Learned something new today. Surprise surprise!

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Topic author
greenacres36
Posts: 156
Joined: Sun Sep 27, 2020 3:50 pm
First Name: Brian
Last Name: Williams
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926 Tudor, 1915 Runabout
Location: Prospect, Ohio

Learned something new today. Surprise surprise!

Post by greenacres36 » Thu Sep 02, 2021 4:31 pm

I was under the impression that it was slightly safer to hand start a model T or mag in regards to the less likely they were to kick back. My car is a non-electric car. Well I had something happen to me today that I would’ve never thought would happen. Apparently one of my coils moved in the coil box and shorted in a way that caused it to be permanently grounded but was making proper electrical contact and other regards. I had the spark fully in the retard position and that old car yank that crank right out of my hand and spun backwards about three times. I couldn’t figure out what was going on until I turned it to battery and one coil was buzzing continuously. I am not completely sure where it was grounding but it was somewhere around the coil box lid. You can bet I’ll be figuring that out soon.

I don’t know how many people ever encountered this but I figured it would be a fair warning. I have a hot shot battery on a brass T but I usually start it on mag. Why? Because it will.

Be safe!

By the way… Looking forward to the Ohio model T jamboree this weekend.

Brian


Scott_Conger
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First Name: Scott
Last Name: Conger
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1919
Location: not near anywhere, WY
Board Member Since: 2005

Re: Learned something new today. Surprise surprise!

Post by Scott_Conger » Thu Sep 02, 2021 4:42 pm

It's a good warning to give

I, too, had the same issue when I bought my '13 and it had other problems which made it very hard to start. An occasional miss-timing of one coil clobbered me several times, each hitting my hand at the base of the thumb (thumb not wrapped around crank, everything copacetic). I now have a heck of an arthritic joint these many years later.

I later learned to use my left hand, and fortunately have yet to run into such an ornery car (mostly because I refuse to hand-crank ANYONE else's car unless I'm the guy who set it up)
Scott Conger

Tyranny under the guise of law is still Tyranny

NH Full Flow Float Valves™
Obsolete carburetor parts manufactured

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Rich Eagle
Posts: 6895
Joined: Fri Jan 04, 2019 10:51 am
First Name: Richard
Last Name: Eagle
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1909 TR 1914 TR 1915 Rd 1920 Spdstr 1922 Coupe 1925 Tudor
Location: Idaho Falls, ID

Re: Learned something new today. Surprise surprise!

Post by Rich Eagle » Thu Sep 02, 2021 5:47 pm

As far as firing constantly, I have had timers collect tiny iron fragments and short the terminal to the case under the insulating ring. If there is any void between the terminal and the case it can collect there. Sometimes only a faint buzz can be heard but it is enough to make the coil fire continuously and make the car run rough. Or in your case fire at the wrong time. These were the old Tiger timers. I believe many were thrown away that simply needed to be cleaned at the terminal hole.
Just my two cents worth.
As you were.
Rich
When did I do that?


Original Smith
Posts: 3699
Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2019 10:43 am
First Name: Larry
Last Name: Smith
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 13 Touring, 13 Roadster, 17 Coupelet, 25 Roadster P/U
Location: Lomita, California
MTFCA Life Member: YES

Re: Learned something new today. Surprise surprise!

Post by Original Smith » Thu Sep 02, 2021 6:40 pm

I've had good luck with Regan's plastic back and bottom boards. No more carbon trails!


Norman Kling
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Last Name: Kling
Location: Alpine California

Re: Learned something new today. Surprise surprise!

Post by Norman Kling » Thu Sep 02, 2021 9:31 pm

I would suspect the wire from the top connection of the coil to the timer is grounded somewhere. It could be in the coil box or lid, or the timer, but more likely bad insulation and grounded somewhere.
Norm


Topic author
greenacres36
Posts: 156
Joined: Sun Sep 27, 2020 3:50 pm
First Name: Brian
Last Name: Williams
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926 Tudor, 1915 Runabout
Location: Prospect, Ohio

Re: Learned something new today. Surprise surprise!

Post by greenacres36 » Thu Sep 02, 2021 9:49 pm

It looks like the bridge of #4 coil was hitting the coil box cover. It’s an old aftermarket one. I could move the lid around a little and recreate the short.

Silly little things that drive you nuts. Guess it’s part of the excitement of the hobby. :D

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