MTFCA Forum

I am a new T owner and just purchased a 13 Touring car the person i bought it from used a 12 volt battery for cold weather starts. Should I use a 6 volt or 12 volt to fire the coils for cold starts? Would the 12 volt damage them?

Are you hand cranking, or is there a starter on this car?

Oh, and welcome to the affliction!

Hand crank as I understand the 13's do jot have the option for electric start.

Thanks Steve, so the coils will be good with a 6 or 12 volt doesn't matter? I didn't know if the higher 12 volt would damage the coils.

6v or 12v can damage a coil if left to "buzz" for an inordinate amount of time before the engine starts. With 12v you'll have less than half that time available before damage may occur.

Thanks Steve, I appreciate the info. I got a lot to learn about these cars.
Mike

Make sure your battery connection for the coils never comes near the mag post. Even a brief connection of the mag to 6v will destroy the Ford magneto by de-magnetizing the flywheel magnets. jb

Thanks Dan, the headlamps are the acetylene Ford Model 656 made by E&J the side lamps and tail lamp are the kerosene. It starts fine on warm days on magneto but when it is cold it needs the battery. I will check to see if someone around the Houston Texas area has the correct equipment to tune the timing of the coils.

Mike

Mike

if it is cold weather that you're having trouble with, root cause may be the carb. If you have someone tune the coils, mention to them that you're starting on mag and they should set the coils to the lower side of the acceptable amp rating.

VERY IMPORTANT: search some threads regarding timing of the timer. You MUSTMUSTMUST have it timed correctly if you use a battery, as the battery will allow a mis-timed engine to fire before top dead center and can result in painful bruises or broken bones when cranking. If your timing lever must be down 4-5 notches to start on Mag, your timing is likely correct or close. Close can still hurt you. With a battery, the timer must be set correctly to crank position when the spark lever is all the way up (retarded).

My first T was a stem-winder, too. Not many make that their first foray into the hobby. My hat's off to you.

Mike

Here's a photo of one's add to non-starter T of a small 12v DC motorcycle style battery under the front seat. Should last a long time prior to trickle charge just using it for start ignition on your '13. Have fun with your new T!

I recall the old timers used dry cell flashlight batteries. The big rectangular 6V with thumb nuts on the posts, called a hot shot.

per Dave,

this: https://www.batteryjunction.com/rayovac ... Q5EALw_wcB

unlike what Dan showed, this is not rechargeable but will give many starts

Thanks to all of you for the information, I am amazed more everyday with this car. I am trying to research where it came from and who made the body that is very interesting as well.

Thanks Steve, good info I will check the timing. I took the car out yesterday for a cruise first time I have drove a T it ran fine. Only thing I noticed since it doesn't have a water pump and it was warm here yesterday it heated up when I let it idle to much.
Mike

Mike

just so you know...that's perfectly normal. The thermosyphon system will not tolerate a whole lot of stationary idling. So long as you can drive and climb hills without overheating, you're cooling system is operating as designed and is fine.

Quick story: I had my dad's car with new engine, shipped to Rapid City to 1. break in the engine for my dad, and 2. Run a National Tour. Of note, we took the long long mountain climbs easy, in low, with 1/3 throttle (we had stock rear end). Folks with Ruckstells ranged from amused to infuriated with our speed. Everyone passed us. As we crested hills and the motometer showed full hot and puffs of steam were coming out, we'd invariably find at least one car that had passed us blowing steam, coolant running everywhere, and the owner on the phone. Every single hill-top seemed to have at least one such owner. We on the other hand were only slightly less hot, but kept going, headed down hill, closed the throttle and within 1 mile the car was cool as a cucumber. The difference between an erruption and continuing the tour was we did not STOP and allow cooling to cease thus letting the stored heat in the engine to overwhelm the cooling system. As you are learning, early automobiles are very different creatures. Have fun with the learning, exploring and driving!