Possible Mercy Mission - Southern Indiana

Del in NE Ohio

Del in NE Ohio

Senior Member
Been talking with a friend in Indiana, near Versailles. He is restoring a 1930 Briggs 4-dr. This is his first Model A. He is having a very frustrating time getting the engine to run without back-firing, also very hard to start.

I have done about all I can over the phone and am considering a mercy mission/road trip. I live 400 miles away. Any chance there would be a 'Barner with a big heart in Southern Indiana and spare time that might make a house call? Dave is ready to push this "A" off the cliff!

If so, respond with a private message and I will give you particulars.
Dave and I would both be very thankful!!
 
Funny thing. I have a 30 Briggs Town Sedan too. And it's my first model A also. And I'm having the same prolems with it. No matter how far back I retard the spark, it backfires. It ain't the timing! Could be the valves, they were stuck when I got the car. Could be a bad condenser. Could be a bad Dist. cap. I think it's "leaking" spark. In addition to backfiring through the Carb. it will charge up the muffler with gas fumes and then it ignites. The sound is really really loud. When it goes off I expect there to be damage from the shrapnel. None yet, But a noise like that can't be doing anything any good! My "solution" is to get the engine rebuilt (it needs it anyway) and put all new ignition parts in it.
Terry



Del in NE Ohio said:
Been talking with a friend in Indiana, near Versailles. He is restoring a 1930 Briggs 4-dr. This is his first Model A. He is having a very frustrating time getting the engine to run without back-firing, also very hard to start.

I have done about all I can over the phone and am considering a mercy mission/road trip. I live 400 miles away. Any chance there would be a 'Barner with a big heart in Southern Indiana and spare time that might make a house call? Dave is ready to push this "A" off the cliff!

If so, respond with a private message and I will give you particulars.
Dave and I would both be very thankful!!
Click to expand...
 
Here is something easy to check that I have seen cause these symptoms: Check the position of the ferrule on the end of the gas line that goes into the sediment bowl - if it's more than 1/8" back from the end of the line trim off part of the gas line. It's pretty common for folks to push the ferrule onto the gas line then push the gas line into the opening and tighten up the fitting setting the ferrule. What happens is the line is up against the inside of the sediment bowl choking off the flow causing gas starvation. Similar symptoms happen with junk in the tank or a plugged gas cap vent. I even had it happen one time when my shutoff valve partially closed itself from vibration. You'd swear it was an electrical problem.
 
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