Need flathead help now cos I'm retarded.

ok, had to put a new battery in her, now she starts up strong, and runs fine until I start getting a littl ebit of speed, then the motor starts skipping, the exhaust is popping and she just don't wanna damn go.
Where do I start with these things, what's the common culprit.
Never dealt with points before, never dealt with a flathead before, so explain it to me like you would someone with down syndrome....

 

Usually an exhaust pop is attributed to a vacumm leak somewhere. Get yourself some liquid soap and check your intake/carb area along with the vacumm lines and fittings. Have you changed anything on the engine??

 

could MAYBE be a fuel problem.
A quick check to see if this is a lean condition: pull out choke as problem begins to richen. If it picks back up some, that's an answer.

 

haven't changed nuthin'. only had the thing for a couple of hours really. But i need to pratice my 3 on the tree skills and I can't when it don't wanna go! Could the wrong jet size in the carb cause any of this? I already called all the stores around and no one has any jets in stock. The carb is setup for a higher elevation than I'm at....

 

I had a similar situation with a loose coil wire. If you're running 6V still, check all your wires & connections - particularly in the ignition circuit.

Otherwise, vacuum leak is a likely culprit as pointed out.

Could be condensor if you're running points.

Lots of possibilities - more details please (engine, car, electrical system, etc)

 

I fiddled with the choke some when i was limping it home after the battery change, didn't seem to make a difference. It runs and sounds awesome at idle.....No one around here has any info on flatheads either, I've called everyone i know....
engine is a 53 flattie w/3 94's (only running off center carb)
stock points and all...
still on 6 volt+

 

The 94's may also have a plugged jet or the power valves could be shot if the engine backfired through the carbs.
Sounds more like an intake/carb problem than anything else.

 

I'm immediatel suspicious of the inop extra carbs--be REAL sure they aren't letting in air.

 

I've also heard popping from the exhaust when there is a pinhole leak in the exhaust. I would bet money that your problem is in the distributor, be it condensor, points, or even just a bad connection. It might not hurt to change the fuel filter, also.
Good luck.

 

heres a pic of the engine....gonna go grab some carb cleaner and see if we can find some leaks, something could've came loose during shipping maybe...carbs always give me a bunch of shit.

 

My first question would be, did it ever run good since you have had it? If you know nothing about the motor you might want to check it out and make sure you have a good one. What you are describing could be one of many things or a combination of several. First thing I'd do with it is check compresion. Providing it's good move on to ign. Once you are satisfyed it's in good shape go to fuel and vacumn. Shooting in the dark will seldom get you anywhere but spent time and money. Start with the basic stuff and go from there.
The Wizzard

 

HOW ARE THE CARBS BLOCKED OFF??
WHAT TYPE OF MANIFOLD IS IT?

HOW DID YOU HOOK UP THE BATTERY?? +ground 6volt? 12 volt?

Did you bump the Dist. at all??

Flatheads always run fine at 800rpms, it seems, even if the timing off a little. but 1200-2500 thats seems to be the problem area?

 

haven't done anything to the distibutor, i JUST got the car today from a fellow hamber. It's a sharp tri-power intake. The battery is hooked up right, it starts up stong and idles good, revving it in the driveway it sounds fine, but take it up the raod and it's a totally different story.
Checked for vaccuum and air leaks and didn't find anything. I guess I should move onto distributor parts next? Vacuum advance, condenser?

 

Check the plugs. If they're Champions throw them away and replace with a set of Auto Lite 216's. There's been a problem with the Champion plugs lately in the flatheads. Don't know what but I had your identical problem this spring with my flattie after sitting all winter. I originally thought it was the gas but after a fill-up and 25-30 miles it didn't get any better. Friend told me to go with Auto Lites and that solved the problem.

Hope this helps,

Jim

 

Timing off or points bounce maybe?

 

it's got autolites in it...Guess it's time to start fiddling with the electrics. Just hope I don't make matters worse...

 

If it has been standing still for awhile,give the points some tender love with some finegrit paper.
Also check if the fuelpumpmembran has dryed out some.. (just pop the top,rub some fuel on it,and put it together again..) Good luck!
(you shouldnt drive with downs? )

 

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The battery is hooked up right, it starts up stong and idles good, revving it in the driveway it sounds fine, but take it up the raod and it's a totally different story.


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Hmmm...odd. Misfire under load points more to the vacuum leak side of it to me, but could still be in the ignition. How are the carbs blocked off?

 

no idea how the carbs are blocked off, but I'm pretty sure they aren't leaking vacuum cos when I doused em with carb cleaner I got no reaction (even if i sprayed it right into the aircleaners).

 

Take a close look at the points. You'll be surprised how much trouble pitted or burnt points can cause. The other thought is, since you just bought it, why not call the previous owner and ask his advice. It might be something he is very familuer with.
The Wizzard

 

I sent him a couple of pm's but i got no response, he won't be at a computer again until tomorrow anyway, all my long distance calling is used up for a little bit so I'll have to wait or figure it out. Gonna check out the points and stuff, gonna try to go grab another set of plugs too since I dont' know how long these have been in it or anything.

 

Take the vacumm hose off the carb. and cap off the dizzy. Suck on the hose to make sure the advance is working.

 

any flathead guys still up that I can call and let you hear this thing? I changed the points, rotor button, and condensor and it's doing the same shit. I checked out the outer carbs and I'm pretty damn sure they're not sucking air or leaking vacuum.
I've been fucking with this thing since early afternoon and I'm still NOWHERE.....

 

check your fuel lines... Do you have any in-line filters. You may be sucking stuff up from the tank or clogged lines. I have the same problem

 

I had the same problem with the 8BA in my '41. It turned out thet the brand new one wire chrome alternator wasn't putting out. The battery was down to 10 volts. It ran fine at idle but when loaded a little it would miss. The stock ammeter won't tell you much; a voltmeter works much better. Even after two years, Speedway replaced the alternator, no questions asked. Works good; lasts a long time.


pigpen




Flathead? That's an indian tribe, right?

 

hmm...I've got a voltmeter, and if the generator is acting up then that would explain the dead optima battery this afternoon. How the hell do I check that though? I've got one of them fancy ass testers.
I'm still thinking it's something more to do with the carbs/ignition, but I'm willing to try anythign at this point.

 

I composed this award winning answer to your question last night that took up about 14 paragraphs and could have be in contention for this year's pulitzer prize. It was pure harmony in print. I was just sure I hit the "continue" button but I don't see it here tonight. One of the things to check was your charge rate. Very important. If you don't got no 'lectricity in your battery, your sparkem plugs won't spark when they have a heavy load on 'em...
But it's all hindsight now..

 

The voltmeter should read about 14V when the car is running and and 12V when it's not with no loads other than the ignition, with the key on. Lights on, not running, it will go down to about 10-11V. A dead battery is extremely suspect. Either it's not getting charged or not taking a charge. One trouble shooting method is to substitute one part at a time and re-check each time. Frustrating!


pigpen

 

it's still running on 6 volt+, and I just put a good battery in this afternoon.

 

Try this wont cost nothing but a little time.Take gas line off at fuelpump intake line and with gas cap off blow through the line.If it clear should be fairly easy to blow through sometimes a rust turd will restrict gas flow and cause the thing you describ.Also if you have a gas filter replace it.