Trouble starting

Al 29Tudor

Al 29Tudor

Well-known member
Good afternoon gents,
I've been having trouble starting and sometimes my 1929 will not start at all. It's driving me a little crazy.
At times it seems to start just at the moment I stop cranking. It seam like the voltage pops up to 6V as the starter stops drawing and the engine still has some momentum and it starts.
Charged the battery and now have 6.4 volts static.
I'm using an analog meter and while running I get 6.8 V at the alternator terminal.
While cranking, with the ignition on, the voltage drops to 4.0v - 4.2v in the ignition circuit. Twelve month battery has about five years on it.
Plugs have about 12,00 miles on them, timing re-done, points clean and adjusted. Changed condenser, distributor and carburetor.
This morning with a fully charged battery it started on the second cranking try.
How long do you find plugs last? Is it normal for voltage to drop to 4V ?
Thanks for any suggestions you have.
Al
 
The model A engine wants to start. I hope you are in a local club who can help
You. Make sure the plugs are clean. Its not the age of plugs, its how clean they are.
 
Check the battery ground strap where it is attached to the frame. The connection is out of sight and out of mind and is notorious for being corroded and not providing a proper ground. Remove it and clean the connection.

What could be happening is as you are cranking the starter the poor ground connection adds resistance and most of the battery power is going to the starter and starving the ignition. This drags the battery voltage down. When you release the starter the voltage goes back up and if the engine is still rotating it might light off.

Tom Endy
 
Al 29Tudor said:
Good afternoon gents,
I've been having trouble starting and sometimes my 1929 will not start at all. It's driving me a little crazy.
Al
Click to expand...

The first part is probably due to Cold Weather and Old Age (I've been having trouble starting). :p:p The second part, as Tom suggests, is to check your grounds.

It's amazing how many electrical problems are caused by bad grounds due to corrosion or paint.
 
Update,
The chassis ground was not as tight or as clean as it is now. Pulled the battery out and cleaned the ends of the ground cable and battery end of the negative cable. Started up pretty good and now the ammeter needle is very steady in the charge zone lights on or off.
Thank you again.
AL
 
Another update,
While screwing the ignition into the dist. the contact separated from the wire.
It may have been attached by a couple strands or just touching intermittently.
I re-soldered those together and starting got better but now cranking slowly.
New battery this morning and it popped right off.
Bad grounds, bad ignition contact and old battery. Think I got it all now.
Al
 
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