Let Google be Your Friend

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2017: Let Google be Your Friend
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mark Strange - Hillsboro, MO on Monday, February 13, 2017 - 12:00 pm:

I haven't been into Model Ts or on the forum nearly as long as the majority of the old timers, but I've been on long enough to see that many of the same questions come up over, and over, and over again.

Model Ts have been around for over 100 years, and this forum stretches back decades, so there is a good chance that just about every topic has been covered multiple times in multiple threads in the past.

I don't want to discourage the new folks from asking questions, but it only takes a few seconds to do a Google search with a few keywords to see if a topic has been covered before in the forum.

Open a new tab in your browser, go to Google, and type in a few keywords that describe your question, then add the letters "mtfca" to the end of your search string. You'll be amazed at the number of links to past threads that will pop up!

For instance, if you want to know about what lubrication to use for your Ruckstell rear axle, type "ruckstell oil mtfca". Look what comes up!

https://www.google.com/search?q=ruckstell+oil+mtfca&rlz=1C1PRFA_enUS447US447&oq= ruckstell+oil+mtfca&aqs=chrome..69i57.4275j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Don Allen - Conroe, TX on Monday, February 13, 2017 - 12:02 pm:

If only entirely new topics ever appeared here, it'd be only old photos and people griping about some car show in Michigan.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By G.R.Cheshire on Monday, February 13, 2017 - 12:11 pm:

Don: I would not gripe about car shows in Michigan I prefer to gripe about the ones in Florida where all the spectators like the old originals but the Judges only like Chrome dripping Chebby's


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Gary Schreiber- Santa Isabel Ecuador on Monday, February 13, 2017 - 12:14 pm:

Good looking roadster GR and while Mark's post is spot on, I have to agree with Don.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Hal Davis-SE Georgia on Monday, February 13, 2017 - 12:16 pm:

No offense, but to me, this is just like Photos, or OT posts, or whatever. If you don't like the subject matter, close the thread and go to the next one. Newbies benefit and so do some of the old timers. I find it fun to discuss the same subject again sometimes with fresh people and fresh ideas. If I'm not in the mood to answer a question, I don't. Someone else will.

There are very few forums that I frequent. One thing that is common to all that I do is that they don't have some big banner or sticky at the top of the list that says "Don't bother us with your stupid questions that we've already answered 1000 times. Only rattle our cage if you have something that is truly NEW." And a lot of forums have just that. I'm glad this is NOT one of them! Forums like that really turn me off and make me NOT want to join the group. And that's probably EXACTLY what the way they want it. I'm more than happy to oblige.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Robert Brough on Monday, February 13, 2017 - 12:40 pm:

Both on this forum and another on military vehciles that I haunt, I always Google search the name of the forum and my keyword question. Both forums have weak internal search engines. And I understand that some of my newbie questions are old hat to the guys that wear old hats.

But, in my defense, either the posts and threads that come up don't answer my question, OR the biggest frustration of all is after reading the entire thread, the OP NEVER comes back and reports the eventual outcome. Did it work? Did you find something else that was causing your issue? Did you sell the car?

So I find myself posting. Fortunately, the forum members have been understanding. And in my personal case know that I have some challenges and are very patient with me.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mark Strange - Hillsboro, MO on Monday, February 13, 2017 - 01:01 pm:

Robert, I applaud your attempts at Google searching and have enjoyed watching your progress on your unique vehicle.

Like you, I'm also grateful when someone who starts a thread with a problem comes back later and reports on how things worked out. :-)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Don Allen - Conroe, TX on Monday, February 13, 2017 - 01:06 pm:

I've run the 54 Ford forum since 2008 and we get a lot of repeat questions there too.

We don't discourage it though. We WANT folks new to 54 Fords to feel welcome.

Our practice is, when a common question comes up, to go find the thread that really answers that question well....and copy and paste a link to that excellent thread in reply to the repeat question.

To just reply with "google it" or "search for it" discourages the new folks and makes them feel unwelcome.

Suggesting that they google with MFTCA as part of their search is a good idea but should be added as a polite suggestion after doing what I describe above.

Of course you're free to take or ignore this advice and it's worth what you paid for it but it's always been my take that we want to encourage new blood...it only makes the hobby more fulfilling and keeps these old buckets on the road after our time is up.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Don Allen - Conroe, TX on Monday, February 13, 2017 - 01:42 pm:

For what it's worth....I've had several people here on this forum do exactly as I've suggested above and for that I am truly grateful


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Gary H. White - Sheridan, MI on Monday, February 13, 2017 - 06:45 pm:

I prefer "duckduckgo.com" for searching. No tracking.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Travis D.W. VanGorder on Monday, February 13, 2017 - 08:47 pm:

I'm very new to model T's. Last year, preparing for an eventual model T purchase, I lurked & looked at every past page (not every post) for my evening reading. I noticed common questions over & over but sometimes the answers were different from other people or the threat drifted into something else interesting & enlightening.
I discovered the google search adding "mtfca" from a suggestion on this forum in those posts. I like using that so I don't rehash old questions for regular posters.
If I can't clearly find an answer I have asked a couple of times & have never felt off put by the responses from knowledgeable forum "old timers" which I appreciate immensely.
It seems like a double edged sword. There are no new model T questions that haven't been asked but I do read a lot of the same ones over & over too.

I read this forum daily & it is very active. I don't want it to become a searchable information base only with no new folks asking questions.

Travis DW VanGorder


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By john f stephens-marcle on Monday, February 13, 2017 - 09:49 pm:

I'm brand new to T ownership, less than 2 months. I'm also new to bloging, and try to use other postings as a guide. I'm sorry if some of these subjects feel so old, but we newbies do need help, and as I recently learned here, and at my local chapter, The Tarheel T's, there are always eager teachers for the curious students...so please be patient with us as we learn... and thank you for all you share. I also enjoy fresh outlooks on old subjects helps keep me feeling young


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mark Gregush Portland Oregon on Tuesday, February 14, 2017 - 12:54 am:

Yes google can be your best friend in a pinch if you are rushed to find a quick answer. But ask anyway. :-)
Even if I have been around for a while, I use it somewhat often to find a subject that has been covered.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tony Barchock Plymouth, Mi on Tuesday, February 14, 2017 - 08:46 am:

The original poster is on the right track but going northbound on a southbound track.

If you want to effectively use google you need to do the following.

site:mtfca.com SEARCH QUERY HERE

So if you wanted info on magneto repair go to www.google.com then in the search bar type

site:mtfca.com magneto repair and you will see this.

http://bit.ly/2lLn6Ke

This can be applied to any site so your search is limited to said site site:WEBPAGE.COM then your search.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Steve Jelf, Parkerfield KS on Tuesday, February 14, 2017 - 09:44 am:

Back in the last century (1999) I set up a website for my business. When I sold the business, I made a new website just as a hobby. One of the ways I use it is answering some of the recurring questions that arise here and on other Model T websites. That saves me having to type the same information over and over, and includes some things I might otherwise forget. So when somebody asks about Champion X plugs, or cooling problems, or how to set timing, I can just post a link showing them my comments. http://dauntlessgeezer.com/DG52.html

Sometimes I see remarks that make it obvious that somebody hasn't bothered to look at any of the links. Those make me think of The Two and Only.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZEyvwhjcFk


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