower water connection?
Marvin, I agree with Greg, if for only that as I discovered a similar noise on my '15, almost like someone tapping the timer cover with a screwdriver. Turned out to be a loose crank pin on the pulley. Haven't taken anything apart as yet since we're done for the winter, but wouldn't be surprised if the pulley itself is working loose. I hear they do that eventually. But no doubt my noise is this pin, I can move it with my fingers, so next spring off comes the radiator and I'll check everything out.
With a worn out crank bushing, the front of the crank sags down and the ratchet raises up where the fan may hit it. If that's the problem, it just needs a new bushing.
In the distance (top right center) you can see the corner of the fan blade touching the ratchet.
Thanks soooo much guys. I am also going to check for a loose spark plug. I remember my daughters car sounded kind of like this and I thought something terrible happened but a spark plug fell out of the cylinder head. Tom, I don't think it is hitting the bottom water connection because I looked for clearance on that, but thanks for the suggestion because I am going to double check that. I'll check these other things, and I appreciate you all so much!!!
It is amazing what some daylight will do. The fan was hitting the top of the radiator at the outlet. The nut to hold the radiator in place against the firewall came loose. It allowed the radiator to lean back a little. Thanks everyone for your input because trouble shooting can only come from experience and in the future some of these things will stay in my mind if an incident occurs. I guess I need to make sure the fan bushing isn't worn out that would allow the fan to move forward too much? Thanks, it is great to have an army of experience out there!!! Marv.