I have a question, This is our club bus it is driven by different people and most are not model t people. Flat out top speed 17 mph to make it more drivable I would like to bring the speed up t0 25 mph, can I do this with out using a warford.
You no doubt have low ratio rear end gears. You can increase the speed to somewhere around 25 MPH (close at least) if you replace the ring and worm with a high ratio set.
It's just two parts to replace and there's no need to shorten the drive shaft or radius rods, but it is a sort of bear to take the rear end apart. Not complicated, just work.
You could get close by changing the rear end gears, but you are probably not going to like the results of that either.
Generally speaking, those who went to the 'high speed' rear for a TT even in the era...found a real reason to also add an auxiliary transmission.
I should have started my answer to you with, "Yes, you can increase the speed without a Warford or any other auxiliary transmission being added". Sorry.
Even with a high ratio set of rear end gears, a TT (without an overdrive) is geared lower than a regular T. Unless you're in a very hilly area you should be OK. But, As George points out, you still might not like it.
One of our members has a 2 speed rear axle but it is my understanding than they are std to low ratio? I have not herd of high ratio gears for worm drive were can I buy a set? At 17 mph even in Winnipeg it is to slow for traffic, I drive the 12 at about 20 around town and 30 on the highway.
What has happened here is most of our Model t guys are gone, and they just drove slow . now the next group don't drive it at all so with it not being used it sits in a museum and goes down hill from sitting.
"high speed" 5.17:1 worm gears used to be available from Mike Hartman in Ola, Ark, dont know current availability or price?
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/80257/92828.html?1243056375
The usual TT rear axle ratio is 7.25:1, while the regular T has 3.64:1.
For the gears you could try John Danuser, danuser88@ktis.net. There were some new high ratio gears made not long ago, but I don't have the information as to who has them. Hopefully someone else can chime in with that information. You could also check with some of the vendors. They have some from time to time. Occasionally ebay has a set, but I haven't seen any for a while.
If you decide to change the gears, you'll need a TT rear end gasket set, easily available from most of the vendors.
If you decide to change the gears, it would be foolish to not also change all the seals. There are 7 altogether, 2 outer roller bearing grease seals, 2 inner roller bearing grease seals, 2 inside ball bearing oil seals, and 1 drive shaft seal. You'll take them all out anyhow, and they're not expensive, so you should change them all. All are felt, but the 2 inner roller bearing grease seals can (and should) be replaced with modern neoprene upgraded seals instead of the felt. All other 5 will need to be the felt type.
You asked for technical help, not opinions. But I'm going to give you mine anyway.
I think a slow moving truck is much better for introducing new people to driving a Model T. The lack of stopping power is a real shock to new drivers and the slower you're moving, the less trouble you're going to get into.
My first time driving a T was a truck just like yours. It was great.
Picky Picky but just a little technical point here . . .
If you want the vehicle to go faster you will need LOWER RATIO gears.
Regards
Art
My TT has the low speed gears and it does 25 MPH all day long. No aux tranny. Stock rear end.
I'm thinking tune up. Are you running on battery or mag? If battery, is it 6 volt or 12 volt? Is the timing set properly? Is your timer in good condition? Have your coils been set up properly?
I see no reason a properly tuned TT can't do 25 MPH.
One reason not to run 25 mph with a 7.25:1 geared stock TT would be the engine needs to spin about 1900 rpm. Usual cruise speed on today's roads with a standard T is at 1400-1600 rpm (35-40 mph).
Ford Dealers Data Book 1923 recommended a speed of not more than 15 mph (1140 rpm) and with high speed gears, a speed of not more than 22 mph.
http://www.mtfca.com/books/ford.htm#trk
What I'm trying to do is make this T drivable in the city, at 17 mpg it is just to slow and is a traffic problem, if we don't make it drivable it will become a museum piece and will not see the light of day again. I see this bus as a tribute to our members past and present how restored this bus, any how have past away. I thank all of you for your input and the club can use this information to proceed Thank All Colin
If you have demountable rims on the rear you might jump 2 tire sizes ?? 7.50 x 20 and gain your speed?? Bud.
My '25 TT runs right along in Ruckstell high. Easily at 22 mph. It is revvin, but it will do it easy. The Ruckstell route would allow your new drivers to not have to hold the pedal down at slower speeds while practicing. PK
Ruckstell High is the same as Ford High, correct?
Hal,
When the Ruckstell is in "High", it's actually direct. The Ruckstell doesn't have a high, only direct and low. With the Ruckstell in direct you could have your T planetary in either low or high. Likewise, with the Ruckstell in low, the planetary could be in low or high.
I have seen several Ruckstell rearends for TT's over years with the high speed gears. Possibly changed out when the ruckstell was installed. Dave
As I understand it the Ruckstell dosen't care which ratio rear end gears are present. From whatever you have it provides a direct and a low.
Henry, yep. Dave
That is what I thought. I agree with Pat that having Ruckstell LOW might help a new driver to learn without getting into trouble, but I didn't want Colin to misunderstand and think a Ruckstell would give him any more speed.
Colin,
How do you intend to stop the TT? If it goes any faster then you will have longer distances needed to stop. I know, it's not what you want to hear. But any plan to make the TT go faster needs to be accompanied by a plan to make it stop too.
Let's imagine you gear the TT to go 35 MPH for argument's sake.
Changing the gearing will make the TT unable to climb any sort of hill, particularly with a load of people on board. When you come down that same hill at 35 MPH, how would you ever stop?
There are ways to do all this safely, but it won't be simple or cheap. What's your budget? Can you afford a set of accessory brakes, a high compression head, a new set of rear gears, and a Truckstell?
Concerns about stopping a TT can be solved by installing NEW SURE-STOP disc brakes soon to be available from Texas T parts.
I recently acquired 2 TT ruxtells. One is partially apart and I could count the worm starts, it has a High Speed gear set in it. I had been contemplating putting it in a project very similar to your "Bus". I'm taking a step back until I figure whats already in the truck I have.
Meanwhile I like the looks of your bus!
I had the same situation as you. My TT has been in my back yard for 7 years now, just too slow. But I have rebuilt the rear end and installed a new set of high speed gears. Not to hard but a big job - heavy stuff! I am also installing a Rocky Mountain three speed, so hopefully I am good to go. Hoped to have it on the road this year, but that's on hold as my runabout is down - trying to fix that now.
if buying used set's be careful - there are good set's out there but most are worn out. I bought new ones, but I have also seen very good set's for a good price on occasion, good luck with your's.
The bus is not going to be driven a lot it will get out 6-7 times a year. 22 mph would be great and if need be we would install rocky mountain brakes. we have gone with bigger tires it runs very well when its run regularly. This year it was out for the first time in a year and guess what it would not start will the battery is dead the gas is varnish the engine is dry so it got a push into its spot. With any luck next year it will drive. Thanks Guys for all your input Colin