Ruckstell Question

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2014: Ruckstell Question
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Carl Klem on Friday, November 07, 2014 - 07:31 pm:

My Ruckstell works fine. Shifts nicely, etc.
My question is this:
When sitting with the engine off, I can shift it between gears and get a neutral where I can easily move the car by pushing it.
Is this normal, or am I in uncharted waters??
Thanks in advance, I hope :-)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Kevin Whelihan on Friday, November 07, 2014 - 07:37 pm:

I can't on mine. It is either in Ruckstell Hi/Lo or Ford Hi/Lo. If you can get a neutral by shifting the Ruckstell, something is wrong. On my car ('26 Touring) If I pull the parking brake lever to straight vertical position I have neutral whether of not the car is in Ruckstell or Ford gear.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mark Gregush Portland Oregon on Friday, November 07, 2014 - 08:06 pm:

A Ruckstell should be in one gear or the other, no in between. If you can shift it and have a neutral (between) gears you better have good outside brakes!!! Sounds like it's time for a tear down. Kevin is talking about the Ford transmission clutch being in neutral not the Ruckstell. If you do not have outside brakes I myself would not even think about driving it, if it goes into between gears without outside brakes you have no way to stop it if you can't get it back into gear, in a panic things can happen real fast.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mike Walker, NW AR on Friday, November 07, 2014 - 08:42 pm:

Some folks "back in the day" used to file or grind down a piece in the shifter to get a neutral position. We usually don't want that today, since your Ford brake has no effect if the Ruckstell is in neutral.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Harold Schwendeman - Sumner,WA on Friday, November 07, 2014 - 08:45 pm:

I'd say that this is a question for Mr. Chaffin or Stan Howe. From the little I know about Ruckstells, it should NOT have a neutral position, but the reason for the neutral might be just in the Ruckstell shift lock. At least that's what I'd check first, but again, what do I know,....??? Unca' Stan???


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Harold Schwendeman - Sumner,WA on Friday, November 07, 2014 - 08:47 pm:

Oops! We were typing at the same time Mike, but you're quicker!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Larry Smith on Friday, November 07, 2014 - 09:51 pm:

I have a neutral in all of my Ruckstells, and have never had a problem. But, the answer to your question is yes you can shift it with the engine off.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Carl Klem on Friday, November 07, 2014 - 11:47 pm:

I do have RMB, and the Ruckstell never goes into a neutral position while in motion.
I have to jiggle the shift lever to "just the right position" to get it in neutral with the engine off.
From what I know, the Ruckstell was rebuilt (?) about 25 years ago.
Hmmmmm, maybe I will call one of the experts for further advice.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By David Dare - Just a little South West . on Saturday, November 08, 2014 - 02:45 am:

after 4 years of having a side shifter sitting in the bedroom, my wife said, fit it or put in the garage, fair call, l fitted it, a little tricky on a 26 Tudor, but it does work, albeit there is a fair amount of floor modifications to make it fit, along with extending the cross rod by 2 inches and rebending the arm after removing the top 6 inches... yep its in and yes l can have my leg spread whilst driving, something certainly wrong with centre shifts ... well worth the trouble to install.
I prey for not to have my ruckstell achieve a neutral.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Kevin Whelihan on Saturday, November 08, 2014 - 08:28 am:

David, a little thread drift but I need to ask this question: exactly how much hassle was it to install the Ruckstell side shifter and does it interfere with the easy operation of the clutch/park lever? I too have a '26 Tudor (and '26 Touring, and have come to the conclusion that Improved cars were designed to look good...not be comfortable. I am jealous of my friend's 1914. it looks to be more comfortable to drive.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Allan Bennett - Australia on Sunday, November 09, 2014 - 04:47 am:

David, on RHD cars fitting a foot accelerator pedal is a piece of cake. Much easier than shifting the Ruckstel lever. With the correct accessory on the carburettor, you can even maintain the hand throttle.

Sorry this is a bit late.

Allan from down under.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Roger Brown, NC on Sunday, November 09, 2014 - 07:40 am:

Carl: My 25 can be put into neutral sitting still, nothing wrong. apparently there may be some differences between Ruckstell's. I have been inside mine for other reasons and there was no excessive wear or any other noticeable problems. Just drive it and enjoy.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ray Green on Sunday, November 09, 2014 - 07:53 am:

I would worry if I had a neutral as that means it can jump out of gear any time and that means no brakes, I would have a look at the sliding gear on the axle shifter as they wear so perfect that unless you put it with a new one you can not tell, it could be up to a quarter of a inch shorter which means it is not going right in and there is your angle gear. I have never been able to get neutral in my Ruckstel as I fitted a new gear straight up..


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Carl Klem on Sunday, November 09, 2014 - 10:49 am:

Roger,
I do drive it all the time, it is my daily driver, and I shall continue!
Actually, it is quite nice to be able to put it in neutral and just push it to move it a bit :-)
My RMB's work fine, so I will "just drive it".


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