Good luck on a bad luck day

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2012: Good luck on a bad luck day
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Eddy Lee Emerson on Sunday, July 08, 2012 - 07:58 pm:

After driving my 26 touring in the Blackwell Parade on the 4th I left the car in Blackwell, so that it would be handy for our drive from Blackwell to the Ponca City Fly-In on saturday the 7th. On saturday morning I got the car out of Chaddy Atteberrys barn and started for Ponca City. Driving in sand, I went about 300 feet when the rear axle snapped inside the hub. The wheel stayed with the car long enough to destroy the rear fender and then disappeared out in the wheat stubble. Luckily the barn was full of tractors and we used one of them to drag the car back to the barn.

Trying to figure out how to get a three wheeled Model T onto the trailer we came up with the following solution. We welded a 1/2 inch bolt onto the stub of the broken axle and made a key to fit what was left of the axle. We installed the hub and wheel and threaded a nut onto the bolt and were able to drive up onto the trailer. The weld stayed together for unloading and the car is safe in the garage. I have parts to fix the axle, but am in the market for a new fender.

When I consider that most of my driving has been done on highways with at least moderate traffic and traveling at speeds of 35-40 mph, I am quite lucky that this happened when and where it did. This axle must have been cracked the whole time I was on the Rapid City, South Dakota Tour, where I had my wife and grand-daughters with me. It makes me shudder to think about that


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Norman T. Kling on Sunday, July 08, 2012 - 08:09 pm:

It was likely the driving in sand that did it. It takes more torque to get traction in sand. However, if you had only the transmission brakes, you would be getting a twisting action on the axle one direction when you accellerate and the opposite direction when you stop. The internal brakes would add to the twist. Over a time span of 86 years, that axle lasted very well. Anything loose such as the nut or the keyway would also add to the weakness as would a worn area caused by the scraping of the outer seal. Anyway, that is the reason they make safety hubs (which I don't use). It is good that you were able to improvise a way to get the car on a trailer. If you had been on a paved road, a floor jack under the housing of the broken side of the axle is also a way to get it loaded and less time consuming, because no welding would be involved.

Sorry to read about your problems. Thankfully no one was hurt, but mostly disapointment. Is the fender beyond repair, or could it be straightened and repainted? Sometimes they show up in swap meets, or maybe a member reading your post will have one which he would sell.
Norm


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John Danuser on Sunday, July 08, 2012 - 10:55 pm:

Eddie I have a nice early take-off pr, 700.00/pr, or I'd break up the pr for 400.00 for the left rear plus UPS and Insurance danuser88@ktis.net


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Eddy Lee Emerson on Tuesday, July 10, 2012 - 05:25 pm:

Norman, Thanks for your response and kind words. Hopefully, I will be able to get the fender repaired. If not, I might make a trip to Missouri and see what John has. I really love Missouri and don't need much of an excuse to go there. Ed


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Wayne Sheldon, Grass Valley, CA on Thursday, July 12, 2012 - 03:17 am:

Breakdowns are one of the joys of antique automobiles. I have had my share and expect to have more. It sounds as if the timing and placement for it was about as good as you have a right to hope for. If the weld repair/patch couldn't have been done, always remember, it only takes about four feet of 2X4 and some rope to rig up a skid.
Many years ago, a friend of mine had a rear fender "destroyed" by a similar incident. He went right out and bought a decent fender. Took the car and the newly acquired fender to his body shop friend who took one look at both of the fenders and told him it would be easier to just fix the one that was on the car. You may be surprised how easy it is to repair these T parts.
Take heart! This could very likely become the tale you tell often at tours and club meetings.
I am another one that intends to never use safety hubs on a T. Sometimes, modifications to make Ts "safer", end up causing potentially serious problems.
Drive carefully, and enjoy, W2


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