VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1929-1932 31 AE keeps stalling our under a load.

Hello Again . Been a while since ive been on here.
Heres my situation if any one can shed some light for me.
I have a 1931 AE all original.
It purs like a kitten at idle and even does well in first gear but once i shift into second she wants to sputter out and eventually die.
Today i put her up on stands in the garage , started it up and ran through all the gears with no problem what so ever.
what could be causing it to want to sputter out under a load ( like driving on the road ) but run perfectly with out load.
any advice would be greatly appreciated .
Thanks fellas.

Do you have an inline gas filter installed?

i have a filter in the glass bowl.

i have a filter in the glass bowl. thats it.

It sounds like you might be running lean on fuel. Check the filter in the fuel pump for dirt and also check the output of your fuel pump.

The issue might be in your carburetor as well.

will do. Ill check that out today.
Thanks JunkYard Dog.

Let us know what you find.

My 1930 sedan was doing something very similar. Start up normal,idles fine,start in first gear not bad then no power and almost die. Thought it was in the disturbitor. I was wrong. My was simply fouled plugs. Put in new plugs problem solved. I also have put carb kit in because she was running rich. That's why fouled plugs.
Good luck hope it's that simple for you.

I had no luck.
So im in the process of a different avenue of approach.
Im running a 1933 207 in a 31 AE. , But I used the original intake , updraft carb and manual advance distributor off the original 194 that used to be in it and put that on the 207 to make look to date with the 31. so I took all that off and
Im putting the intake and down draft carb that belongs on the 207 back on it and having the Carter W1 rebuit right now.
Hopfully this will make some improvements.
I am having some trouble finding a dizzy with a vaccum advance for the 207 though . Mine is damaged.

Low fuel pump pressure or fuel delivery?

I would also check the point gap and condensor....Our 32 did something similar and i rebuilt the fuel pump and things stayed the same so I replaced all the ignition items and voila' the miss has stayed away. Just an idea before you change so much...

Mac

alright will do. Ill check the gap and all other components in the dizzy.
it is a brand new fuel pump and I just slapped it on and didn't adjust anything when I did.
How would I adjust the fuel pump if I needed to. ?
Is it the hex nut under the diaphragm ?
righty tighty for less fuel delivery?
Thanks fellas

Adjustments to fuel pump are: diaphragm position when clamped between castings, pressure control spring(s), thickness of the block gasket and repair wear on arm.

Disconnect the fuel line from the carburetor and then turn the engine over several times. You should have a good volume of gas squirting out of the fuel line at the carburetor. If not, the problem could be either your fuel pump or a blockage in the fuel line. The dip tube in the gas tank could be blocked as well.

When performing this test just be sure to have something to catch the gas in!! An empty quart soda bottle works great.

I was having a lot of trouble too. with my 31, tried everything. the trouble was my intake manifold gasket was leaking air on the pull. & two cylinders were starved, the leaks were underneath out of sight. I heard put oil on each while running to seal , just to check, but underneath is hard to get at.
anyway new gaskets cured the problem, just back off the manifold 1/4" to slid the new ones in.
good luck
Dulty

I did the same thing with my 29 it ended up being a almost complete plugged line in the tank. From the out let in the tank to the bottom of the tank. Ran hay wire down sevral times and cleared the junk out and has been running good for some time.

Another test: Disconnect your gas line from the fuel pump.
apply 5 - lbs of air to the line , take your gas cap loose but be very careful, best is to have a pretty empty tank. put a rag over the gas cap. this lets air out but keeps gas in. If you hear bubbling ,its open. Do not blow gas out the tank, very little air will work. Park outside if you can. There might even be water in the bottom from humidity .
We had a truck in the Army acting this way. We found a small leak
in the gas line, it let air in and the truck lost its power pulling but idled OK but no power.
Dulty

I belong to a Model A club & when the As get water in their filters they act up & quit running. Check for water somewhere.
Dulty