Spark plug whistle

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2009: Spark plug whistle
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By brian c lawrence on Sunday, April 12, 2009 - 09:01 pm:

I just put a spark plug whistle on my T today. I got the whistle from my Grandpa way before I got my T. I had to braze part of it, and install a new spring on it also. My son kept houndin me to try it out. So today we put it in, ran a rod (coathanger) through the firewall and tested it. I'll tell ya what, it sounds pretty cool when you pull the valve open. It does not seem to effect the performance of the motor at all. My question is are there any long term effects that might hurt the motor? If there is Ill take it off and hang it on the wall. But I hope not, cause it really is neat. By the way it also has a primer on it Thanks for any advice


Brian, Nate


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ed on Sunday, April 12, 2009 - 09:09 pm:

Nope, I have had one for many years.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By brian c lawrence on Sunday, April 12, 2009 - 09:32 pm:

Thanks

Brian, Nate


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Steven Thum on Sunday, April 12, 2009 - 09:38 pm:

It's a real head turner at car shows. Enjoy it.

Steven


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Robert Hester;, Riverview, FL, 26 & 27 touring, 22 TT on Monday, April 13, 2009 - 09:16 am:

They make a good back-up alarm. Long term effect, the spark plug on top of the whistle fitting won't foul as soon as the other three. Bob


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Warren F Rollins on Monday, April 13, 2009 - 09:31 am:

Where do you put the pull cord? Any floor mounting options? I have one that I would like to use but don't want to put a hole in the wooden firewall. Any ideas?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By William Harper on Monday, April 13, 2009 - 09:59 am:

Brian (and others using an explosion whistle),

The explosion whistle is interesting and certainly creates a distinctive sound. It's use is mostly benign but I am posting to mention an incident that was presented on this forum a couple of years ago. It seems a fellow had one of these whistles on his car (for some time apparently) with no ill effects untill One Day he was activating the whistle while going UPHILL and, snap, broke his crankshaft!

I used capital letters for "uphill" as I think that is what put uneven loads on what likely was an already cracked crankshaft. I envision uneven loads because the "whistle cylinder" is loosing some of it's force out through the whistle. Sure, not a huge amount, but how much and what effect does that loss have upon the crankshaft ????

I am not here to discourage use of these whistles; I have one myself. I just wanted to offer the thought that it's activation during periods of extreme crankshaft duress (read uphill) may be at your crankshaft's peril.

My two cent's worth-perhaps overvalued.... Bill


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jeff Humble on Monday, April 13, 2009 - 10:15 am:

Brian,
I had one on my T. Watch out that the coat hanger does not come in contact with the spark plug wire, been there done that.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By brian c lawrence on Monday, April 13, 2009 - 11:31 am:

William,

Thanks for telling that story. I've already decided to only use the whistle "gently" and not too often.

Jeff,

I never would have thought of that, Thanks! My son is the one who likes to use it, Ill let him know about that before either of us learn the hardway.

Brian


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By G Carrothers HB on Monday, April 13, 2009 - 09:27 pm:

Which cylinder is best place to install the whistle. I know #4 would seem the logical being close to the firewall.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By keith g barrier on Tuesday, April 14, 2009 - 06:09 am:

G, I would try #1 as it seem to be the one most prone to fouling. Maybe kill two birds with one stone, have fun, Keith B


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By brian c lawrence on Tuesday, April 14, 2009 - 09:29 pm:

G,

We put ours on the cyl closest to the radiator, only because it was easier to route our "custom" coat hanger through the firewall and make it work smoothly. Tonight we made sure that the coathanger is a ways away from any plug wires.


Brian ,Nate


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