Start from Engine Side

kcav8or

kcav8or

Member
If I'm working on a Model A by myself, and want to start the car from the engine side, so I can watch what's happening and make adjustments, what's the best way to do it?
 
Put you hand around starter rod and push to make contact, but there isn't much to see happening. not sure I understand your request.
 
Starting the model A from the "Engine side of the firewall" maybe? I stand 6'3" and I have often started our model A from the carb side of the engine. My arm is just long enough to be able to reach across and depress the starter rod from the carb side of the motor.
 
Make sure that you have the car in neutral. From the right side (passenger) reach over and actuate the starter rod while working the choke rod the same as if you were inside the car.
 
second that motion to place the car in neutral. People have been seriously hurt and even killed by starting cars in gear. Its easier than you think. Be careful.
 
I reach across to do it quite a lot.I also lay my arm on the distributer contacts when I'm doing it.Without a shirt on the shock is just a normal belt.For some reason if I'm wearing a sweatshirt it really hurts.I think it's because the spark is arcing like a welder.
 
kcav8or said:
I need to adjust a newly-rebuilt carburetor.
Click to expand...

Its fine to start it while standing beside it, but, you should be able to start it normally and have plenty of time to get around to the carburetor. Just set the GAV at 1/2 to 1 turn out and the idle mixture at about 1 turn out. Adjust the idle speed screw so the throttle plate is slightly open.
 
kcav8or said:
I need to adjust a newly-rebuilt carburetor.
Click to expand...

If you have a Zenith carb the only thing to adjust on the carb to make it run is the choke and the GAV, both can be done from inside the car.
The needle valve screw near the top of the carb is for air adjust, set it at about 2 turns, it can not be adjusted further until the engine is hot and you have adjusted the idle to about as slow as it will run. So not so sure it is worth the risk to be starting the car from outside.
 
It's a Tilly carb, and the first time it leaked a lot, probably because of a cross-threaded high speed mixture screw. I want to keep a close eye on it after I've replaced that screw, so I find the source of any leak going forward. I've already re-flattened the gasket surfaces.
 
I've only reached over from the carb side a couple of times, I always manage to touch the top of a plug. Each time I did it I thought I was being extremely careful. Yeouch.
 
If the carb is going to leak much then it will do so without running the engine. Just turn on the gas and watch it. It's also worth noting you are working with an updraft carb. If you choke it too much and/or it doesn't start right away then gas that was being drawn up into the manifold will come back down and spill out the mouth of the carb onto the floor. This is normal.
 
Exactly, yep, just turn the fuel on and see if it leaks. If you're worried about gas on fresh paint, put a rag on the splash pan.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top