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#1
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Can an old timer explain car backfires?
When I was growing up car backfires were common. As a kid I had friends who could make it happen at will.
Now that the carburetor is long gone, most younger folk have never heard one. Fuel injection eliminated this, I think; could be wrong. I never understood exactly what happens. Usually a car would backfire when under heavy load, and the gas suddenly let up. So my guess is the carburetor had a full charge with nowhere to go. But what ignited it? Or, possibly the lack of air made an overly rich mixture escape the exhaust valves, and the explosion was in the manifold? |
#2
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Can an old timer explain car backfires?
On Tuesday, March 17, 2015 at 7:11:55 AM UTC-5, TimR wrote:
When I was growing up car backfires were common. As a kid I had friends who could make it happen at will. Now that the carburetor is long gone, most younger folk have never heard one. Fuel injection eliminated this, I think; could be wrong. I never understood exactly what happens. Usually a car would backfire when under heavy load, and the gas suddenly let up. So my guess is the carburetor had a full charge with nowhere to go. But what ignited it? Or, possibly the lack of air made an overly rich mixture escape the exhaust valves, and the explosion was in the manifold? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Back-fire |
#3
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Can an old timer explain car backfires?
"TimR" wrote in message
... When I was growing up car backfires were common. As a kid I had friends who could make it happen at will. Now that the carburetor is long gone, most younger folk have never heard one. Fuel injection eliminated this, I think; could be wrong. I never understood exactly what happens. Usually a car would backfire when under heavy load, and the gas suddenly let up. So my guess is the carburetor had a full charge with nowhere to go. But what ignited it? Or, possibly the lack of air made an overly rich mixture escape the exhaust valves, and the explosion was in the manifold? Still happens to me when I eat beans. |
#4
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Can an old timer explain car backfires?
On 3/17/2015 6:20 AM, bob_villa wrote:
On Tuesday, March 17, 2015 at 7:11:55 AM UTC-5, TimR wrote: When I was growing up car backfires were common. As a kid I had friends who could make it happen at will. Now that the carburetor is long gone, most younger folk have never heard one. Fuel injection eliminated this, I think; could be wrong. I never understood exactly what happens. Usually a car would backfire when under heavy load, and the gas suddenly let up. So my guess is the carburetor had a full charge with nowhere to go. But what ignited it? Or, possibly the lack of air made an overly rich mixture escape the exhaust valves, and the explosion was in the manifold? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Back-fire That article was pretty pedantic. What they refer to as backfire is more popularly called 'carb farts' in the Harley world. Between a primitive induction system, a wasted spark ignition, and EPA mandated leanness, pre-FI bikes would tend to blow back through the carburetor. That could be interesting if you were running without an air filter. What the OP and most people refer to as a backfire is what the article calls an afterfire. There were a couple of hills going into town. I'd cut the ignition on my '51 Chevy and pull the choke as I rolled down in gear to make sure people knew I was coming. |
#5
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Can an old timer explain car backfires?
On Tue, 17 Mar 2015 05:11:47 -0700 (PDT), TimR
wrote: When I was growing up car backfires were common. As a kid I had friends who could make it happen at will. Now that the carburetor is long gone, most younger folk have never heard one. Fuel injection eliminated this, I think; could be wrong. I never understood exactly what happens. Usually a car would backfire when under heavy load, and the gas suddenly let up. So my guess is the carburetor had a full charge with nowhere to go. But what ignited it? Or, possibly the lack of air made an overly rich mixture escape the exhaust valves, and the explosion was in the manifold? Timing caused it. If the distributor was installed off by a tooth or three. Timing could also slip if the nut loosened a tad. Carbs caused it. Adjust dual four barrel carbs or three-deuces. Have to get the cabs in tune. Flooded and it would catch fire so have a shop rag handy to toss of the carb. You could push in the clutch in, turn off the ignition, release the clutch, turn on the ignition and cause a back fire. I was told it could pop off the top of a piston but I never saw or heard of it happening |
#6
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Can an old timer explain car backfires?
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#7
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Can an old timer explain car backfires?
On 03/17/2015 12:41 PM, Oren wrote:
On Tue, 17 Mar 2015 14:29:38 -0600, wrote: A fairly common practice among "gear heads" back in the 50's and 60's was to connect a spark plug right near the tip of the tailpipe. Horse ****. It usually will if the backfire is loud enough. |
#8
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Can an old timer explain car backfires?
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#9
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Can an old timer explain car backfires?
On Tue, 17 Mar 2015 13:16:21 -0700, Bret Maverick
wrote: A fairly common practice among "gear heads" back in the 50's and 60's was to connect a spark plug right near the tip of the tailpipe. Horse ****. It usually will if the backfire is loud enough. Where do you people come from? |
#10
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Can an old timer explain car backfires?
On Tue, 17 Mar 2015 12:41:23 -0700, Oren wrote:
On Tue, 17 Mar 2015 14:29:38 -0600, wrote: A fairly common practice among "gear heads" back in the 50's and 60's was to connect a spark plug right near the tip of the tailpipe. Horse ****. Hell, they're still doing it. Where you been? In prison? |
#11
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Can an old timer explain car backfires?
On Tue, 17 Mar 2015 15:55:44 -0500, Vic Smith
wrote: A fairly common practice among "gear heads" back in the 50's and 60's was to connect a spark plug right near the tip of the tailpipe. Horse ****. Hell, they're still doing it. Where you been? In prison? You two guys sound like hippies.. I did retire as a Penologist though. |
#12
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Can an old timer explain car backfires?
Col. Edmund Burke wrote: "TimR" wrote in message ... When I was growing up car backfires were common. As a kid I had friends who could make it happen at will. Now that the carburetor is long gone, most younger folk have never heard one. Fuel injection eliminated this, I think; could be wrong. I never understood exactly what happens. Usually a car would backfire when under heavy load, and the gas suddenly let up. So my guess is the carburetor had a full charge with nowhere to go. But what ignited it? Or, possibly the lack of air made an overly rich mixture escape the exhaust valves, and the explosion was in the manifold? Still happens to me when I eat beans. Just hope that doesn't cause a shart...(A combination of a fart and a ****.) Jeff -- Jeffry Wisnia (W1BSV + Brass Rat '57 EE) The speed of light is 1.8*10^12 furlongs per fortnight. |
#13
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Can an old timer explain car backfires?
On Tue, 17 Mar 2015 17:18:40 -0400, Jeff Wisnia
wrote: Col. Edmund Burke wrote: "TimR" wrote in message ... When I was growing up car backfires were common. As a kid I had friends who could make it happen at will. Now that the carburetor is long gone, most younger folk have never heard one. Fuel injection eliminated this, I think; could be wrong. I never understood exactly what happens. Usually a car would backfire when under heavy load, and the gas suddenly let up. So my guess is the carburetor had a full charge with nowhere to go. But what ignited it? Or, possibly the lack of air made an overly rich mixture escape the exhaust valves, and the explosion was in the manifold? Still happens to me when I eat beans. Just hope that doesn't cause a shart...(A combination of a fart and a ****.) Jeff I thought that was called "having a fit". |
#14
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Can an old timer explain car backfires?
On Tue, 17 Mar 2015 09:39:20 -0700, Oren wrote:
On Tue, 17 Mar 2015 05:11:47 -0700 (PDT), TimR wrote: When I was growing up car backfires were common. As a kid I had friends who could make it happen at will. Now that the carburetor is long gone, most younger folk have never heard one. Fuel injection eliminated this, I think; could be wrong. I never understood exactly what happens. Usually a car would backfire when under heavy load, and the gas suddenly let up. So my guess is the carburetor had a full charge with nowhere to go. But what ignited it? Or, possibly the lack of air made an overly rich mixture escape the exhaust valves, and the explosion was in the manifold? Timing caused it. If the distributor was installed off by a tooth or three. Timing could also slip if the nut loosened a tad. Carbs caused it. Adjust dual four barrel carbs or three-deuces. Have to get the cabs in tune. Flooded and it would catch fire so have a shop rag handy to toss of the carb. You could push in the clutch in, turn off the ignition, release the clutch, turn on the ignition and cause a back fire. I was told it could pop off the top of a piston but I never saw or heard of it happening Well, as a mechanic I can say definitely it could NOT damage a piston - as the "explosion" was not in the engine. Bad ignition was responsible for more exhaust bachfires than bad carburetion. My Dad's '69 GMC pickup had a bad habit of slitting the muffler every 6-8000 miles unless you changed the points first. Ends up the factory had not installed the ground wire between the points plate and the distributor housing, so the points burned badly - and intermittent spark would allow the muffler to load up with gas when the spark was off, and then light when it came back on. An exhaust leak could also cause exhaustr backfire on decel or over-run as the exhaust was rich with gas from the high vacuum, and added air into a hot pipe would light it off, giving bang-bang-bang-BANG!!! coming down a hill. One day with 22 tons of farm equipment on the float behind the 292 GMC, I came down a long gentle hill to a narrow bridge across a creek where guys were working on the road.. They were in no hurry to get out of the way as I came towards them, so I shut off the ignition for a second or two, then turned it back on. They jumped out of the way real quick!!!. (had a drawn steel "cherry bomb" muffler on it that withstood backfires quite well - after blowing a few Thrush cans off of it. |
#15
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Can an old timer explain car backfires?
rbowman wrote:
On 3/17/2015 6:20 AM, bob_villa wrote: On Tuesday, March 17, 2015 at 7:11:55 AM UTC-5, TimR wrote: When I was growing up car backfires were common. As a kid I had friends who could make it happen at will. Now that the carburetor is long gone, most younger folk have never heard one. Fuel injection eliminated this, I think; could be wrong. I never understood exactly what happens. Usually a car would backfire when under heavy load, and the gas suddenly let up. So my guess is the carburetor had a full charge with nowhere to go. But what ignited it? Or, possibly the lack of air made an overly rich mixture escape the exhaust valves, and the explosion was in the manifold? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Back-fire That article was pretty pedantic. What they refer to as backfire is more popularly called 'carb farts' in the Harley world. Between a primitive induction system, a wasted spark ignition, and EPA mandated leanness, pre-FI bikes would tend to blow back through the carburetor. That could be interesting if you were running without an air filter. What the OP and most people refer to as a backfire is what the article calls an afterfire. There were a couple of hills going into town. I'd cut the ignition on my '51 Chevy and pull the choke as I rolled down in gear to make sure people knew I was coming. We had a Mazda RX3 , if you let off the throttle coming down a hill , it would come out with a VERY loud backfire . Something to do with one of the two sets of points being off just a hair IIRC . Anyway , we were coming down a not-too-steep hill into Brigham City Utah , and the traffic light at the bottom of the hill was out ... and there was a Highway Patrol trooper directing traffic ... and I let off on the throttle just right ... and that damn car blew just as we passed the trooper . When I looked in my mirror , he was on the ground with his gun drawn and looking for who shot at him . I still chuckle when I think about that . That particular trooper was a real asshole or I wouldn't have done it . -- Snag |
#16
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Can an old timer explain car backfires?
Oren wrote:
On Tue, 17 Mar 2015 15:55:44 -0500, Vic Smith wrote: A fairly common practice among "gear heads" back in the 50's and 60's was to connect a spark plug right near the tip of the tailpipe. Horse ****. Hell, they're still doing it. Where you been? In prison? You two guys sound like hippies.. I did retire as a Penologist though. We're sorry . What wasn't said was that there was also a way to deliver a mist of fuel just ahead of that spark plug . Made a most awesome flamethrower . Didn't do it , but I did see it . -- Snag |
#17
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Can an old timer explain car backfires?
TimR wrote:
When I was growing up car backfires were common. As a kid I had friends who could make it happen at will. Now that the carburetor is long gone, most younger folk have never heard one. Fuel injection eliminated this, I think; could be wrong. I never understood exactly what happens. Usually a car would backfire when under heavy load, and the gas suddenly let up. So my guess is the carburetor had a full charge with nowhere to go. But what ignited it? Or, possibly the lack of air made an overly rich mixture escape the exhaust valves, and the explosion was in the manifold? My '94 caravan started backfiring several months ago. Replacing the ignition wires solved the problem. |
#19
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Can an old timer explain car backfires?
On Tue, 17 Mar 2015 21:48:47 -0400, Stormin Mormon
wrote: On 3/17/2015 4:29 PM, wrote: A fairly common practice among "gear heads" back in the 50's and 60's was to connect a spark plug right near the tip of the tailpipe. Somehow they would use a part often called a "vibrator", which was used in old vacuum tube car radios to convert DC to AC. That was fed to a capacitor and a spare ignition coil, which then provided a spark in the spark plug at the tail pipe outlet. The cars back then, had no catalytic converters and allowed raw heated gas to exit the exhaust system. That spark plug ignited those raw gasses and would blow a fairly large flame out of the tailpipe. It looked "COOL". It was pretty harmless, unless someone got too close and set their pants or dress on fire! It's been a lot of years, but I recall a vibrator created pulsating DC, which could be put through a transformer. Not AC. - . Christopher A. Young learn more about Jesus . www.lds.org . . Well, whether it was technically pulsed DC or AC coming out of the vibrator, what came out of the transformer was AC, as it required rectification to turn it back to DC. AC or pulsed DC from the vibrator is just semantics. But then Stormy knows that. |
#20
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Can an old timer explain car backfires?
TimR wrote:
When I was growing up car backfires were common. As a kid I had friends who could make it happen at will. Now that the carburetor is long gone, most younger folk have never heard one. Fuel injection eliminated this, I think; could be wrong. I never understood exactly what happens. Usually a car would backfire when under heavy load, and the gas suddenly let up. So my guess is the carburetor had a full charge with nowhere to go. But what ignited it? Or, possibly the lack of air made an overly rich mixture escape the exhaust valves, and the explosion was in the manifold? I think muffler backfire can be from too rich. Carb or intake backfire, too lean. I had backfire in a datsun. I had to readjust airflow meter. Greg |
#21
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Can an old timer explain car backfires?
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#22
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Can an old timer explain car backfires?
On 3/17/2015 6:42 PM, Terry Coombs wrote:
We had a Mazda RX3 , if you let off the throttle coming down a hill , it would come out with a VERY loud backfire . Something to do with one of the two sets of points being off just a hair IIRC . Anyway , we were coming down a not-too-steep hill into Brigham City Utah , and the traffic light at the bottom of the hill was out ... and there was a Highway Patrol trooper directing traffic ... and I let off on the throttle just right ... and that damn car blew just as we passed the trooper . When I looked in my mirror , he was on the ground with his gun drawn and looking for who shot at him . I still chuckle when I think about that . That particular trooper was a real asshole or I wouldn't have done it . While I can't totally approve of treating LEO like this, I will admit to smiling as I was reading. - .. Christopher A. Young learn more about Jesus .. www.lds.org .. .. |
#23
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Can an old timer explain car backfires?
On 3/17/2015 10:53 PM, wrote:
On Tue, 17 Mar 2015 21:48:47 -0400, Stormin Mormon It's been a lot of years, but I recall a vibrator created pulsating DC, which could be put through a transformer. Not AC. - . Christopher A. Young learn more about Jesus . www.lds.org . . Well, whether it was technically pulsed DC or AC coming out of the vibrator, what came out of the transformer was AC, as it required rectification to turn it back to DC. AC or pulsed DC from the vibrator is just semantics. But then Stormy knows that. I could not find a web page that described the old type vibrators (not the kind that give women momentary high blood pressure and screaming and moaning). But what I remember is they caused a rapid interruption in the DC, by open and close a switch / contacts. As such they put out pulasting DC, which ended up being pulsating DC on the other side of the transformer. OTOH, this was a couple decades ago I learned of these. AC goes through the transformer just fine, but DC does not. Which is why the vibrator is needed. But, then, Clare knows that. - .. Christopher A. Young learn more about Jesus .. www.lds.org .. .. |
#24
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Can an old timer explain car backfires?
http://i1181.photobucket.com/albums/...psd6634c71.gif
also, a new opportunity for Stormy: http://i1181.photobucket.com/albums/...00babfbd.jp g |
#25
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Can an old timer explain car backfires?
On Tue, 17 Mar 2015 15:55:44 -0500, Vic Smith
wrote: On Tue, 17 Mar 2015 12:41:23 -0700, Oren wrote: On Tue, 17 Mar 2015 14:29:38 -0600, wrote: A fairly common practice among "gear heads" back in the 50's and 60's was to connect a spark plug right near the tip of the tailpipe. Horse ****. Hell, they're still doing it. Where you been? In prison? I did a google search for "how to make a tailpipe flamethrower" Here are several articles which explain how to install a flamethrower on your tailpipe. The first URL is the best of them. http://www.astrosafarivans.com/bb2/v...&t=497&start=0 http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/t...hrower.728822/ http://www.instructables.com/answers...ust-flame-kit/ VIDEO https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExgtYK5rpi0 There are many more articles! Apparently some Hotrod parts stores sell a kit to do this, but they are costly. |
#26
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Can an old timer explain car backfires?
"Jeff Wisnia" wrote in message
... Col. Edmund Burke wrote: "TimR" wrote in message ... When I was growing up car backfires were common. As a kid I had friends who could make it happen at will. Now that the carburetor is long gone, most younger folk have never heard one. Fuel injection eliminated this, I think; could be wrong. I never understood exactly what happens. Usually a car would backfire when under heavy load, and the gas suddenly let up. So my guess is the carburetor had a full charge with nowhere to go. But what ignited it? Or, possibly the lack of air made an overly rich mixture escape the exhaust valves, and the explosion was in the manifold? Still happens to me when I eat beans. Just hope that doesn't cause a shart...(A combination of a fart and a ****.) Jeff -- Jeffry Wisnia (W1BSV + Brass Rat '57 EE) The speed of light is 1.8*10^12 furlongs per fortnight. LOL |
#27
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Can an old timer explain car backfires?
"Stormin Mormon" wrote in message news I could not find a web page that described the old type vibrators (not the kind that give women momentary high blood pressure and screaming and moaning). But what I remember is they caused a rapid interruption in the DC, by open and close a switch / contacts. As such they put out pulasting DC, which ended up being pulsating DC on the other side of the transformer. On the output side of the transformere it was AC. That is why a rectifier tube or diode was used. The 0Z4 was a common tube used in the old car radios. There were some syncronous vibrators that had a set of points on the secondary and another on the primary. This eliminated the need for the rectifier and only the capacitors were needed to smooth out the pulsing DC. |
#28
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Can an old timer explain car backfires?
On 3/18/2015 10:05 AM, Ralph Mowery wrote:
"Stormin Mormon" wrote in message news I could not find a web page that described the old type vibrators (not the kind that give women momentary high blood pressure and screaming and moaning). But what I remember is they caused a rapid interruption in the DC, by open and close a switch / contacts. As such they put out pulasting DC, which ended up being pulsating DC on the other side of the transformer. On the output side of the transformere it was AC. That is why a rectifier tube or diode was used. The 0Z4 was a common tube used in the old car radios. There were some syncronous vibrators that had a set of points on the secondary and another on the primary. This eliminated the need for the rectifier and only the capacitors were needed to smooth out the pulsing DC. (reply from a friend of mine) it's the same as the spark plug circuit on the ignition. It's not AC, it's pulsed DC. http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu.../ignition.html |
#29
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Can an old timer explain car backfires?
"Stormin Mormon" wrote in message ... On 3/18/2015 10:05 AM, Ralph Mowery wrote: (reply from a friend of mine) it's the same as the spark plug circuit on the ignition. It's not AC, it's pulsed DC. http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu.../ignition.html Using a viberator is differant than the opening and closing of the points of an engine. By the way that diagram is not correct. "The condenser goes across the points. It is there to prevent arcing. It does this by slowing down the colapsing of the magnetic field which produces the other half of the AC waveform. |
#30
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Can an old timer explain car backfires?
On 3/18/2015 12:16 PM, Stormin Mormon wrote:
It's not AC, it's pulsed DC. http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu.../ignition.html (from another friend) The original purpose of the Vibrator was in the power supply of early car radios. The Vibrator would make pulsed DC to drive the transformer to make the B+ (Typically 300 Volts) and C voltage (Typically around 45 Volts) to run the old High Voltage tubes. When I was Young and Dumb, I had a 1972 Impala 454 SS with dual exhaust. I made me a Vibrator powering a pair of Ignition Coils driving a pair of Spark Plugs I mounted in the exhaust tips. When I flipped the switch, it would throw flames about 3 or 4 Feet long out of the back. This trick works best on Pre-1974 EPA cars then the newer ones. .. |
#31
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Can an old timer explain car backfires?
On 3/18/2015 12:32 PM, Ralph Mowery wrote:
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu.../ignition.html Using a viberator is differant than the opening and closing of the points of an engine. By the way that diagram is not correct. "The condenser goes across the points. It is there to prevent arcing. It does this by slowing down the colapsing of the magnetic field which produces the other half of the AC waveform. Just had a more serious look at that diagram. The points ign I've worked on, B+ goes to ballast resistor, to coil. Points switch the - side of the coil, with condensor going from points to ground. So, I also question the accuracy of that diagram. - .. Christopher A. Young learn more about Jesus .. www.lds.org .. .. |
#32
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Can an old timer explain car backfires?
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#33
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Can an old timer explain car backfires?
On Tue, 17 Mar 2015 17:45:39 -0500, "Terry Coombs"
wrote: What wasn't said was that there was also a way to deliver a mist of fuel just ahead of that spark plug . Made a most awesome flamethrower . Didn't do it , but I did see it . Ah. I see what you mean. Pilots mist something on an engine exhaust to make smoke in the sky. |
#34
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Can an old timer explain car backfires?
On Tue, 17 Mar 2015 18:11:20 -0700, "Bob F"
wrote: My '94 caravan started backfiring several months ago. Replacing the ignition wires solved the problem. Had an old Chevy with bad plug wires - cracked and brittle. During a heavy rain, wet wire - that Chevy made a racket misfiring. Under the hood was a light show. Yeah. New wires help. |
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