Reply To: Starting a 1920s Pierce Arrow car.

[Craig Castillo]

The procedure I use for my ’29 is as follows –

1. Move Spark Advance to full Retard position

2. Pull choke almost fully out

3. Move hand Throttle lever towards the open position just a little

4. Move ignition switch to the ‘On’ position

5. (this applies to mine) I turn on the electric pump to prime the carb with fuel

6. Crank engine for 2 to 3 seconds – you can hear a difference when their is fuel in the carb while being choked

7. Fully depress choke

8. Crank engine a few seconds and it fires, immediately move Spark Advance to full Advance

9. Keep running by adjusting hand Throttle or foot throttle

10. Car should now idle on its own and you can pull back hand throttle as car warms a little