Hi, I was curious the average value of a small drum ruckstell that is complete including the shifter, rod and driveshaft support. It is not rebuilt, but it has been stored in a shed and still has wheels on it to keep it off the floor. So really who knows the actual condition of the parts from wear, but atleast it was out of the elements. (it still has old black paint on it) Thanks Paul
800-1000
Stan is the expert.
I have a Hall Scott Ruckstell complete with correct shifting mechanisms, outboard double acting small drum brakes complete from the u-joint to the wooden wheels, drive shaft torque tube, axle tubes, radius rods, and axles with all bearings and I can't get $800 for it.
Frank,
I wish I could afford it. I thought for sure you would have sold it at the last swap meet. I don't have a car I would use it in and I wish I could afford it. Brakes and all. That rare torque tube clamp I have only seen a hand-full of in forty years. Plus two rebuildable (?) wheels.
Drive carefully, and enjoy, W2
What brand of outside brakes are on it?
I'm just curious: Why the torque tube clamp? Did the T also have an auxillary transmission?
From the looks of the angle of the radius rods, it would appear that Frank's Ruckstell has a standard length torque tube. Most of the handful of those clamps I have seen were used on shortened tubes with auxiliary transmissions. They probably didn't really do much good. But they look neat under an open speedster. Speculation has been that it may have been to shorten the tube without welding. I personally have doubts about that. But I have never had one apart to look at it closely. They also could have simply been to strengthen a supposed weak spot. With the radius rods in standard location and properly adjusted, that would accomplish nothing. With the radius rods split to the frame for a speedster, they could help quite a bit.
Me just speculating. Frank? Ed?
Drive carefully, and enjoy, W2
My understanding is that it will strengthen an existing rig or shorten a tube with out welding. I just sold a $450 set of rare head lights for $100. Please vote carefully and vote often because they do too.
In the past they have gone from $800 to $1,000. It's just like anything else Model T, you need to connect the buyer with the seller. Most people wouldn't give you a penny for it, but someone who wants a Ruckstell for a Model T, will give you big bucks for it. Try taking it to swap meets and advertising it with your local Model T club as well as the National club. A few years ago I would have given you $1,000 for it, but now I have Ruckstells in all my model T's and don't need or want another one. In fact I actually drove from California to Colorado to get one of mine. You must advertise it until you find a buyer.
Norm
My take on it is perhaps a bit different. Until it's opened and inspected, I wouldn't give over $200 for it. How do you know it's not total junk inside?
I suspect you could sell it for more if you opened it up, cleaned the parts and at least photographed them.
That brace was sold by several suppliers to strengthen the weak joint in the driveshaft tube after the earlier, and stronger, style was phased out. I have had at least half a dozen driveshaft tubes that were broken right at the flange. Especially, with a Ruckstell, and especially when used as a pickup carrying heavy loads, the flange takes a lot of the torque. The radius rods are pretty flexible under load and virtually the entire force of the twisting load on the differential is placed on that one little flange.
Wayne, the shortening/strengthening device on the driveshaft of #4 is a little smaller and different in appearance than the one on Franks Ruckstell but I suspect that it performes the same duties. Both Stan and Frank are correct. It's for shortening the driveshaft housing without having to weld it together. Frank, I think everyones asleep. Your Ruckstell should have sold long ago for that price. A Ruckstell with outside brakes and that shortening device for 800 bucks??? Am I missing something? What is wrong here!!!
There is a fellow tonite on the for sale wanted section of the MTFCA site looking for a small drum Ruxstell, JUMP on it Frank