Warm engine starting

gpits68

gpits68

Senior Member
I have always been told to always retard the spark when starting the Model A . While reading the Ford Service Bulletins , I found a section on warm engine starting on page 14 . Its says "With spark control lever about half way down quadrant and throttle lever advanced two or three notches , turn on engine and depress starter switch ." Is this correct ?
 
gpits68 said:
I have always been told to always retard the spark when starting the Model A . While reading the Ford Service Bulletins , I found a section on warm engine starting on page 14 . Its says "With spark control lever about half way down quadrant and throttle lever advanced two or three notches , turn on engine and depress starter switch ." Is this correct ?
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I have also seen this in print a few times, I always kept my thoughts to myself on this because I knew it would stir up a mess here. Now you have broke the tabu and I will now chime in. That's what the book says. Have fun modelAtony tony white Lafayette, LA
 
The point of retarding the spark on startup is to prevent the engine from kicking back and hurting the starter, so why take a chance by not retarding it?
 
I have a stock head with 50 lbs. compression and can start my engine just fine, even when I forget to retard the spark, which is often 2/3 of the way down. But as Jim said, why take a chance. It is easier on the starter with the spark full up, and this is especially important with the higher compression head.
 
May as well stir pot too. I was watching an old Oliver and Hardy, starting a model T. Olie was swinging the spark lever between the full up and halfway down position. My T can be finicky when warm and it does work. Now my A is easy starting when cold but after shutting down it too can be finicky, especially after "hot soaking."

I advance it slightly.

Oddly it seems more finicky when I forget to turn the gas on! <grin>
 
Go to page 572 in the Ford Service Bulletins and you will find a bulletin "Retard spark lever when starting" . A friend of mine pointed this out to me . Still surprised they show on page 14 to advance the spark.
 
I remember the original local owner of my 1930 Model A coupe coming to church with his arm in a sling.

I asked him later, after I had the car, what had happened.

He replied that the battery was weak so he cranked it; however, the spark lever was all the way down.
 
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