How do you start your A?

Fred said:
"just died" ??????
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Freddie,
AH! Repitition, I just admitted it died! Fred, is that the best you can do? I'd expect 8 paragraphs from a well versed man like you! Lett'er rip, I won't lose any sleep! Sticks & stones, may break my bones, but-------------------you finish it, Freddie!
Bill W.
 
I'm surprised at all of you so called saftey minded people.
No one mentioned hooking up seat belts.
 
Sorry, Mike. When I saw that you started this last post with, "Now, now that was cheating" I thought you were talking about my wife pushing.

The gentleman I bought my first A from owned it for twelve years and had it in a deluxe heated garage were all he ever did was wax it. He had no clue on how to start it. We figured it out from the owner’s manual for the test drive. Once when it was home, I had to use a “cheat sheet” to get it running. It’s laughable now; the process to start it is second nature.
 
As soon as my shoulder heals from surgery, I'm going start my '28 Tudor with the crank. I've owned 2 Model As and have yet to crank start one.
 
bogdonj said:
pretty much what everyone has mentioned. I have a habit of checking oil dip stick, water in the rad at the right level and gas. I also check the engine compartment to make sure everything looks ok and hood clamps are on. My engines don't lose or leak water but I still feel like I have to check to make sure before heading out.
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Me too!
 
After reading all of the above, I was amazed to see that not a single guy mentioned the word "FUSE" or anything about "putting in the fuse" on the fuse mount assembly attached to the starter. Am I the only guy who pulls his fuse out after (1) turning off the gas and letting the car burn up the remaining gas in the carburetor bowl before (2) turning off the key once the car dies and (3) opening the driver's side of the hood and pulling the fuse out of the holder?

While everyone wants to talk about how to start a Model A, it is important to know how to safely stop a Model A (kill the engine) when you plan to park it overnight or for a couple of weeks (there's more to it than just turning off the key and reaching under the gas tank and turning off the gas shut off valve).

As a safety precaution anytime I park my Model A (while it's still running) I put it in neutral, pull back the parking brake and reach under the gas tank and turn off the gas and then let the car run at a fast idle until it dies from running out of gas. I then turn off the key. I open the hood (driver's side) and pull the fuse - if you'll wrap a 4 inch long plastic "strap tie" or "cable tie" around the fuse it's really easy to pull the fuse. I then put the fuse on top of the engine/head where it awaits my next outing. Having done all that, the next time I want to drive the A, I first open the hood, grab the fuse off the head and insert the fuse in its holder attached to the starter. Then proceed to all the steps previously stated by everyone else.

Depending upon which car I'm driving, I also open the passenger side of the hood and turn on the in-line fuel shut-off (modern aftermarket part) just below the sediment bowl. Never was crazy about parking an 83+ year old car in the garage with a carburetor full of gas that might leak out or leaving a car with the electrical components all connected - therefore I remove the fuse in case of a possible short somewhere. I'd hate to not only lose my Model A but my house as well!

One more advantage to using the "strap tie" or "cable tie" on your fuse, should the day ever come that you have an electrical short in the middle of nowhere on a tour and you start smelling that dreaded "hot electrical smell" and smoke starts coming from who-knows-where, you quickly pull to the side of the road, open the hood and you'll be glad you had the cable tie around the fuse so you can quickly pull that little puppy out in a flash! There's nothing more frustrating than having greasy hands trying to grab a tiny glass fuse in a panic situation while your wife is screaming "grab the fire extinguisher!"
 
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When my grandmother's 29 A coupe wouldn't start (most of the time) she would yell giddyup, my father would push, and she'd pop the clutch.
 
I don't pull nor install the fuse because I don't use a fuse. I don't pull the fuse on my modern car and even if the Model A came with a fuse, I don't see the need to pull it, unless you have an alternator that drains the battery.
 
lookin-backtexas said:
After reading all of the above, I was amazed to see that not a single guy mentioned the word "FUSE" or anything about "putting in the fuse" on the fuse mount assembly attached to the starter. Am I the only guy who pulls his fuse out after (1) turning off the gas and letting the car burn up the remaining gas in the carburetor bowl before (2) turning off the key once the car dies and (3) opening the driver's side of the hood and pulling the fuse out of the holder?

While everyone wants to talk about how to start a Model A, it is important to know how to safely stop a Model A (kill the engine) when you plan to park it overnight or for a couple of weeks (there's more to it than just turning off the key and reaching under the gas tank and turning off the gas shut off valve).

As a safety precaution anytime I park my Model A (while it's still running) I put it in neutral, pull back the parking brake and reach under the gas tank and turn off the gas and then let the car run at a fast idle until it dies from running out of gas. I then turn off the key. I open the hood (driver's side) and pull the fuse - if you'll wrap a 4 inch long plastic "strap tie" or "cable tie" around the fuse it's really easy to pull the fuse. I then put the fuse on top of the engine/head where it awaits my next outing. Having done all that, the next time I want to drive the A, I first open the hood, grab the fuse off the head and insert the fuse in its holder attached to the starter. Then proceed to all the steps previously stated by everyone else.

Depending upon which car I'm driving, I also open the passenger side of the hood and turn on the in-line fuel shut-off (modern aftermarket part) just below the sediment bowl. Never was crazy about parking an 83+ year old car in the garage with a carburetor full of gas that might leak out or leaving a car with the electrical components all connected - therefore I remove the fuse in case of a possible short somewhere. I'd hate to not only lose my Model A but my house as well!

One more advantage to using the "strap tie" or "cable tie" on your fuse, should the day ever come that you have an electrical short in the middle of nowhere on a tour and you start smelling that dreaded "hot electrical smell" and smoke starts coming from who-knows-where, you quickly pull to the side of the road, open the hood and you'll be glad you had the cable tie around the fuse so you can quickly pull that little puppy out in a flash! There's nothing more frustrating than having greasy hands trying to grab a tiny glass fuse in a panic situation while your wife is screaming "grab the fire extinguisher!"
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I installed a disconnect switch in the floorboard between the seats. Took about 10 minutes to install. It beats pulling the fuse or disconnecting the battery cable.
 
Lookin' Back Texas,
You make me think of my Mother in Law, Ovada unplugged everything except the clock when not in use. She even turned her hearing aids to low volume to make the batteries last longer-------------------HUH? Bill W.
 
1 Get comfy.
2 Look for the seat belts that aren't there.
3 Turn on the gas.
4 Turn on the ignition.
5 Pull down and push up throttle to prime the carbs.
6 Step on starter.
7 When it starts adjust the spark and remember that it doesn't.

Drive off and think about a Mitchell syncro trans w/15% low and second increased gears.
 
Hi guys, I just wanted to thank you for all of the starting tips. Last week my dad and I had a hard time keeping the A running at idle. I tried all of the common steps in this thread today and she started right up and ran great. Idled with no problems. Oh, and of course I also forgot to turn on the gas at first.
 
All very funny.
I'm proud to drive my A nearly every day. So what's that? 700 starts a year? I must forget to turn on the gas about 350 of those. And forget to check to see that the lights are off when I shut 'er down about 200 times a year.
My grandson used to get very concerned when the car would die. Now, he knows to reach under the dash and turn on the gas. Fun.
 
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