Rebound Straps - Do They Help? Is Anyone Running Them?

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 2014: Rebound Straps - Do They Help? Is Anyone Running Them?
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mark Strange on Tuesday, September 02, 2014 - 10:36 am:

I have seen several old photos on this forum of cars with rebound straps installed, is anyone on the forum running a set? Do they help?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jay - In Northern California on Tuesday, September 02, 2014 - 10:45 am:

They would help on dirt wagon roads of the day but not so much on modern roads of today. They do look cool though. :-)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Willie K Cordes on Tuesday, September 02, 2014 - 12:01 pm:

I have a set that needs new straps, but I am not sure I want them on a car. The jury is still out.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Richard Eagle Ida Fls on Tuesday, September 02, 2014 - 12:13 pm:



While not model T, these are original straps on my 1923 White bus. As you can see by the paint and dirt worn off they do some work. Mainly on speed bumps or pot holes. They are made from canvas strap. I would like them better if they were leather with buckles.

I agree with Jay. On normal roads at normal speeds on a T they would not be needed but on a speedster they would look nice and be a conversation piece.

Rich


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mark Strange on Tuesday, September 02, 2014 - 04:55 pm:

I've decided to experiment and find out for myself whether straps will have any benefit on my car. I went to the local Wally Mart and bought two of the strongest leather belts they had, then cut them to length and fit them onto the front of my car. They are nearly invisible behind the front license plate.

belt01

belt02

Will they have any effect besides just adding weight? Will they snap as soon as I hit my first bump? Whatever the outcome, I'll let folks know.

If the ones on the front hold up, I'll probably install belts on the rear as well, although just looping them around the frame rail and rear axle would be problematic (the passenger side belt would sit right in line with the exhaust, so it would get burned pretty fast).


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Richard Eagle Ida Fls on Tuesday, September 02, 2014 - 06:44 pm:

I'm guessing if they fail they will tear the punched hole out. Nice job. Hope they last a long time.

Rich


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mark Strange on Tuesday, September 02, 2014 - 06:59 pm:

After thinking a little bit more (always dangerous :-) ), to avoid an unbalanced condition front vs. rear, I decided to go ahead and install straps on the rear as well, we'll see how they do.

Richard, I agree, the single buckle hole looks like the weak spot, but I couldn't find any belts with multiple buckles at Wally Mart.

belt03


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Peter Kable on Tuesday, September 02, 2014 - 07:27 pm:

How high can the suspension go?

One scenario that would matter would be when the Model T was strapped down in an enclosed trailer. If the roof is too close the Model T roof may hit when you went over the speed bump or other obstacle.

I think you would need 3" at least clearance especially at the rear.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mark Strange on Tuesday, September 02, 2014 - 07:37 pm:

When I was searching for "rebound straps" on T-bay, the results surprised me, apparently early Corvettes, MGs, and Triumphs used them.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/eBay-Motors-/6000/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=rebound+straps


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Michael R Beary on Tuesday, September 02, 2014 - 07:52 pm:

On Erich Bruckner's photo posted today was a speedster with straps like the ones seen above. It was the third picture from the top. That photo had everyone admiring the car.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Willie K Cordes on Tuesday, September 02, 2014 - 08:19 pm:

When the words "Rebound Straps" was used on the forum title, I thought you were talking about the straps with the spring rewind spool, not hard sudden stop straps.
Mine have the rewind spring coil. I will try to get a photo of them tomorrow,


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ricks - Surf City on Tuesday, September 02, 2014 - 08:29 pm:

If those belts are made by the ChiComs, they probably aren't real leather. I had to go to the local swapmeet to find a real leather belt, made in Mexico.



Chewbaca destroys ChiCom belts in a hurry.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mark Strange on Tuesday, September 02, 2014 - 08:58 pm:

The belts are marked "Genuine Leather" and "Made in India", we'll see how they hold up.

I looked at adapting hood hold-down straps that have the short section of metal spring in them, like the picture below, but decided to go with the plain leather for the time being.

strap


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Vince M on Tuesday, September 02, 2014 - 09:08 pm:

Willie I think you are describing snubbers. I have them on my car. They are Bosch. Unfortunately the straps broke and I have no idea where to find replacements or how to replace.

Can't really tell the difference though.

Thanks

Vince


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Val Soupios on Tuesday, September 02, 2014 - 10:16 pm:

The check straps on my Autocar are thicker and the eyes for the belt hook are brass grommets set into the leather. They eventually broke after 102 years but any good harness maker can reproduce them. I had a set made up but they are not as heavy as they should be so I don't know how long they will last. They are a definite plus on a car with conventional spring mounted axles but I am not sure what they would add on the single transverse spring of a Model T. Interestingly they were only used on the rear axle presumably because that's where you get the bounce. They were designed with quite a bit of play so they only get used if the car bounces considerably more than under normal driving conditions. I assume they felt that the weight of the motor keeps the front from bouncing too much and that is why they are only fitted for the rear axle.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ricks - Surf City on Tuesday, September 02, 2014 - 10:59 pm:

Henry thought they would help:


Start


Finish


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Richard Eagle Ida Fls on Tuesday, September 02, 2014 - 11:02 pm:

There is also more weight hanging beyond the rear axle than the front. On my Bus there is a seat and a half and a trunk hanging beyond the rear axle. A good bump and the rear seat passengers can be vaulted a few inches off the seat. The front doesn't bounce much on bumps. It would be similar on your pickup Mark.
Good comment about the amount of play. Erich's speedster photo and my Bus strap photos show some inches of play.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Richard Eagle Ida Fls on Tuesday, September 02, 2014 - 11:06 pm:

Nice pictures Ralph. There again is some play. They do look like single hole buckles too.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mark Strange on Tuesday, September 02, 2014 - 11:12 pm:

Good point about there being some play, it would be easy enough for me to punch another hole in the belts to provide some slack, thanks.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mark Strange on Wednesday, September 03, 2014 - 02:27 pm:

Well, I went for a 20 mile drive this morning on one of my normal local paved routes. I really couldn't tell much difference in how the car rode, but the roads here are pretty smooth compared to the roads that existed back in the 1920's.

When I got home, I was pleased to see that all the straps were still in place and undamaged. I couldn't see any witness marks around the buckle holes that would have indicated that the belts were pulled tight at any time, so apparently they have enough slack in them that they won't come into play during normal driving.

I guess I'll leave them on and inspect them every few drives to see if anything changes. I'm not going to go out hunting for bumpy roads just to challenge the straps, I guess I'm just chicken. :-O


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mark Strange on Sunday, September 21, 2014 - 10:46 am:

Reporting back after about ten drives with the straps installed:

The straps have held up well, no shifting or durability issues.

The effect is subtle, most of the time there's no differeence with or without the straps, but I have noticed slightly less tendency to get bounced up out of the seat when I hit the more severe bumps in the road.

My car used to sometimes get into a bumpy oscillation on some roads, the straps seem to dampen that out.

All in all, I consider the straps to be a worthwhile (but subtle) improvement and I intend to leave them on.

Those who drive on gravel or other, rougher roads may notice more benefit than I have. :-)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Paul O'Neil on Friday, October 24, 2014 - 04:27 pm:

After another month of driving have you anything to add to your last report?

Vintage Paul


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mark Strange on Friday, October 24, 2014 - 09:20 pm:

Paul, thanks for asking, my observations from September still hold. The effect is subtle on the roads and speeds that I normally drive, but the straps definitely limit the rebound of the springs on the larger bumps, giving a better ride. I have not noticed any deterioration or stretching of the straps, so I've decided to leave them on permanently. Plus, they are good conversation starters when the car is on display. :-)


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