Yesterday while out driving my wife Pat's new car (1926 Model T coupe), I had what I thought was a rather serious problem. While attempting to make a sharp left turn the steering wheel rolled over and I ended up going start for the ditch. Any ideas what might have caused that and how do I go about fixing it (assuming I need to fix it)?
Happy motoring,
Warren
Click here:
www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/257047/300409.html
In the excellent thread Royce posted above he and others have lots of great details. They mentioned but did not show (or I missed it if it was shown) that the later Ts had a steering stop slot in the steering gear case to help prevent the steering wheel from going too far. The change was noted on 10-28 1921 and several other changes over the years were made to the case and to make the slot longer. See: http://www.mtfca.com/encyclo/S-T.htm#sgc The last change noted there was Oct 7, 1925 which said, "Changed angle between centerline and ends of stop slot from 60 to 62 degrees on left side and 55 to 67 degrees on right side."
Dan Treace at http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/257047/326239.html?1354772622 posted the photo below showing the steering stop groove. On the right is the 1924 and earlier one for the 4:1 ratio used with the clincher wheels and on the left is the one for the 5:1 ratio balloon tires and that became the standard for all of the cars and trucks.
Note if the slot is worn and/or if the steering pin is worn then the wheel can go further than it normally would be allowed to go.
Note in theory, if all the other parts were correct and functioning properly you would not need a steering slot stop -- as the earlier cars did not have one.
Respectfully submitted,
Hap l9l5 cutoff
The seller didn't warn you?
Warren,
Before you fix it could I borrow the car and let my wife drive it? There is a big ravine I would like her to drive it next to.
Thank you Royce & Hep, for your advice it will be very helpful to me.
Happy motoring,
Warren
PS: to Royce and all my friends in the great Lone Star State I just want to say "it doesn't matter who's in Austin, Bob Wills is still the king"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55DO5sNGZ_s
OK the silly comment doesn't warrant some of the e-mails I received. I'm not married.
Dennis don't let it bother you....I belong to the club that is devoted to the wish that all ex-wives go over the cliff in a flaming car....
Mike,
I've been divorced for 18 years. We still got along just fine. She passed away 5 years ago. No hard feelings I was just trying to be funny