The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Gee, I sure hope it Starts!!!

I’ve been doing tune-ups ever since I got my first lawnmower engine back in the late 40’s. Pop was an old school mechanic that worked at the trade in the 20’s 30’s and 40’s so he taught my brother and I the basics early on. So of course when I got my ’50 216 back in Oct., of ’06 the first thing I did was a real good tune-up. The first step is always making sure that the engine is sound. She had good compression, 130lbs across the board, that is all except for #3 and that showed a bad exhaust valve. But after a complete valve job we now had them all sitting at 130 and now, it was ready for that tune-up. While the head was out I pulled the distributor and did a complete disassembly and rebuild on it to make sure that it would be trouble free for the next few years. A week or so spent on the Rochester ‘B’ (they are an on going project you know) and a thorough going over of all the vacuum circuit and the old gal just purred like a kitten.
One of the fun little things that I always pull whenever anyone is around is to say as I’m jumping back in and getting ready to leave, “Gee, I sure hope it Starts!” With 3000 plus miles on her since I first brought her home, she has always, hot or cold, fired on the first turn. After being set up to think that they might have to give you a push, It’s always fun to see the look on peoples faces when she fires on the first tap of the starter. Now mind you it’s been that way since day one till now.
The other day I pulled up an parked right next to the service door at our local Chevy dealer within plain site of the service desk, parts counter and a couple of mechanics. After checking with the parts man for a listing I was walking past the service desk and the service manager and writer asked if they could look her over. Sure so we popped the hood and opened the doors and I was just soaking up all the comments like, “you doin’ all the work your self,” “great job,” “man that’s a cool truck,” “they don’t build them like that any more.”
Then came my usual good bye, “Gee, I hope it starts” and proceeded to do the foot stomp and after cranking for ten seconds nothing. darn that Rochester, what a time for it to food on me. One more ten second try and now I was getting that “we gonna have to push it to get it started” look from the onlookers. As I was about to jump out and pop the hood to check the carb I reached down to turn off the key and low and behold, I done forgot to turn it on in the first place. I guess I was a little nervous, having all those Genuine GM service people standing around watching me and skipped that part of the start sequence.
I switched the key on and first turn over she popped right off. But by now the damage was done and I was back on amateur status. So it will probably be a while before I’ll park in that same spot right up front, when I visit the Chevy garage.
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

Been there, Done that.
Cleon

Did that once on a Dodge when I was 16. Was getting a push start from a friends dad cause I had a dead battery. After several blocks we stopped and he asked what was wrong. I told him I don't know it has always started on the first revolution before. He looked in the window and said "why don't you try it with the switch on". Needless to say I was embarrased as I turned the ignition switch to "ON" and prepared for the next shove. Started right up. I waved as I ducked my head and drove off.

I've done that before, just not with people there. Of course, I know when the key is on without looking at it, I just look at the gas gauge, it shows full at all times! But even then sometimes I forget.

The cab floor in my '50 3800 is more hole than floor. It hasn't had a tuneup in 12 years and is very much 'still under construction'. My mother in law wanted to hear it run because she used to have a '50 3/4 ton. So I got in and cranked it. It didn't start right up, so I let go of the key. (It's been converted to key start.) The keys immediately fell out of the ignition switch and through a hole in the floor, so I had to get out and get them. It started right up next try.

My mother in law said, "I never had to do that to get mine started."

Denny, What a shame since you are so meticulous in your work--shoulda fessed up and said, "I guess it helps if you turn the key on". You would have gotten a sympathetic chuckle and a wave-- don't ask how I know.
Glenn

Aw, we still love ya anyway. (I still forget to turn the key about ten percent of the time.)

Wonderful story description. We can all relate.

Funny story. In hindsight do you wish you'd just laughed loud and long and said something like; "Gotcha! Now I'm going to turn on the ignition and I'm outa here"!!

Had that problem with my lawn mower..there are so many safety's on it that you can forget one and be out of luck.

I have to memorize some of these great come-backs for the next time I make the same embarrassing mistake... in about another year.

Great story.

Denny thats great! I used to have an s-10 blazer that I drove all over hell and back. One day the ignition broke and she wouldnt start. Not the cylinder where the key went, but the ignition terminal behind the gauge cluster that would have taken 4 hours to tear apart.

I wired up a flip switch and a push button for the starter and I cant tell you how many times we'd be getting off work and in my haste to say bye to the work crew, would sit there and crank and crank and crank that thing over with the button.

Then one of the guys would come over, give me a hard time as I popped the hood and jabbed a screwdriver in the carb, only to realize when I got back in the truck that Id forgot to flip the switch.... Oops...

LMAO!

I wonder if you could set-up the starter where it would not turn over without the ignition key on. My 56 F%$# tractor is set-up that way.

Then it taint stock no mo Big! Nope, this was just a case of
stage fright, first time I screwed up my little routine in 3,000 miles and about a year’s time and the audience had to be the professionals.
Just thought it might get a chuckle, it sure gave me one, once I got down the road a piece and got over the red face.
Remember when you were a kid, and you would holler, hey look at me ma, and that was about the same time you would run into the tree.
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

just keep remembering all the times that it kicked over the first turn. you may have lost a little "face", but few people are still willing or able to maintain and jump into one of these old trucks and drive them on a daily basis.

some time ago i posted a thread about how much respect i have for all the guys and gals that are doing whatever they can to keep them running. it takes some pretty special (and possibly disturbed) people to keep coming back for more just to make sure they can get them to start on the first kick.

keep up the good work denny.

i took a friend for the first ride in my truck after the overhaul, she had ridden it many times. i proceeded to turn the key for the start and it lurched forward, i had forgotten that i was driving a stick again instead of my automatic. ron

Yeah Ron, my wife and daughter do that all the time! tisk, tisk!

Hey p.j. hows you and that bolt holdin' up to the global warming your getting out there this summer???

Denny G

i prefer "climate change". find you get a less harsh response

was a bit of an adjustment after my 3 week hiatus in the midwest. much preferred the 84 degrees to the 110 plus that i came back to. although i don't miss the humidity.

the bolt is just fine. even with sittin' for 3 weeks, i only had to step on the starter four times before it fired right up...although i did have the key on.

just giving you a hard time. will have to head to your pics site and see what you've done to your bolt lately. no kidding. keep up the good work!