The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Where to Start?

Pulled the 46 out of the garage today, to change the oil. While it was sitting in the driveway, idling to warm up, it suddenly stopped running. (Nope not out of gas!) Didn't sputter or anything, just stopped.

I was able to get it to pop once, but it wouldn't start. Now, I don't even get a pop.

I'm assuming I must be dealing with a spark issue, although since it started snowing about this time, I didn't really have a chance to spend any time looking for a cause. I pushed it back into the garage, to be dealt with another day.

The question is... Where would you start? I wouldn't think points would just stop working when the truck was idling just fine. Coil, Condensor, something else?

What say ye?

Fuel pump could have failed, engine might have got to hot. Try starting again now that it has cooled off. This is a start. Cecil.........

Cecil,

Appreciate the thoughts and the starting point, but it still won't start after sitting a while.

The truck never got fully warmed up, so I don't believe it would have gotten too hot. It is still getting fuel, so I don't think it would be a fuel pump.

The loss of fuel usually would have been a sputtering stall rather than an immediate stop, wouldn't it?

My first thought was gas related. Even ran to town and bought 5 gallons. Didn't make any difference, and doesn't seem to be firing. Again, I really haven't had an opportunity to see if I've got fire.

1. Pull of air cleaner. Smell Gas? Probably got fuel.

2. Timing light on plug one? Flashes - then has spark.

No flashes, hook a light to the positive of coil? Perhaps no electricity to coil if no light. (Or use a meter and look for 12v)

Those are good starting places. If you don't have a timing light hold plug against block and have assitant crank engine over. If no flashes then check power to coil.

watch for a big snow flake in the filter does seem strange that it would not restart after running but these trucks do strange things,, If it is getting gas I would check the coil wire, make sure it hasn't wiggled out or got dirty,, mine did this once, started when I last left , then the next morning , it wouldn't.. had a dirty/correded coil wire,,the brass end was dirty green,,no telling how long it had been that way,,maybe the points have closed,,you never know,, have you added to your collection as of late,,regards..Fred

Jed,

If you have faith in the laws of probability, the culprit would be fuel, or fuel related. The tests listed above are right on..do those too.

Of the three items needed to run the truck, two of which would be fire and fuel. It is less likely that a wire broke, a point burned, a coil cooked, or a condenser fizzled than it is the fuel system failed.

This doesn't mean it can't be ignition, but take a look at the more obvious first.

Mash the palm of your hand over the carburetor and seal it off while someone cranks the engine over. Do this for a couple of seconds..this will pull any water through the idle jet.


Stuart

Atomarc, I appreciate the response. I probably wont get a chance to do anything with it until the weekend, but I just hate knowing it's sitting there and not gonna start.

I'll go back and double check the fuel delivery, as I can't say for sure it isn't the cause. It's very easy as you said to overlook the obvious.

Fred (Joker) Thanks to you for your input also. I haven't added much to the collection lately. Last addition was a couple of months back, but it wasn't a bolt.

Purchased a 1963 Ford Falcon convert. for the wife. I'm probably gonna be in hot water for telling on him, but I got it from our friend...

Shipwright! (He denies being a closet Ford Lover!)

what cha going to do if it starts right up?

similiar problem i dealt with a couple of years ago was poor connection where the wire from the coil meets distriuter. was running fine when i backed it out of the garage. left it running and went back to get my sun glasses and would not start. like everyone else has said - start simple.

you got that 54 ready for the meet djed50?

Joker, I think I'll happily sit down and cry. Then get in it and go for a ride.

Djed50, That could very easily be the solution. That wire has been looking fragile for a while. Since it's never failed to start, I never bothered with it, and seems I'd even forgotten about it till you mentioned it.

I'll check that while I'm in there too. THANKS!

A rule of thumb I've used for years when working on the old HD. If it stumbled & died it's probably fuel/air related. If it just shut off as though the key was turned off it's probably electric (fuse maybe). You've gotten plenty of good ideas above to use which ever direction it points.

Well, it's been a couple of weeks, and I finally got a chance to spend some time with the 46.

Djed50, I did end up replacing the wire between the coil and the distributor, as it was very worn.

After replacing the wire, I primed the carb a little bit, and she fired right off.

So just wanted to give you guys an update, and say THANKS for the hints.