What is the difference between a Torpedo low gear pedal and regular? I've heard they are bent differently. Anybody got a picture? Seems like they would have to be to clear the steering column.
Here is a previous thread about the special parts on the 1911 Torpedo runabouts: http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/179374/241282.html?1318798134
John Regan wrote:
"On Torpedoes and Open Runabouts for 1911 only the clutch and brake pedal are bent differently using the otherwise same pedal forging as the standard '11. Not just any lettered pedal forging can be made to work when bent. The factory drawing for the pedal bending clearly talks about the correct forging to use."
So you may order a copy of the factory drawing from the Benson Ford Research Center if you want to be super authentic - or you can just bend the pedals more upright to the rear to clear the dash positioned 2" to the rear and the different angle of the floorboards.
Don, there is a difference in torpedo pedals. I had a reverse pedal once and the angle was different and the forging appeared heavier.
I suggest you send a private message to Mark Herdman in Rockhampton, Australia to learn more.
Hope this helps.
Allan from down under.
They are different, but not because of the steering column. The torpedo pedals are just a different shape. I have pictures comparing the torpedo pedals to ordinary 1910 - 11 pedals on my home computer. In general the torpedo pedals are about 2" taller and oriented more to the rear.
I am not sure they are the same forging, that seems unlikely to me.
Royce:
Please believe it. I have the factory drawings and they clearly call out the forging numbers which were the same as the standard lettered pedals at the time of the Torpedo and Open Runabout design. Also FYI - both the 1911 Torpedo and Open Runabout had butterfly brackets for the rear fenders and those forgings were the exact same forgings as used on the 1910 touring car but again - just bent different. I did a ton of research on my Open Runabout and have the factory drawings on the parts and once bent per the drawings the pedals fit just fine but of course people were smaller back then so the pedals are too close together as they are on all T's if you have size 10 or larger shoes as I do. The average man back in 1911 wore size 8 triple A width shoes.
The shorter pedal is the standard 1910 - 14 style:
Thanks for the photos and information, Royce.
Alan
The pedals I got from you some years back were Right Hand Drive 1909-11 standard style. later 11 or 12 ones were modified at some stage to give better leverage in the base of the shafts, Possibly about the same time they changed the length of travel in the cam sections of both pedal and part on the transmission.
Thanks
Mark