What's wrong with this picture?

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2012: What's wrong with this picture?
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Robert Poane on Saturday, September 29, 2012 - 04:19 pm:

The pictures are taken standing in front of the car.

The steering wheel is in position so the left spindle drives straight (facing the car.) But the right spindle in picture is angled to turn left (from drivers seat.)

The left tie rod was rubbing the wishbone on the left (facing the car) so I turned the spindle arm upside down (now the numbers on the arm are facing the ground.) Now it does not rub, but I do not know what to fix to make both spindle arms face the same direction?

I'm grateful for any help. Bob


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Robert Poane on Saturday, September 29, 2012 - 04:40 pm:

I think I have it backwards, the steering wheel I believe is in the 'turning' the car to the left position.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Roger Karlsson, southern Sweden on Saturday, September 29, 2012 - 05:00 pm:

I think by turning one spindle arm upside down you're making it angle outwards, thus causing the situation you describe.
With the old style above the axle wishbone you should have the "straight" type spindle arms, they shouldn't curve upwards or downwards as '19-'27 spindle arms can do. Then the tie rod shouldn't rub the wishbone and the only bend of the spindle arms should be slightly inwards, so their imaginary meeting point would be in the center of the rear axle, following the Ackermann principle, as seen in the scetch below (lh scetch shows the model T configuration with the tie rod behind the axle)

ackermann

When mixing and matching parts, remember the RH spindle must have a left hand thread for the outer bearing, while the LH side spindle must have a regular RH threaded outer bearing.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Hap Tucker on Saturday, September 29, 2012 - 05:08 pm:

Robert,

Like many of the things on the T a little background can be nelpful to answering the question. Was it that way for the past 20 years and drives fine and you are now trying to correct it? Or did it previously work fine and you replaced a single part or something in between those two extremes?

There could be several things wrong. The tie rod could be too short (there were several different version and some would have been shortened by owners for use on tractors etc. that had the standard tread made smaller to fit sleigh tracks etc. The spindle arms could bent so that even though the correct length drag link was used the spindles could not be left going straight ahead. Your front axle could be bent and causing the distortion. etc.

If it worked correctly and you took it apart -- and now it does this -- please let us know what changed.

My intial guess based on very little data -- you have turned the adjustment to minium length on the drag link and you need to adjust it to make the drag link longer. But that is just a guess at this point.

Good Luck, I'm sure others will be able to help you figure it out or if you post a little more information, I might be able to help more also.

Respectfully submitted,

Hap


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Robert Poane on Saturday, September 29, 2012 - 06:41 pm:

Thanks you guys, the front was fine until I took it apart to clean it up over the past year and didn't think I would have a problem putting it back together (20 something frame and parts I believe.). I did not know the drag link could change the length. I will check on that. I know it made a difference when I turned the spindle arm upside down. I'll go back out and play with it. Thank you.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By mike_black on Saturday, September 29, 2012 - 08:42 pm:

Bob,
Maybe your tie rod has become sublaxated causing one spindle arm to be longer than the other! I'm sure an adjustment will fix it. (sorry, I couldn't resist)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Larry Smith on Saturday, September 29, 2012 - 10:37 pm:

Do you have a wide track front axle, with a standard tie rod?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Wayne Sheldon, Grass Valley, CA on Sunday, September 30, 2012 - 12:36 am:

I am pretty sure from the photo (a bit difficult to tell because of the angle of the photo through the spindle) that the (right side of the car, your left looking back at the car) spindle arm is in upside down facing out instead of in. That would make it steer badly even if you could adjust the tie-rod to proper toe-in.
Standard US automotive grammar is that right and left is from the driver sitting in the driver's seat point of view. It also works out to be from the cars point of view in it's normal forward direction. For example, your "right hand" does not become your "left hand" just because you turn around. I do not intend to be offensive. I just want to avoid confusion.
Drive carefully, and enjoy, W2


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Robert Poane on Sunday, September 30, 2012 - 08:02 pm:

Larry, no I do not have a wide track, but that was a good question.

Wayne, no offense taken, Proper communication can dispel many problems. When I turn the arm in, it is in the correct position to drive but the rod hits the wishbone.

It's weird but I had the same problem with the muffler. After I took the car apart the muffler would not go back on. The forum told me it was a tractor muffler. When I replaced it with a Model T muffler it went on no problem. I guess the same is true for the arm. I'll just buy one that bends up and matches the the left side.

Larry, your chiropractor would be proud of you! The funny part is what you said actually made sense!!


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