I noticed today also besides my other post a few posts below sometimes as soon as I turn the ignition key the needle goes to 10 amps without hitting the starter button then I hit the starter button and it won't fire at all and I get no spark. And sometimes I do get spark at a couple amps showing and it fires right up. it's driving me crazy. I do have a positive ground alternator. I know it's all electrical related and I'm not knowledgable enough in electrical and I do have all the Model A repair books but I still can't get it right. I spent 4 hours last weekend and about the same this weekend testing and checking connections. Sometimes it will fire right up sometimes not. Ive had 2 other model A's in the past 15 years and never had this much trouble. Got lucky I guess. Try it again next weekend. Hopefully get it out before winter.(Have to it's a roadster BURR). Any suggestions would be so greatly appreciated.
one more ammeter question from below
- Thread starter 1929tudor
- Start date
Tom Endy
Well-known member
My suggestion would be to clean the battery connections. Start by removing the battery and unhook the ground cable from the frame. Take a sanding disk on the end of a drill motor and clean the raised boss on the frame where the cable bolts to. Clean it until it is bright shinny metal. Wire wheel both ends of the ground cable and the nut and the bolt.
Clean both terminals of the battery and both ends of the power cable.
It wouldn't hurt to progress through the whole car cleaning and making sure all the electrical connections are clean and tight.
Ten amps draw when you turn on the ignition switch seems like too much to me, it should only be a few amps if the points are closed. Place a business card between the points and turn on the ignition and see if there is still a current draw. The business card will prevent the points from being a source of current. If there is still a current draw, you have something else drawing current. Could be a short, or someone has tried to attach an accessory to the ignition circuit.
Tom Endy
Clean both terminals of the battery and both ends of the power cable.
It wouldn't hurt to progress through the whole car cleaning and making sure all the electrical connections are clean and tight.
Ten amps draw when you turn on the ignition switch seems like too much to me, it should only be a few amps if the points are closed. Place a business card between the points and turn on the ignition and see if there is still a current draw. The business card will prevent the points from being a source of current. If there is still a current draw, you have something else drawing current. Could be a short, or someone has tried to attach an accessory to the ignition circuit.
Tom Endy
Barry B./ Ma.
Well-known member
Watch out for that metal conduit tube (if it's a 29) that enters the terminal box from the generator. I had one that would migrate inside the box and short out against the terminal wire lug. When I turned the steering wheel one way the body would shift slightly and the tube would short out. I used black silicone to hold the tube in position against the box. Just a thought.... Barry
Tom Wesenberg
Well-known member
Are you using a 12 volt battery and 6 volt coil? As Tom said, 10 amps is too much. With the key on and points closed it should only show 3 or 4 amp discharge.