Flooded my new 31

Rip

Rip

Member
Started and drove nicely during purchase and twice at home. Then showing off for my son, flooded it. Start procedure: full retard,1/3 throttle, carb adj rod one full turn open, elec & fuel on, pull choke for first starter crank, usually starts on second crank.

how clear a flooded engine and need some help. It is a 31 wooden cab and bed truck. Also can't figure how to check for spark seated inside and pressing starter button.

Thanks, Rip
 
I only use a half a turn on the GAV. Other than that sounds like you have the start sequence correct. The only way to check for spark is someone has to watch for it in the engine compartment. Either they pull the coil wire or pull a strap and watch it go to ground.

Mike
 
You can actuate the starter rod by hand from under the hood while you hold the coil wire a 1/4 from a head nut... Another option is to turn the key on and work the points by hand.
If you have a fuse at the starter make sure it's not blown and has a good contact
 
My model A (and most likely all A's) floods VERY easily. Once done I find the only cure is to wait. I have found that cranking with a wide open throttle (which would clear many engines) would not work. I just have to wait a good 15-20 minutes.

To avoid flooding I move the throttle lever down until the pedal just moves, start cranking, and then a quick 1-2 second choke is all that is needed to start.
 
Since there are numerous differences internally in just about every Model A you are just going to have to find the sweet spot for your car when the engine is both cold and hot. By differences I mean the taper on the point of your GAV needle, float level and how the points are set in the distributor. The sweet spot for the GAV on my 1931 Slant 4 Door Sedan is 3/4 open when cold and 1/2 open after the engine warms up. Congratulations on getting a Model A. They are great cars and fun to drive and easy to work on with minimal tools.
 
Mitch
Darned if the fuse on starter isn't blown. Off to auto store. Thanks everyone.Rip
 
Whenever an engine is flooded and doesn't want to start with WOT and a number of cranks, I pull all the sparklers to look for fuel bridging and blow them clean, spin the engine over to clear the cylinders. Screw the sparklers back in and start it up.




But, in Rip's case I'm wondering why the fuse blew. Time will tell.
 
Patrick L. said:
Whenever an engine is flooded and doesn't want to start with WOT and a number of cranks, I pull all the sparklers to look for fuel bridging and blow them clean, spin the engine over to clear the cylinders. Screw the sparklers back in and start it up.




But, in Rip's case I'm wondering why the fuse blew. Time will tell.
Click to expand...

Because he was showing off:rolleyes:
 
Model A's flood EASILY. A 1, (yes, one) second choke is ENOUGH!!!---Like, ONE THOUSAND ONE! If you talk in a SLOW drawl, that might be TOO LONG!
Bill Okie
 
welcome aboard Rip,your car starting will also depend on weather conditions.not sure where your at but mine needs choke to start,some gas,in cold or damp weather pull choke again,maybe twice till it idles on its own. cars in the forties&early fifties had a choke cable that was not spring loaded.in cold weather pulled choke to start,head out to work&push choke back in after a few miles.
 
Thank God that's all it was.
With all the rain that's been falling across the Country...I thought the worst.
 

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