My T was a barn find with the original quadrant. A rather deep grove in the quadrant leads me to believe that the original owner had a "set it and forget it" approach to timing.
How common is this ? Anyone else with a similar worn spot in their spark quadrant ?
Yes my 13 runabout has two of those, my guess is they were the two perfect spots a long time ago.
Engine rebuild and adjustments to suit, now see my perfect spot in between both.
These are being reproduced, but not the steel ones. Between worn down quadrants and levers worn flat, not many of them click anymore.
You should see a worn one!! I have seen some that were almost thru to the cutout in the brass quadrant and the steel round lever was half thru.
I have a couple that are a LOT worse than that. But yes, they do show a "favorite" spot.
I do know that some early '15s did have that earlier style quadrant. So yours must be an early car! (At least worth thinking so) I wonder just how late Ford did put the early quadrants on the cars? And when did they begin putting the later style in?
By the way. Did you know that the early pressed steel quadrants were plated brass? I understand that that ended about July of 1915, however, the original steering column in the early '16 center-door sedan that I used to have had the remains of brass plating on it.
Drive carefully, and enjoy, W2
Wayne, there was a 1915 Canadian touring sold about a year ago in Adelaide. It had both the early steering column with the brass quadrant and the 12 rivet diff housings. I do not know the exact production date on this car. David Chantrell may be able to enlighten us on that.
Allan from down under.
My gas side is wearing a lot so the car likes to go fast idle when I take my hand off. Might have to work on it a little some day. Maybe install one of those wooden blocks that clamp to the control rods.
Guess that's what happens when you drivem?
When adjusting the spark or throttle levers, it is wise to lift up on them to prevent that kind of wear.
Larry - I squeeze the handle of the emergency brake lever before moving the lever in order to minimize wear on the teeth of the quadrant and the sharp point of the pawl, but that's the first time I ever heard of lifting up on the spark advance and throttle levers when adjusting. If that makes sense, why not just bend each lever up a bit so as to lessen (or eliminate) the pressure and wear on the quadrants,......???
......and I should have also said,.....and add the "wooden block that clamp to the control rods" as Gene suggested, if after the bending, more friction to stiffen the control rod action is needed,.....???
Its good practice to relieve the latch on the brake lever or the door latch to prevent wear.
Maybe I'll have to also start trying that on my throttle but when driving I move it so much mostly with just a fingertip its not so easy.
Good point!
I have welded up several of the early brass quadrants and recut the grooves with a 3 square file. Work great afterwards. I do not leave well enough alone on my cars. Anyone needing to know how it is done PM me please. I have even made the early brass gear boxes out of cutting the old early brass one piece gear housings and making a washer to make it all work. You have to look HARD to tell the difference! And yes they held up for years of driving.
Joseph G, et al,
I welded up a 1915 brass cover by packing it in sand to support the brass as I got it hot enough to weld up several places that had been beaten on with a chisel (by someone in the past, probably to remove it when it was stuck). I then cut crisscross on the sides with a three-cornered file to fill in the knurling. It came out looking very nice, and fits on the gear-case just fine.
I also welded up another early brass part using plaster to form a missing section, with the bulk of the part also buried in sand. It also worked quite well after a bit of hand filing.
If I ever get around to working on the 1912 project pile, that was how I planned to repair the original quadrant for it.
Brass needs to be supported when being welded. I found that out the first time I tried it.
But that is how I did it.
Drive carefully, and enjoy, W2