Bird chirping when I give her the gas

Discuss all things Model T related.
Forum rules
If you need help logging in, or have question about how something works, use the Support forum located here Support Forum
Complete set of Forum Rules Forum Rules

Topic author
jachady
Posts: 117
Joined: Fri Jan 11, 2019 11:16 pm
First Name: John
Last Name: Chady
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1924 Fordor
Location: Jefferson WI
Board Member Since: 2016

Bird chirping when I give her the gas

Post by jachady » Mon Jun 08, 2020 10:25 pm

I need some help diagnosing my engine noise. Or at least I think it's engine noise. When under load, if I throttle up, it sounds like a bird chirping coming from the engine area. If I back the throttle off, the chirp goes away. Throttle back up and it comes back. It is very consistant with what sounds like every 4th cylinder fire. It has me.baffled, and I don't have anyone that knows how to drive the car so I can climb around and get a better idea where rhe sound is coming from.

Has anyone else noticed a similar sound and figured out how to remedy it?

Is there a way to post videos on the forum?


jab35
Posts: 892
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 12:28 pm
First Name: James
Last Name: Bartsch
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: '26 Coupe
Location: Dryden, NY 13053
MTFCA Number: 30615
MTFCA Life Member: YES

Re: Bird chirping when I give her the gas

Post by jab35 » Mon Jun 08, 2020 10:31 pm

Exhaust leak??


Dallas Landers
Posts: 2786
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 12:26 pm
First Name: Dallas
Last Name: Landers
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 26 Rpu, 23 TT, 24 coupe,
Location: N.E. Indiana
MTFCA Number: 49995

Re: Bird chirping when I give her the gas

Post by Dallas Landers » Mon Jun 08, 2020 10:37 pm

Does it do it sitting still or just in motion? I had what sounded like a bearing squeeling or a fan belt slipping. Only in motion and about 20 to 30 mph. Drove me nuts. I finally found the radiator shell was rubbing on the hood shelf. Are the sparkplugs tight? Check for sheetmetal rubbing somewhere.


Topic author
jachady
Posts: 117
Joined: Fri Jan 11, 2019 11:16 pm
First Name: John
Last Name: Chady
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1924 Fordor
Location: Jefferson WI
Board Member Since: 2016

Re: Bird chirping when I give her the gas

Post by jachady » Mon Jun 08, 2020 10:51 pm

jab35 wrote:
Mon Jun 08, 2020 10:31 pm
Exhaust leak??
The gasket is shot on cyl 4. I am waiting for a new manifold to arrive then I will take care of that issue. I can see an exhaust leak making a noise like this but to me it would be strange for it to only make the noise under load.


Topic author
jachady
Posts: 117
Joined: Fri Jan 11, 2019 11:16 pm
First Name: John
Last Name: Chady
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1924 Fordor
Location: Jefferson WI
Board Member Since: 2016

Re: Bird chirping when I give her the gas

Post by jachady » Mon Jun 08, 2020 10:53 pm

Dallas Landers wrote:
Mon Jun 08, 2020 10:37 pm
Does it do it sitting still or just in motion? I had what sounded like a bearing squeeling or a fan belt slipping. Only in motion and about 20 to 30 mph. Drove me nuts. I finally found the radiator shell was rubbing on the hood shelf. Are the sparkplugs tight? Check for sheetmetal rubbing somewhere.
Only in motion and only under load. I've put my hand and foot everywhere I can reach while driving trying to see if it's a body noise. To no avail. Sparkplugs are tight.

User avatar

Chris Instness
Posts: 177
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 6:49 pm
First Name: Christopher
Last Name: Instness
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1915 runabout, 1923 speedster
Location: Roseville, Ca
MTFCA Number: 52552

Re: Bird chirping when I give her the gas

Post by Chris Instness » Mon Jun 08, 2020 11:02 pm

I had that exact problem years back. It was a leaking head gasket. I got lucky and the noise went away after re-torquing the head. You might have to change the head gasket.

User avatar

Steve Jelf
Posts: 6463
Joined: Fri Jan 04, 2019 9:37 pm
First Name: Steve
Last Name: Jelf
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1923 touring and a few projects
Location: Parkerfield, Kansas
MTFCA Number: 16175
MTFCI Number: 14758
Board Member Since: 2007
Contact:

Re: Bird chirping when I give her the gas

Post by Steve Jelf » Mon Jun 08, 2020 11:47 pm

Champion X with a loose collar? The base can be tight but the plug still leak.
The inevitable often happens.
1915 Runabout
1923 Touring

User avatar

Susanne
Posts: 1045
Joined: Sat Apr 13, 2019 6:06 pm
First Name: Susanne
Last Name: Rohner
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: Late '15 touring, "Angel".
Location: Valfabbrica, (central) Italy
MTFCA Number: 464
MTFCA Life Member: YES
Board Member Since: 1999
Contact:

Re: Bird chirping when I give her the gas

Post by Susanne » Tue Jun 09, 2020 12:26 am

"Bird chirping" under throttle is an intake leak... it's a vacuum whistle. Check your gaskets, and I bet you will find that's where your issue lies... either your intake gland rings or your head gasket... BTDT on way more than a T.
Last edited by Susanne on Tue Jun 09, 2020 12:27 am, edited 1 time in total.


tgreifhahn
Posts: 7
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 12:24 pm
First Name: Tom
Last Name: Greifhahn
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1922 Roadster
Location: Elmwood Park, Il
MTFCA Number: 15006
MTFCI Number: 13508

Re: Bird chirping when I give her the gas

Post by tgreifhahn » Tue Jun 09, 2020 12:27 am

I had the same issue that Chris described. Changed the head gasket and that solved the issue.

User avatar

Mark Gregush
Posts: 4957
Joined: Sat Jan 05, 2019 1:57 pm
First Name: Mark
Last Name: Gregush
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1925 cutdown PU, 1920 Dodge touring, 1948 F2 Ford flat head 6 pickup 3 speed
Location: Portland Or
MTFCA Number: 52564
Board Member Since: 1999

Re: Bird chirping when I give her the gas

Post by Mark Gregush » Tue Jun 09, 2020 12:44 am

Had the same problem at one time, took off the compression whistle! :lol: Sorry, couldn't help myself.
I know the voices aren't real but damn they have some good ideas! :shock:

1925 Cut down pickup
1920 Dodge touring
1948 Ford F2 pickup

User avatar

thom
Posts: 308
Joined: Mon Jan 14, 2019 4:48 pm
First Name: Tommy
Last Name: Coffey
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: '21 Touring
Location: western NC

Re: Bird chirping when I give her the gas

Post by thom » Tue Jun 09, 2020 8:15 am

My first thought was a loose spark plug or possibly two piece plug not screwed together tight enough. Then you have one of those d**m explosion whistles that I hate so much! :evil:


Adam
Posts: 1411
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 11:57 am
First Name: Adam
Last Name: Doleshal
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: ‘13 Touring, ‘24 Touring, ‘25 TT dump truck, ‘26 Tudor, ‘20 Theiman harvester T powerplant, ‘20 T Staude tractor
Location: Wisconsin
MTFCA Number: 23809
MTFCI Number: 1
Board Member Since: 2000

Re: Bird chirping when I give her the gas

Post by Adam » Tue Jun 09, 2020 9:15 am

I’ve experienced a chirp like that twice on T’s I’ve worked on and both times it was a head gasket leak to the outside from Cyl #4. I suppose it could come from any cylinder. You will likely have pretty cruddy rust out around the water passage and/or a warped head that needs to be cut. Less possible is that the deck of the block would be warped, but if it is, then it should get cut. If you re-used the head gasket, then maybe thats the only issue.

It probably wouldn’t be an intake or vacuum leak if it happens when opening the throttle. Vacuum is higher going down hill at closed throttle or on flat straightaways at constant speed.


Norman Kling
Posts: 4072
Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2019 1:39 pm
First Name: Norman
Last Name: Kling
Location: Alpine California

Re: Bird chirping when I give her the gas

Post by Norman Kling » Tue Jun 09, 2020 10:34 am

The first time I had a "chirp" was 68 years ago when I had my first car. A 1928 Model A. I had removed and replaced the cylinder head. I tightened it down and went for a drive. I had a "chirp". I had not re-torqued the head after the engine warmed up. Had to replace the gasket again and tighten it correctly.

Many years later with my first T, I noticed a "chirp" when I pulled a hill. This time it was around the spark plugs. A clue would be some oil or fuel mixture in the dips in the head around the plugs. In this case, I wrapped a bit of aluminum foil around the plugs and re-installed. This cured the problem.

Anyway, it is a compression or exhaust leak and you can find it if you try.
Norm


Erik Barrett
Posts: 463
Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2019 12:32 am
First Name: Erik
Last Name: Barrett
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1913 speedster 1924 touring 1925 dump truck
Location: Auburn, Ca.

Re: Bird chirping when I give her the gas

Post by Erik Barrett » Tue Jun 09, 2020 11:31 am

Head gasket.


SteveTN
Posts: 35
Joined: Fri Mar 27, 2020 8:29 am
First Name: Steve
Last Name: in Tennessee
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: '23 Cuttoff
Location: Whiskey Creek

Re: Bird chirping when I give her the gas

Post by SteveTN » Tue Jun 09, 2020 12:16 pm

mine does that constantly. After a lot of searching around the engine I finally figured out it is the thimble on the radiator shell on the right side. It apparently strikes a resonance with the engine vibration at higher RPMs. I messed with it for a while and finally just left it alone.

Just something else to check.


Allan
Posts: 5205
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 7:21 pm
First Name: Allan
Last Name: Bennett
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1912 van, 1917 shooting brake, 1929 roadster buckboard, 1924 tourer, 1925 barn find buckboard, 1925 D &F wide body roadster, 1927LHD Tudor sedan.
Location: Gawler, Australia

Re: Bird chirping when I give her the gas

Post by Allan » Tue Jun 09, 2020 9:07 pm

This reminds me of an experience I had in New Zealand. I was driving a loaned model T on a tour, for the first time, and she performed valiantly up a long pull before we started down hill. A few seconds after cresting the rise I heard an unearthly squeal and instantly killed the motor and pulled over. The noise was STILL there! We'd entered a wooded secton and the noise was 473 million cicadas all working in unison!

Allan from down under.


Norman Kling
Posts: 4072
Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2019 1:39 pm
First Name: Norman
Last Name: Kling
Location: Alpine California

Re: Bird chirping when I give her the gas

Post by Norman Kling » Tue Jun 09, 2020 9:28 pm

Another noise I get on my 26 is the choke rod vibrating against the dash panel. Try holding it when driving and see if the noise stops.
Norm


Topic author
jachady
Posts: 117
Joined: Fri Jan 11, 2019 11:16 pm
First Name: John
Last Name: Chady
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1924 Fordor
Location: Jefferson WI
Board Member Since: 2016

Re: Bird chirping when I give her the gas

Post by jachady » Tue Jun 09, 2020 11:00 pm

I just got notification that my new exhaust manifold is shipping. So I will be replacing the entire exhaust, plus redoing the intake gaskets.
I just recently replaced the head gasket, and all bolts after chasing all the bolt holes so I'm pretty sure that's not the issue.
I have felt and pushed on everything I can reach while driving to stop the noise.


old_charley
Posts: 191
Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2019 11:36 pm
First Name: Bryan
Last Name: Ostergren
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1914 cut-off touring/pickup: 1922 Touring car: 1921 TT Dump Truck
Location: Prescott, AZ
MTFCA Number: 8082

Re: Bird chirping when I give her the gas

Post by old_charley » Wed Jun 10, 2020 10:28 am

I have to agree with Adam. I had the same chirping problem. Head gasket leak at the rear cornier of #4 due to corrosion on the block around the little water hole. Changed head gaskets multiple times and tried to "repair" the corrosion with JB Weld. Worked only temporarily. Finally had to tear the engine down to have the block surfaced. I hope you find your problem simpler to fix than that!


Jerry VanOoteghem
Posts: 2952
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 4:06 pm
First Name: Jerry
Last Name: Van
Location: S.E. Michigan
MTFCA Number: 24868

Re: Bird chirping when I give her the gas

Post by Jerry VanOoteghem » Wed Jun 10, 2020 7:29 pm

Head gasket.

"I just recently replaced the head gasket, and all bolts after chasing all the bolt holes so I'm pretty sure that's not the issue."

Did you re-torque the head bolts after a warm-up & cool down? If not....

User avatar

perry kete
Posts: 1563
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 11:46 am
First Name: Dennis
Last Name: Seth
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1922 Coupe 1927 Touring
Location: Jefferson Ohio

Re: Bird chirping when I give her the gas

Post by perry kete » Wed Jun 10, 2020 7:34 pm

MY parakeet is missing.. I she under your hood?
1922 Coupe & 1927 Touring


John Biggs
Posts: 8
Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2019 5:48 am
First Name: John
Last Name: Biggs
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1915 Touring
Location: Bucks, England
MTFCA Number: 270
MTFCA Life Member: YES

Re: Bird chirping when I give her the gas

Post by John Biggs » Thu Jun 11, 2020 4:57 am

I had the chirping problem some years ago. The chirping occurred under load when gradient climbing in top. Throttling back stopped the chirping.

It turned out to be a crack in the porcelain of a spark plug. Plug changed - chirp gone.

User avatar

joe.wal
Posts: 74
Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2019 1:33 pm
First Name: Joerg
Last Name: Walther
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1916 Touring
Location: FarFarAway (Germany)
MTFCA Number: 31419
Board Member Since: 2014

Re: Bird chirping when I give her the gas

Post by joe.wal » Sun Jun 14, 2020 8:26 am

I also have a sharp chirping sound and have the impression it is depending on engine revs - it is not heard constantly.
Suspicious for me is the fan as it is the same sound when the fan hit the radiator years ago after the screw got loose (the one near the oil filler cap).
I can see blank metal on the slightly bent edge of one propeller so it might have contact with some metal (but definitely no sign on radiator fins).
Turning the fan manually does not show this but maybe with running engine the relative position of the propellers change by the power of the air that drives through ?

Thanks to some posts here I will now also check the choke wire and radiator shell.
1916 Touring

Post Reply Previous topicNext topic