1929 Tudor turns over without ignition turned on

UPS Driver

UPS Driver

Member
Just wondering I forgot to turn the key on… (duh) and I noticed the engine turned over anyway, is this normal or is something amiss?
 
The Model A is not wired like a modern car. The starter is independent of the ignition system. When you step on the starter button on the floor you are connecting the starter directly to the battery.

The ignition wiring is separate from the starter and the key must be turned on to begin the sparking process. We have all done this and start to wonder why the car isn't starting. This is only second to the dumb move of not turning on the gas! It is all part of the experience of owning a Model A. Have fun with it! Ed
 
Don't forget to retard the spark control lever either. Everything is manually controlled on these cars.

Ford had separate starter circuits clear up into the 50s. All a person had to do was push the button on my 51 Merc but if you wanted it to start then the key has to be on. The horns are on separate circuits too. The lights will function separately as well on the old Fords.
 
The vintage Rolls Royce cars of about the same era have a key that unlocks the electrical system. You then have to turn on the ignition with a separate switch.

UPS Driver, If you get a chance, try starting and driving a Model T sometime.
 
The wiring diagram will explain it:
 

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nkaminar said:
The vintage Rolls Royce cars of about the same era have a key that unlocks the electrical system. You then have to turn on the ignition with a separate switch.

UPS Driver, If you get a chance, try starting and driving a Model T sometime.
Click to expand...

I have hand cranked many antique tractors but never driven a model t
 
CHuDWah said:
My uncle who drove Model T "back in the day" used to say "Ya gotta be a dang octopus to drive one!" :D
Click to expand...

Model Ts are not hard to drive, otherwise they couldn't have built and sold over 15 million.

One pushes the "clutch" pedal 1/2 way down, push the hand lever all the way forward, push the pedal all the way down, putting the car in low gear, once up to about 8 - 10 mph, let the pedal out and the car is in high gear, simples. Want to stop? Push the "clutch" pedal 1/2 way down, (puts the transmission on neutral), push the brake pedal. Want to back up? with the car stopped, hand lever straight up, push the reverse (centre) pedal.
What's so hard about that?
 
I learnt to drive on a Model T, so the hard part for me was learning to drive a car w/a manual transmission, then later learning to drive an automatic w/power brakes.,
 
Hello, the starter is separate from the ignition on almost all cars of this era , Chrysler I believe came up with the starter, ignition in one switch in 1949 , had a 52 Plymouth and that is how it was much like newer cars until push button start came along.Pre 1960 Buick’s have the starter incorporated into the gas pedal.Some Studebakers are by depressing the clutch,most did have a separate button on the dash like later Fords .
 
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