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Classic/Antique Car Repair/1931 Ford won't turn over

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Expert: - 7/31/2009


Question
When I try to start it, the battery grunts one time, and the negative cable gets quite warm. I ran a ground from positive post to engine block, same thing. I can not turn the crank pulley with the starter hand wrench. Is my engine froze? It sat for about a year. Can I pull it with my tractor while it is in gear?
Wayne

Answer
Yes, put it in third gear and give it a push.  It should turn over.  Sitting a yr should not hurt it.  I think the battery cable is not tightly connected, or the crimp at the cable end is loose.
First, try to turn it over by pushing it.  If it turns over easy, then the prob is your battery connections.  The other thing you can do is to run a ground cable from the engine to the frame to make sure the engine is grounded.
Try all that and get back to me.
jack

Classic/Antique Car Repair

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jack bahm

Expertise

Only repair type questions on the 1928-1931 Ford Model A.

Experience

Owned one when I was 15 yrs old, and now have owned 5. Still own and play with 2 of them.

Organizations
Oakleaf region of MARC. Model A Restorers Club. I have put several Model A videos on the Oakleaf site that may be of help. Things like how to start the A, how to Time it, how to troubleshoot it.. Go to oakleafregion.org and you will find them. jack

Publications
"More than you need to know about cars." Just a small book for Car Nuts. Blurb.com "Model A Ford Tips and Hints" Blurb.com 2010 Many Model A movies that can be found on youtube.com/jackbahm

Education/Credentials
BSME LSU, 1958, Masters of automotive engineering from the Chrysler Institute of engineering, 1960, MBA Mich State, 1976. Worked as an engineer at Chrysler from 1958 to the end of 1991.

Awards and Honors
Two patents while working in auto industry.

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