MTFCA Forum

With my T, I start with the starter, Once started, I switch to the magneto.

Or, to impress by standers, I will turn on the key, using the battery, and give a quick jerk of the starter handle crank and the motor will start. Not a rapid turning.

So, I have noticed questions about slow turning starters.

If all is in proper working order, the motor will start with either a slow turning starter, or with a quick jerk of the crank handle.

With all in order, I find no need to crank the motor muplital times by hand or the starter motor turning over fast..

A properly working Ford Model T electric starter should turn the engine over fast. It doesn't need to go fast to get a start, but it should turn over fast. An electric motor does not like to turn slowly, it should not sound like a tractor with a dead battery, if it does there is a problem. For 50 years I thought a Model T starter cranked slow, until recently hearing a friends rebuilt starter crank fast and thinking he had a 12v battery, he didn't. I had my starter rebuilt and it now cranks over fast.

The starter should crank fairly briskly. If it does not, it could cause hard starting when starting on battery due to excess current draw. When starting on magneto, a slow starter could contribute to hard starting by reason of developing less magneto power. A dragging starter will wear quickly and is hard on the battery and generator, besides contributing to less reliable starting. A weak battery or defective cables will cause similar issues.

With a properly tuned engine, it can start without touching the starter too by just moving the timing! (Called a 'free start'). That can surprise the folks!

The starter can spin the motor up to 150 rpms, but a good T in good tune will start in just a few seconds! Never have found the need to stand on the footswitch for a whole minute! Even when cold, a quick right foot push on the footswitch will turn over and fire off the motor. Almost the same as warm engine.

Here is a YouTube video (link below) of my '23 demonstrating the rather quick start of a T with good 6v battery, clean 6v cables, and pro-tuned and matched coils.



https://youtube.com/shorts/5SU5bBzK5-k? ... 1MHlUq4QkG

A model t parked in winter with the brake on . . .
Might not be the starter causing slow cranking. . .

One time, mine started just by bumping the fender. Jim Patrick

Mine will often start simply by turning the key to battery, unless I say, "Watch this."

Hummm...a free start is possible because --- why?

One of the cylinders has compressed fuel, and the timer is "on" that cylinder and the cylinder is not leaking down.

Turning on the key allows to coil/timer to make contact ( even a slight knock on the fender to move the timer in to position to make contact for spark) ... and there is an explosion that allows the piston go down...much like a quick jerk up of the starter crank.

If..all things are in place the motor gives the impression of a free start.

I am open to other explanations.

George has nailed it, except that the timer must be already in contact. Turning on the key simply allows current to energise the coli for the spark.

Giltrap's Auto Museum on Queensland's Gold Coast Used this phenomenon to suck the audience in. The car was not a T, but the result was the same. The presenter would try to start the car with the crank handle, but what he was really doing was priming the cylinders, carefully positioning crank handle in the end. NO go. So then he fiddled around at the dashboard. {turned the ignition on} Back to the front of the car he'd tell the car to start, give it a big kick to the front tyre, and away it would go!

Allan from down under.

Good showmanship! Most any long stroke engine with trembler coils and battery can be started this way.