Stewart 160 speedometer on a 1927 touring...?

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2014: Stewart 160 speedometer on a 1927 touring...?
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Andrew Nolte on Tuesday, September 02, 2014 - 01:25 am:

Never gave it much thought up till the point where I had to get a drive set-up for my speedometer. For the year of it's manufacture, 1927 (wire wheels), my improved touring has a Stewart 160 fitted.
When I first acquired this car as a wreck, it had a 160 and wire wheels, and no sign of any drive.
Other than it perhaps have a transmission drive, I am unsure what I ought to do.

Can you drive a Stewart 160 with the 490 spiral drive? If you can, I assume you need to modify the cable and ends available from the suppliers.

All the advertising from the period displays the spiral drive as "eliminating the swivel joint" and is illustrated next to both speedometers. dash


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Larry Smith on Tuesday, September 02, 2014 - 09:01 am:

Buy Russ Furstnows speedometer book. It's the bible on speedometers. It will answer all of your questions.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Russ Furstnow on Tuesday, September 02, 2014 - 09:12 am:

Andrew,
I have a Stewart Model 160 on my 1927 coupe and I use the spiral drive with the Model 160. The difference with the 490 and the 160 is the cable, as the ferrule nut on the Model 160 is different than the Model 490, but the drive ratio on both speedometers is the same. Unfortunately, reproduction cables are not available for the spiral drive and the Model 160, so you will have to find a cable to attach the drive to the head. I hope this helps. Russ Furstnow


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Russ Furstnow on Tuesday, September 02, 2014 - 09:14 am:

Andrew, I forgot to mention that if your Model 160 has pot metal odometer dials, which yours appears to have, you will need to purchase a replacement speedometer with plastic odometer dials to insure you don't damage the drive/cable units.
Russ Furstnow


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Justin Heim on Tuesday, September 02, 2014 - 10:30 am:

Russ, are the odometer dials replacable in the old unit or does the entire speedometer need to be changed out making the entire original unit basically useless?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Terry Woods, Richmond, Texas on Tuesday, September 02, 2014 - 01:18 pm:

Andrew's touring, appears to have to correct Stewart 160 dash mounting bracket, which tilts the speedometer head slightly upward. The tilt in the bracket was one of the differences (the other being shape and size) from the pre 26 Model 160 bracket.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Andrew Nolte on Tuesday, September 02, 2014 - 06:05 pm:

Thanks a lot Russ! It certainly has the old potmetal dials in it. I don't know if those are replaceable, but I will have a look around.
As for the information on the cable, thanks a lot. I guess I have a bit of modification to do.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Terry Woods, Richmond, Texas on Tuesday, September 02, 2014 - 08:21 pm:

Andrew, I know the 490 cable was supposed to be quieter and less prone to trouble, but if I were you, I'd just 'pop' for a new replacement cable and gear set up that fits your 160 speedometer. I have the complete original gear setup on my 27 coupe. By the way, since Model 160's were used on both 21" and 30x3.5" tires, the drive and driven gears for each tire size are different.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Larry Bohlen, Severn MD on Tuesday, September 02, 2014 - 08:27 pm:

Andrew,

Unrelated question.
Do you have the paint name/number for the green your touring is painted?

I like that dark green.

Thanks,
Larry


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Andrew Nolte on Tuesday, September 02, 2014 - 09:09 pm:

Terry, I like the fact that the 490 drive, although ideal for the year of production for my touring, eliminates the potmetal swivel joint. I have not come across may of these that aren't cracked.

Larry, The paint I used was PPG's "Rock Moss Green", still on their catalouge these days.

I always thought it to be more of a Model A colour, but apparently appropriate for it's year.

The original colour of this touring was an odd sort of khaki green, with casino red wire wheels.

But not anymore. I restored this when I was 24, took 5 years. I am now 29, still one of the youngest in Australia interested in these things. If I did it again, I would have adhered to the original colours, despite them being a bit ugly.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Larry Bohlen, Severn MD on Tuesday, September 02, 2014 - 09:32 pm:

Andrew,

Thanks.
It's a nice color. Thinking of repainting my touring some time in the future. Currently it's painted with Hunter Green Rustoleum, back when I was 16 and I' m 51 now...

Photo on my profile.
Thanks again,
BTW I gave the correct 160 and a 490 speedo for mine now I'll have to see which to install.
Keep us up on hooking your's up.

Larry


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Russ Furstnow on Wednesday, September 03, 2014 - 08:49 am:

Justin,
Normally, the speedometers with the pot metal odometer dials become shelf items since they cannot be restored. They can be used for parts, but speedometers with the plastic dials are not disassembled as parts speedometers. As a result, plastic odometer dials are not readily available to replace pot metal dials. I hope this helps,
Russ Furstnow


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