Cold start help

"And Wyoming winters were just as bad or worse than Iowa winters."

I can certainly believe that. Not much in the way of forests to stop the cold wind up there, besides being located higher up in latitude where the weather is generally colder than down our way. Is there really any difference we can feel between -10 degrees and -25 degrees? Cold is cold.
We are located right on the Mississippi River, so we get a double whammy during the winter due to the normally very cold temperatures in this part of the state and the extra cold generated by the river at the bottom of the hill where we live. Because of the Missi-Sloppy River, it's a damp kind of cold with strong winds rushing up the hill past our house. Still, for the first two years when we moved here from Arizona (2005-2007), my year-round transportation was our 1928 Phaeton that sat outside even during the winter. It started every morning no matter how cold the weather was, even when the neighbors' modern cars wouldn't. And that's with a 7:1 Super Brumfield cylinder head that had been milled to about 8:1!!! The Phaeton had side curtains, which are about as useless in freezing temperatures as t*ts on a chicken, but better than nothing. :) Once again, I was often the only car on the road on heavy snow days, just like 40 years earlier on my way to high school. The more things change, the more they stay the same.
Marshall
 
My Nephew was asking about what it was like going to school in the 1950s. We were talking about walking to the 4 room schoolhouse. School district said if you were less than a mile from Schoolhouse you could not ride the bus.

We were 0.9 of a mile away.

After listening to us brothers telling stores about the walk to school.

Nephew Arik says: "Yeah Yeah Yeah and it was UPHILL BOTH ways also wasn't it?"
 
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Additional information about Post #18 above:

Quote:
"If it stalls, repeat the above: Choke. Whump-whump. Push choke knob in."


Suggestion. Before attempting a re-start open GAV another 1/4 turn to enrichen mixture so that the engine does not stall add additional GAV until it does not stall.

I agree on avoiding over choking. This is the most important part of cold starting.

Opening throttle is important even on a warm start with SOME carbureators

When it is 20 below zero ... 1 1/2 to 2 turns total on GAV might be needed to keep engine running while it warms up.

If gas runs out of the carb throat you are choking too much.
 
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I agree 100%, Benson. Opening up the GAV another 1/4 turn if it stalls the first time can help.

And then as soon as it is running, and I pull the spark lever down about 1/2 way, I start experimenting with the GAV... closing a little, opening a little, to find the spot where the engine seems happy. :cool:

I have never (thank God) started a Model A in 20 below zero weather. :eek:
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Marshall V. Daut said:
Open the GAV (Gas Adjusting Valve) on the bottom of the gas tank at least 1/4 turn counter-clockwise to enrichen the fuel mixture on cold days. Maybe even try 1/2 turn. The weather has turned cold recently, so if you have been driving your new toy in warm weather since you bought it, you might not be aware that it is necessary to enrichen the carburetor in cold weather. Once the engine starts and is warming up, it will begin to lope because the mixture is now too rich. Turn the GAV clockwise to lean out the mixture. You'll hear and feel the sweet spot where your engine likes the carb to be adjusted.
By the way, I see this all the time: Owners hold the choke rod up for a couple seconds when cranking over the engine. You only need a flick of the wrist as the engine is turning over. It may take two or three tries, but the engine will catch. If you hold the choke rod up too long, the carb will flood, complicating the starting procedure. Remember: Press the starter rod and pull up on the choke rod, releasing it as soon as it reaches the top of its travel. I have course-corrected several Model A owners around here, who had complained about hard starting. Watching them go through the routine proved that they were holding the choke rod up too long when cranking the engine. They were amazed at how easily their engines started with just a flick of the wrist choke pull, even in cold weather - after opening up the GAV 1/4 to 1/2 turn.
Marshall
Click to expand...

So I went out this morning 30 degrees and followed all the tips suggested; GAV at 6:00, flick of the wrist on the choke and it took four tries of it cranking and not starting before it finally went. I’m wondering if it’s because when I shut the car off I let it run totally out of gas? I was told that’s a good thing to do, so when I pull it in the garage I shut the fuel off and let it run tilll it’s out of gas. Could that be the reason it’s not starting right away? And each time I tried to re start it this morning I did pull the choke out quickly as suggested and it finally fired on the fourth attempt.
Thoughts?
 
Three or maybe even four almost-starts on a very cold day is about right. Pull the hand throttle down a little farther than where it is now and see if that helps. The 6:00 position is relative. No two Model A carbs have the same mixture at that point. Too many variables. Before starting the engine, turn the GAV all the way clockwise until it seats, but don't force it any deeper into the carb' seat. Then turn the GAV counter-clockwise 3/4 of a turn, maybe even a full turn if the weather is really cold. Better to have the mixture a little rich in these circumstances than too lean. Once the engine catches and stays running, then lean out the mixture until the engine smooths out.
You'll get the hang of it once you become familiar with your Model A's cold weather personality. You've only known its sunny disposition so far. One day you'll wonder why you used to have so much trouble starting the engine on those cold days. Then you'll know you have "arrived".
Marshall
 
I tried to post a readable version of diagram in post #11 ...

Never mind website changes diagram to an un-readable size
 
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I'll likely never have to start the Coupe below 71F, mainly because she resides in a HVAC garage...at 71F.

I do follow the "move the hand throttle down until the accelerator button moves" routine. In my Coupe, this is a little less than halfway down on the hand throttle. I don't mess with the GAV except to make sure it hasn't moved from its normal driving setting.

I am guilty as charged re: holding the choke too long. I should practice safe choking more often.
 
sconnors said:
So I went out this morning 30 degrees and followed all the tips suggested; GAV at 6:00, flick of the wrist on the choke and it took four tries of it cranking and not starting before it finally went. I’m wondering if it’s because when I shut the car off I let it run totally out of gas? I was told that’s a good thing to do, so when I pull it in the garage I shut the fuel off and let it run tilll it’s out of gas. Could that be the reason it’s not starting right away? And each time I tried to re start it this morning I did pull the choke out quickly as suggested and it finally fired on the fourth attempt.
Thoughts?
Click to expand...

A "flick of the wrist" on the choke may not be enough. I pull it all the way out and listen for the starter motor to go "whump-whump" and then push the choke knob back in.

If I remember correctly, your GAV is closed at 12 o'clock, so 6 o'clock is open 1/2 turn. That's a good place to begin. For starting in 30 degree weather, you may need to open it another 1/4 turn. But I always try only 1/2 turn open for the first crank. If it stalls, open the GAV another 1/4 turn and repeat.

Did you also have the hand throttle down a bit? You need that, too.
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Whether (pun intended) its 100 degrees or minus 10, I prefer to hit the starter first to flood the dry engine after sitting before attempting to start.

I remembered this from Murray Fahnestock 'Know Your Model A', p. 41

'Cold Weather Starting. These instructions are for starting at low temperatures.
First, Open the throttle lever two or three notices. Fully retard the spark lever. Open the dash adjustment one full turn and crank the engine over two or three times with with the ignition off and the choke puled all the way back. This will fill the cylinders with a rich mixture.
Second, Release the choke and turn on the ignition. Engine should start on the second or third quarter-turn of the crank'.

No mention of how many pairs of thermals necessary in Iowa or Wyoming.
 
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