Can't get it to start

bartmcneill

bartmcneill

Well-known member
My A won't start. has not been started in a few years. Did all the recommended stuff. have new fuel, carb seems to work. Spark seems to be weak. Pulled the plug out of 1 and got no spark. My brother held his hand on the top of the plugs and got a weak jolt out of 3 and 4. Is my coil bad? weak? I have spark at the points but it looks small too. I need her to run. What recommendations do you have?
 
Chuck Sea/Tac said:
Points are probably oxidized.
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Agree. I cut a small piece of fine wet and dry paper into a strip about 1/4" wide and maybe 2" long. I pull it through the closed points once, then turn it around and do the other side. Only about 1/2" of the paper actually rubs the points.
 
Thank you gentlemen. Took some fine sandpaper to the points and she started and runs very well. They looked clean but oxidation fools you I guess.
 
My 28 wouldn't start after it set for 2 months during wet and humid summer weather. Even sanding the points several times couldn't get it to start with the starter, so I finally got the hand crank out, and it started on the first pull up. After running for 2 minutes everything was good to go again with the starter.
 
Tom Wesenberg said:
My 28 wouldn't start after it set for 2 months during wet and humid summer weather. Even sanding the points several times couldn't get it to start with the starter, so I finally got the hand crank out, and it started on the first pull up. After running for 2 minutes everything was good to go again with the starter.
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Battery had drained down while it was sitting?
 
Happens to me every spring getting our Fordor out. Points look clean but they always need some sanding. Once that's done she fires on the first crank. Put a NOS set in last fall, we'll see how they do come spring.

The points that were in there when my grandfather maintained the car never seemed to need any maintenance. 2 years into my ownership I forgot the key on overnight and melted them... replaced with a new set and that's when the oxidation problems started.
 
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