A few times now ive had trouble starting the depot hack after car shows, parades, and people in general being around it. I finally figured out it was due to people turning to carb needle adjuster on the firewall. Any inventive ways to curb this?
I have a line indented from 6:00 o'clock to 12:00 o'clock with an arrow point at 12:00 o'clock and I know where it should point to start it.
A little bit of vaseline on the control knob works for me
Jake! There are several threads on this but there is just some kind of magical something about Model T's that makes people reach out and touch them in ways that more modern hotrods do not. I get ridiculous hand and fingerprints all over my brass at shows (lol except the radiator, it doesn't get touched as much, mainly cause folks touch it one and jerk back after). Heck, I've come out of the hardware store before to one guy laying completely underneath the car and his buddy sitting behind the wheel! I knew something was up cause I heard my ahooga horn go off a couple times.
Frank has a great idea for the carb setting. I was going to say if you are ever not sure, just screw needle in all the way and back it out 1.25 turns wherever you normally have it, that way you always know it's the same. Also, my speedster Eliza is sometimes really fussy about how she gets cranked up after getting warmed up fully and then cooling down some but not getting all the way cold.
As for the touchy feely, nothing will stop it short of you beating people with a stick. I've just come to accept it as part of having the car and I try to help folks enjoy it and feel at home. We want everyone to like Model T's and Model T drivers (unlike those high and mighty Model A people!!) Just don't touch the radiator ok? =)
How about just disconnecting the adjuster at the carb if you're planning to be away from the car. Then they can turn it all they want with no change on the carb itself (and no risk of turning the needle too far into the seat and causing damage). Reconnect it when you're ready to start her up.
Show car with the hood up, polish brass top spark plugs until they shine, put a "Please Don't Touch" sticker near spark plug #1, set ignition switch to battery, crank engine so coil #1 buzzes.
I agree with Dave on this one. Just take it out of the carb which is easy enough, and put it back in when you're done.
OR... You could just coat it in some nasty old axle grease
I tell everyone that they CAN touch my car. I don't want them getting in it, but let the kids on the running boards to take pics etc...
I liked this one:
Touch, but
PLEASE
DON'T
Look!
FWIW, If I'm at a cruise-in or show, I'll sometimes ask if the kids want to sit in my speedster while the parents take photos. They seem to get a kick out of it, and who knows, it may inspire a few to get into the hobby one day. On the other hand, there really isn't anything the kids can break or damage sitting behind the wheel in my car. They're usually pretty well behaved, even if their parents aren't standing nearby. YMMV.
If they can't see it, they won't touch it.
Problem solved... with style!
I have read many stories about people returning to their Model T's and finding people crawling all over it
I find that people respect my T and if I am close by some even ask if it is OK to take pictures.
Most shows provide signs with "Please Do not touch" on them and people are amazed when I offer to let the kids sit in the car.
If they start fooling with the advance or throttle I just ask them to be careful because it is very old and they immediately stop.
Maybe people in New England are more polite and respectful than other parts of the country, but that is my experience.
Check out these two adjusters from Previous "Accessory Of The Day" posts.
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/118802/170483.html
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/257047/294002.html
How about a T coil hooked to the rod somewhere out of site with a chain dragging on the ground. Have a radio-controlled switch for distance observation. I quick connection from the switch and instant shock-a-roo!!! Works best on a rainy day!!
What happened to if it isn't yours, let it alone!!
Mike
Dave - I do the same with all my doodlebugs. What stuns me are the kids who run amok (with the parents watching) and treat all the vehicles like a jungle gym - no request to get on. I'll then say something to the parents.
Ron - I hear you. With only this season of experience (just got the T on the road after 35 years), I haven't had any unruly kids (or adults) that have felt the need to climb aboard without me asking them first yet. I'm sure I'll run into them at some point, and will do the same as you. But so far, so good!
Bob Coiro, I like your air bag. Last summer I installed one in my '17.
Happy motoring,
Warren
i was taking other college students around on our campus but after they just hop up and over the back doors and scratch them up I stopped. They don't really care anyways, they just want to take a selfie in it.
On the other hand, when at the shows I let the little kids bounce around in it all they want, don't hurt nothing and they get a kick out of it!
@Ricks Surf City
Do you have more info or pics one that ute? It looks great.
No, somebody else posted it here, and I just copied.
Dave-
I agreed with you until just recently. I liked letting the kids honk the horn and climb in for pictures while all the other cars around me had "Do Not Touch" placards on them. I took pride in it!
THEN. . .a while back a lady put her 6 y/o son in my unrestored, but nice looking '17 touring for a picture. When she attempted to remove him after about 10 minutes, he began to scream and kick, and kicked a hole in my passenger side interior quarter panel. All the panels are just the original board with no vinyl covering, and new ones won't look right on the old car and I can't find a replacement for the old damaged one.
So here I sit with a quarter panel with a big hole in it for being nice. No more. They can look from the outside!
Wow Warren...sure would love to have that brass bell for my fire truck!! If you ever find one around that's for sale let me know.
A slight drift:
Look how they are treating this Mercedes !
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ri0sPJV3NGI&list=PL76AVw6M_fi4oBJFjheWvdzciwgX-7afX
The sign I put in my 27 Coupe at the only car show I did garnered started more conversations than just about anything else.
Sorry for the poor quality of the pic. Couldn't get the flash working on this new phone.
The 1912 "hillbilly" truck above was owned by Les Schuchardt in Spearfish, SD and sold (for $13,500!) at his big auction in 2012, see more pictures in this thread: http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/257047/312456.html?1347938102
Tim, I'll try an locate one for you.
Happy motoring,
Warren