I officially joined the Model T fishing club this weekend. That distinguished group of individuals who have earned the distinction of loosing control of a transmission band nut in the course of transmission band replacement and spend many joyful hours fishing for it with a magnet on a wire. Hooked it once after about an hour but it got away just as I was pulling it out. Encouraged and determined I continued for a few more hours without success.
I had the transmission partially stuffed with rags and used the dental floss method of tying onto the washer and nut which worked very well in the past. Surely there was no need to fully stuff the upper part of the transmission with rags; how could the nut or washer make its way all the way up there? Well.... the dental floss fatigued as I got the washer in position then the nut required several attempts until the floss was cut. I figured I would try one more time, heck, I was 5 minutes from finishing at most! Then the unthinkable happened. The nut abruptly shifted position, I tried to grab it with my fingers; only to snap it out of my grasp. I watched in horror as the nut pitched high up into the air, spinning gracefully in slow motion as it flew over the strategically placed rags, descending down onto the triple gears before I could utter the first of what would be many colorful words. I caught the last glimpse of the nut as it ricocheted off the top triple gear and dove into the dark abyss of the transmission housing.
I finally gave up on fishing after about 4 hours as the reality of the situation settled in, I get to learn how to pull the hogs head! Did a little research on the forum and check the Model T bible for the procedure. I had a couple of questions so called Bob Jablonski for answers. Bob quickly talked me off the ledge and suggested pausing after pulling the bendix and starter and rotate the engine to see if the nut had gotten picked up my a magnet before proceeding with removing the hogs head. I followed his advice and after rotating the engine 1/4 turn saw a beautiful picture.
CAREFULLY fished it out using a 4 prong grabber. Considered seriously about having it mounted but decided to release it back into its natural habit after turning it on its bolt over a FULLY RAG STUFFED transmission. All working well and back together in record time (for me) 11 hours.
Grateful for the forum and a big thank you to Bob J for sound advice for a successful fishing experience.
I'm Glad you were not in a catch and release pond
any longer when this happened.
Bob
Now if only you could have used an e-band and your problems would have been solved. e-bands will last the life of your transmission. They also go well with e-timers.
Hey MIKE, just put some of your electrons stuff on the end of a stick or string and it'll be like magic purring like no tomorrow.
Sorry didn't have a chance to read your whole story yet. Hope it all comes out OK.
For a dozen or so dollars, you can avoid the hazard.
I had it around awhile before I took the time to figure it out.
Joined that club myself a few months ago, wound up pulling the hogshead
Mike,So much for an ounce of prevention being worth a pound of cure when Murphy's Law taps you on the shoulder.
I did try an ounce of prevention but should not have been so confident (read lazy) and go and get a few more rags to fully stuff the transmission applying a pound of prevention before attempting washer and nut installation. Lesson learned; and shared. I hope it helps to minimize future stories about the one that got away. :-)
Mike, glad it turned out well. That does make Bob a real model T fishing guide.
I think sometimes my posts show to me, but nobody else. I offer a foolproof solution, and it's ignored. Is $12 too much to save all that time and aggravation?
I never even bother with rags.
Ralph, where did you get nut holder? I did not see it on Lang's site and figured you just were lucky to find it at a flea market. Looks like a good solution, although, I will continue to pack the entire transmission with rags next time I replace bands.
Get on Lang's website and buy this:
http://www.modeltford.com/item/3416TNW.aspx
My response to Mike was of the least work..... to look thru the bendix, have someone to slowly turn the hand crank, and see if the dropped nut attached itself to as magnet pole. E-Gads, it worked !! Saved him from removing the trans cover .
Glad It worked for him !!!!!
Bob Jabalonski
_Privileged to help a friend from not knowing what to do on a ledge,,,,, keep the faith my friend.
Well I just ordered the nut holder from Lang's. Now I can be extra aggravated when I forget that I own one, and drop a nut into the trans. :-(
Those tools were made by our Good Friend (the Late)
Howard Caccia in San Luis Obispo
-Don