1921 start/run problems

[Trilark]

Hi all

I look at the post almost daily, but this is my first post. I am Bob with a restored (not by me) T. Millie is a RHD English with a full restoration. Ever since I have owned Millie she has been troublesome with starting and running. I have downloaded huge amounts of info and nothing seemed to work. This winter I have done the following.

!. As the new petrol tank has no filter I have routed the fuel line along the chassis with a horizontal filter in line (do not use a paper element one as it will not gravity feed) with an isolation tap by the carb. I put a joggle in it where it is close to the exhaust with a heat shield.
2. Had the coils rebuilt.
3. Checked the timing and cleaned the timer. Cleaned and varnished the coil box.
4. In desparation I drilled out the carb plugs and cleaned all the fuel ways.
5. I wondered if it did not like the motorcycle air filter - so I have put a mesh filter on.
6. On checking the new fuel tank cap - it has no air hole!
7. Made a mixture adjuster so it can be adjusted easily from dash.

With all this done and 1 1/4 turns on mixture - a revelation. After winter lay up - went first try and ran well. Yesterday I went for a 10 mile ride and no problems with running and starting. Took all my tools and stopped for multiple restarts. All is well, BUTTTTTT I do not know what cured the problem !!!>>>XXX

Perhaps confidence restored to attend local events and even Lydia may come now!
Looking forward to a summer of use.

[Humblej]

You may need to adjust the mixture more often, use the 1 1/4 - 1 1/2 turns for starting, then lean it after engine starts than adjust after engine warms up. Except for the starting seting this is not a rote setting, it is going to be different for the given atmospheric conditions of the day. Once the engine is started and is running, slowly lean the mixture and the engine should smooth out, continue to lean and the engine will start running a bit rough, turn the mixture rich to get that smooth spot again. Repeat after the engine has warmed up to operating temp. repeat as needed while you drive, but once it is set at the sweet spot it will not need to be changed unless the ambient temperature, humidity, or elevation changes.

The Ford gas tank fuel shut off bulb is also a fuel filter, no need to add an additional filter, it will only cause problems with a gravity flow system.

An air filter seems like an obvious improvement, but Ford didn't use one, and I never found one that didn't cause other problems, and one cannot be used when the hot air pipe is on. Yes the hot air pipe is needed...under certain conditions, and it also acts as a kind of air filter, if for no other reason than it is picking up air higher off the ground and behind the airflow of the engine fan. The hot air pipe primarily prevents the carb from freezing up during cool days with lots of humidity, a springtime driving must. The evaporation action of the carb is a cooing process, it can cool the carb body and incoming air to below freezing and allow ice to form on the carb inlet. Enough ice and the inlet air will be reduced and the engine will run poorly.

[Marshall V. Daut]

I restored a 1925 Touring in the late 1980's for a friend. It always started hard, though. Years later, I was asked to see why the car was so hard to start and seemed to lack power - even for a Model T. I drilled out the passageway way plugs in the Holley NH (which I hadn't done 20 years prior. Bad on me!) using photos and advice gleaned from this website. One passageway was almost completely blocked with crud! A drill bit was required to clean that passageway because the crud was so compacted. A heavy wound guitar string was used to clean the other passageways, as the late, great Stan Howe recommended. After carefully cleaning the passageways and re-sealing them, the engine started almost instantly and had more power. 20 years of frustration was finally over.

I would bet that of all things you did, cleaning out the carb's passageways was the final solution to your problem. The other things were not a waste of time, however. They just made your Model T a little better.
Marshall

[TWrenn]

Hate it when one does "all sorts of things" in haste basically, to cure a problem, thence not knowing WHAT the problem really was!
Oh well, all that matters now is Millie (that's my dog's name BTW!) is up and running well. Sadly, MY Millie's not doing that well...due to her old age. Good luck with your car this season.