Shut-down procedure

Walt Ebie

Walt Ebie

Senior Member
Just noticed a note from a previous owner of my coupe on his recommended procedure for turning off the car: after shutting off the gas valve and letting the engine die (which I always do), he calls for turning off the switch, pulling out the fuse, and then putting the car in neutral and giving the starter a kick to "clear the block." That last part is what I've never done. Does anyone else do that, and, if so, what's the purpose?
 
just my guess: Model "A" engines typically stop in one of two compression cycles and if you pull the spark level down and turn the key back on, you see that the points are closed (amp shows discharge). I suspect he wanted the points open.
 
Do some OLD BULLSHITTERS just turn their MOUTHS on, when arising in the A.M, & let it BABBLE ALL DAY? Do they think we're IDIOTS? They should just talk about the WEATHER, or some other HARMLESS subject, while scratchin' their privates! Is GREAT COMMUNICATION a LOST ART?
Bill W.
 
Sometimes I let the car run the fuel out of the zenith --other times I'm a tad lazy... however, I always turn off my battery disconnect switch and the fuel cutoff which for my late 31' are under the hood... Luckily, my 6'3" frame came with long arms and I can hit both from the driver's side hood... :)
 
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2 things not mentioned that I have burned in my mental checklist are
left lever up as key is turned off
ammeter reading zero
 
Walt,
There are probably as many opinions as there are chicken beaks. A couple of thoughts.....I have a 6" wire tie attached to my fuse for ease but I don't always pull it. if the car is going to sit for awhile I will disconnect it. i favor leaving fuel in the carburetor so it does not sit dry. Having a routine is a good idea too. I'm listening in to learn about clearing the block, that one is new to me.
 
CA Victoria said:
Walt,
There are probably as many opinions as there are chicken beaks. A couple of thoughts.....I have a 6" wire tie attached to my fuse for ease but I don't always pull it. if the car is going to sit for awhile I will disconnect it. i favor leaving fuel in the carburetor so it does not sit dry. Having a routine is a good idea too. I'm listening in to learn about clearing the block, that one is new to me.
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I would get rid of the wire and use a plastic tie, I think it's safer.
 
I just pull into the garage, turn off the gas valve then the key, retard the spark, get out open the hood and throw off the shutoff switch.
 
It's not good practice to pull the fuse every time. It was not designed to be a switch and all that pushing and pulling will loosen the rivets and surprise one day.
 
I pull the fuse for winter. Otherwise gas off, key off.
I think constant pulling of the fuse as Jackson said is problematic. Should the fuse pop up and that's not uncommon, you can see the generator go high, saturate the coil, plugs stop firing, car slows, generator slows, coil starts working, lights the cylinders full of fuel, explosion and mushroom cloud as you pull over and look for your muffler....
My ode to Bill.
 
giving the starter a kick to "clear the block." That last part is what I've never done. Does anyone else do that, and, if so, what's the purpose?
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In cold weather, ifn there's oil on the bendix, when you go to start the car the starter can spin w/out the bendix engaging the ring gear. If you burp the starter after shutdown w/the engine warm or hot this will engage the bendix so that when you go to start it cold, next morning, the bendix is already engaged. In warm weather this is not usually a problem.
 
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