The low pedal in Dixie finally gave signs of 'used-up', as the low speed screw was most of the way in, and the pedal was starting to hit the floorboard.

So off with the hogshead Ugh...



Lots of accessory stuff to remove, Ruckstell shift, hogshead outside oil line, Rocky Mtn brake linkage, brake lamp switch, and....I sure don't do this in the Ford Service time...took me most of this afternoon.




Ready to lift off



Could see right away that the wood thickness on the low band was thin, the reverse looks ok, the brake is nice as the RM brakes do the work, this wood lined trans brake only used when backing down a slope.



Hogshead off to remove the bands and inspect all.



Now the thin low band lining can be seen with the others. The oil groove is worn away, and the lining is very thin, as compared to the others.





The side view shows the thin low speed lining, this thickness is about all the band can take, as more just makes the ends wear faster, the band should grip at the base first if round, and then wear uniform up to the end, when if the low speed screw is most of the way in...the ends of the bands contact heavily on the drum.

At least the drums are fine, not much wear, these were brand new J&M drums in 2004, and are fine.



So, in my usage, the wood lining for the low pedal lasted 8 years, approx 12,000 tour miles. Two-thirds prior to the addition of the Ruckstell, so many of the miles were using low pedal. Of course brake pedal wasn't in use much, as the Rocky Mtn brakes have always been in place, and reverse,...well, I never have to backtrack much on tours

Fascinating to see this step by step. The life I've been able to get out of cotton linings is not as far off as I thought.

That looks too clean to be a real Model T.

If it were mine, I would just swap the reverse and low band and put it back together.

Are the groves in these wood bands used by all the different manufacturers?
Charlie

As far as I know, Charlie, Jim Guinn is the only one making them for sale.

Every time I've removed a used wood band through the access door, the wood broke. No problem with a new liner.

Dan,

Always appreciate your work and the way you illustrate.

I do have a question on a just because basis...how round was round when you did the overhaul in '04? I'd like to guess that your own work style was rounder than round if possible...but then again curious as the wear pattern says they do their work at the bottom more than the ring if I'm seeing your picture correctly.

Interesting that the wood linings need replacing. I still have a set of the old original cotton linings in my '27 Tudor after 11,000 miles.

2/3 prior to the installation of the Ruckstel explains a lot.

George

When installing, the wood bands are rather stiff and the circle is set mostly by the wood linings, as the are in a 'round' stiff shape. Fitted the linings to bands the way always done, bands first rounded-up and trued on a drum mandrel. Ears about 3"-4" apart....seemed pretty round.

Install was with crankcase pan off, as the engine was going together, that way the wood lined bands slip over the drums, less chance of anything getting 'out-of-round"

These pictures show the approx 15K mile low speed wood lined band. The wear is pretty uniform around, but most linings do wear at the bottom, lower sides, and then when lining is worn down, and the ears are more compressed, wear occurs at the ear end.





So the wear would be mostly around, but some parts of the circle aren't worn down as much, perhaps the steel band was out of round a bit there, but its not a perfect mechanical world when dealing with Model T's



Believe the wood bands do give long service, in my experience, the 'tar-baby' new Scandinavian lining are the worst, only 1000 miles on my brake band lining, and it gave out completely, no fun there.

The Kevlars in my other T's have at least 10K and no pedal adj. has been needed after first run-in. Is my feeling the Kevlar will last and last.

This wood lined low pedal band needed adj. each year of touring, the wear was uniform for the miles of usage.