"Model T" Christmas miracle

Topics Last Day Last Week Tree View    Getting Started Formatting Troubleshooting Program Credits    New Messages Keyword Search Contact Moderators Edit Profile Administration
Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2013: "Model T" Christmas miracle
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Michael Mullis on Sunday, December 01, 2013 - 05:15 pm:

I drove our 16' T 20 miles to a neighboring town to participate in their Christmas parade today.

Just after I started for home, Liz started running really rough. This was really a tight spot because I didn't have any spare parts and only a couple of wrenches. It was running kinda like the timer's #2 position was shorted to case.
I reasoned that a short was improbable because I was/am running a "New Day" timer. Fearing trouble trying to restart her, I decided to try to make it home. It was a near constant battle with adjusting the timing but finally I made it home.

Upon inspection I found the problem right away.
The commutator case spring had popped off of the timer. The only thing holding the timer on was the wiring harness and timer pull rod. The timer case wasn't seated in the front cover. It was just hanging in kinda the right place. Popping and spitting every once in a while, the ol' gal covered the 20 miles to home.

Christmas "miracle" may be stretching it a little but this one thing I can say for certain, "Yes Virginia there is a Tin Lizzie".


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Robert Poane on Sunday, December 01, 2013 - 05:26 pm:

Great read! glad you made it home ok.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tim Wrenn on Sunday, December 01, 2013 - 07:19 pm:

Thanks for bringing up yet another thing to keep an occasional eye on.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Larry Smith on Sunday, December 01, 2013 - 09:41 pm:

Sounds like the last time you worked on the timer, you forget to tighten up that bolt! I haven't heard that one before. Glad you made it home.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Wayne Sheldon, Grass Valley, CA on Sunday, December 01, 2013 - 11:59 pm:

Thank you for sharing the tale! I needed the chuckle.
Sometimes, the best thing to do is just keep going (as long as there are not serious noises being made). Model Ts are amazing.
Drive carefully, and enjoy, W2


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By R. S. Cruickshank on Monday, December 02, 2013 - 12:41 am:

There is an old adage that I follow today. "When something goes wrong, think about what you did last". This problem solving technique seems to work most of the time when I find a problem with something I was working on.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Michael Mullis on Monday, December 02, 2013 - 08:32 am:

Y'all are absolutely correct. I had removed the timer to clean it the evening before. I had snugged the commutator spring bolt but I didn't give it a final tightening. The remarkable thing isn't what caused the problem (we all know I'm to blame.) The truly amazing thing is that the ol' gal ran surprisingly well for 20 miles with "NO" commutator case spring while the timer "WAS NOT" seated in the front cover. Lizzie must have a very intense "want to run".


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dave Dufault on Monday, December 02, 2013 - 08:35 am:

" Lizzie must have a very intense "want to run"....

Back "in the day", it was called the "I'm going back home" syndrome....and I want to


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Harold Schwendeman - Sumner,WA on Monday, December 02, 2013 - 01:05 pm:

This thread leads me to make an "admission" that I am not too proud of (to say the least). But it's very similar to your experience Michael:

Steve Tomaso of ("Steve's "T" Works, Milton, WA.) rebuilt my '27 depot hack engine last winter. Not to "digress" here too much, but the need for an engine "rebuild" was actually a "Godsend", because under the front motor mount in what otherwise appeared to be a very solid chassis, actually had the most horrible, rotten, cracked, rusted out front crossmember Steve said he had ever seen in a running Model "T". (bought a very nice replacement used crossmember from Jack Daron which I installed in the otherwise perfect frame while Steve was rebuilding the engine). Anyway, after I re-installed the rebuilt engine , I had driven the depot hack somewhere in the neighborhood of 75 or 80 miles, pleased as could be about how beautifully it ran, and with more power, probably due not only to the fresh and complete rebuild, but also the high compression pistons I'd asked Steve to put in. Okay, I'll get to the point here eventually,......I made an appointment with Steve's "T" Works for Steve to look things over and completely service the new engine and chassis, mostly to be sure everything looked safe and sound to Steve. (......I take my Grandkids in the depot hack a lot.....) Anyway, imagine my surprise and embarrassment when Steve found two of the U-joint ball housing (whatever it's called) bolts (bottom ones) not only loose, but not even what you'd call "finger tight"! When I put the engine in, I left everything loose until all was in place, and then tightened everything up (I thought) when all was in place. Guess I'd have to call that,..."another senior moment"! Anyway, I was amazed at how nice the engine ran and how nice the car drove and handled,....even with those loose bolts! (And I thought I was so careful in re=installing that engine!


Posting is currently disabled in this topic. Contact your discussion moderator for more information.
Topics Last Day Last Week Tree View    Getting Started Formatting Troubleshooting Program Credits    New Messages Keyword Search Contact Moderators Edit Profile Administration