Hot Rods HELP: FLATHEAD Won't Start...What is the IDIOT Forgetting???

Kirk
Try this - I am sure you have all ready done this but clean the plugs real good. Pour some gas down the carb then close the garage doors and turn off all the lights and try to start it while someone watches the engine. Maybe you have some paths to ground that is robbing you of spark energy?
Good Luck

 

What he said. I ran straight 12V on my flattie for a few hours because I was too lazy to get the ballast resistor for it. It was so hard to start and ran like poo so badly I could barely get it in the garage. It absolutely would not start with a 6V battery.

Fuel, air, spark, rotation. Those are the only things. It wouldn't hurt to take 5 minutes with a nail file and get those contacts shiny again, just to eliminate the possibility.

Also, I ran a gas can (had a fire extinguisher handy) and fed my 94 carb with gravity. It ran fine that way, till the points fried.

What I guess may have happened is there is current flowing to the ignition? Maybe the ignition cylinder housing is leaking current to the ignition? I've seen it happen even if it is rare. Either way, something feeding current to the ignition will drain the battery and would consequently fry the points.

 

Kirk
have you solved it yet. 6 volt is fine for the flatty. You even need a resistor to reduce voltage to your points or they will burn up quick. Coils are a problem. Jere Jobe told me that the ford coils have a soybean bases internal coil coating that over time has rendered them marginal at best. Even if they're NOS. If u want to call me at 417-766-3502 I will try to help any way I can. It's a simple process of going through each step to eliminated possible problems. Like Henry said, "why guess when it's so easy to know."