Is this a case of engineering going beyond what a mechanic should be able to do reasonably?

I am trying to install my improved model bands through the transmission door. Yes, I was able to retrieve them and put new linings on them without too much effort.

However, I have installed all bands in via what is stated in the Ford Bible and for the life of me, I can not get the bands in a position where I can install the detachable ears.

Please, someone tell me, what I am doing wrong?!!

TIA
Tom L.
26 Touring

Tom, It's simple. You pull the band to the center of the transmission cover hole with a wire. You then attaché the ear to the band and push it back to the left side.

Glen, thanks for the info, however, I can not seem to get the bands to come out of the left side far enough to attach the ears.

I would think that the bands would rotate enough around to the pedal side of the trans in order to attach the removable ears. However, they are still too far down to get the ear back on. I was thinking that it was simply a matter of aligning the bands in order to start the ear attachment?

I started with the middle band and was going to proceed with the brake and then the reverse band. This is what the book tells me. The side with the permanent ear does not seem to drop down into the hogshead deep enough to retrieve the detachable ear side far enough to place the ear on.

I must be doing something wrong?

Tom L.

Tom, do you have the detachable ears on the left side? They won't work on the right. Just a thought.

You can grind a little metal off the front side of the ear. This is the top edge lip along the top side. It does not hurt anything . It gives enough clearance to get the brake band ear on. It helps to put a thin wire through the hole in the band in order to pull up far enough . I have done this on 1914- 1925 model T's.

I found that it was easier if I used a different order than the book recommends. Reverse first, brake second, low last. You can put reverse and brake bands around the low drum, then slide them into position. This is especially helpful with the brake band.

try installing the brake band first and hook the left end with a piece of wire to pull it up high enough to install the detachable end. then do the same with the center band and then the front one.

I originally put the bands back in the transmission in the order of, reverse, brake and low band. The low band was the most difficult to get back in. I believe that is what the book states. Also, I never took my new band tool out of it's bag. The one with the looped metal strap and wood handle. You can get a hold of the bands with either a hooked screw driver or a coat hanger. The tool seems not to be necessary.

Today, I will give it another try and see if I can pull the detachable ear side of the band out further.

Thanks to all for your help.

Tom L.

You have more room at the front where the reverse band sits. So start with the brake band. install it at the front and attach the ear, then move it into position at the rear. Same for the low band and finish with the reverse band.

I just replaced mine a few days ago. After trying the wrong way I finally did exactly as Glen is describing above. Worked perfect.

Okay Glen,

Now I know what I am probably doing wrong.

I thought I should install all the bands first and put the ears on afterwards. It now sounds more logical to install each band and ear separately like you described above.

Will give it a try this evening and see how it goes.

Thanks,
Tom L.

Help!
I got the brake band ear on and got the low band ear on. The low ear ended up with the removable ear stuck in the right side of the trans. Ask me how I got it down there, I really don't know.

Anyway, I now have the low gear band rotated too far to the right and stuck in the trans over the reverse band drum. I have tried every which way to get it to rotate including grabbing it with a hook and can not get it to move.

Anyone got any ideas before I end up taking the hogs head off?

Thanks,
Tom L.

Tom, The band tool is like a magic tool, It was the best $20 I have spent on tools. I pulled out the brake band and low band and decided to try and re install the low band because it was ok. First I tried using a wire wow, I could instantly see why this is considered the hardest job on the model t. 5 minute job with the band tool, re lined the brake and had it all back together in less than an hour. I pushed the band tool in on the left side around the brake drum and comes right up around with out any fuss, attach the band to it and pulled it while pushing the band and walla band was in. Now hold it with large screw driver or small bar and install the tab, slid it in place. The brake band was just as easy . It would work best (if you are doing all three bands) to install the reverse band first then low then the brake band. The reason that it works best in this order is the bands are pulled in the easiest around the brake drum because you don't have to bend them so much. I just could't believe how easy they were with that tool. I got mine from Glen after watching a very poor video on u-tube. Worked for me

watch.htm (168.0 k)

https://youtu.be/RJkLUZ13HGM

If the video is on Youtube, go to Youtube, and while the video is playing, copy the entire command line at the top of the screen and paste it into your post, like this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1g2Rxi4hqGg&t=105s

Thanks Mark, for some reason it won't let me copy and paste ?? the command line shows a small lock at the beginning
?? I ended up typing it in. The share line may have something that works.

I've found that the easiest way to install bands with detachable ears through the transmission cover is to remove the hogshead completely and just do it the old-fashioned way

Although it should go without saying I will say what everyone is thinking. If you are using Kevlar linings do not attempt this job. You MUST remove the transmission cover for them.

Trying this job as reviewed above will bend the bands out of round causing the Kevlar to drag and break a drum in short order.

TH

"engineering" has only been getting worse.

Replacing a timing belt on some Audi models looks like this.

Steven that looks to be a rather new car, it needed a belt already?


Geez,and I was whineing about the effort it took to put a new "hvac" motor in my cadi!

In the last couple years I've changed bands 4 or 5 times on different cars ('26 Ford, '24 Ford and '22 Ford). I've always put Kevlar bands in and have never removed a hogsheads to do the job.

It usually takes a couple hours, lots of shop rags (keep track of them), patience, planning and the right tools.

I Have never had a drum crack as a result of one of my band changes using Kevlar bands.

I've found that a gentle yet strong touch with the band tool goes a long way. I've also found wrapping a cable tie around the end of the band tool and the end of the band and "trapping" them together before pulling the band around the drum really helps.

Stuff the transmission with rags before attempting to put the springs, washers and nuts on the pedal shafts and keep track of the number of rags you stuff in there. If you stuff 6 in, make sure you get 6 out.

Also, dental floss tied around the springs, washers and nuts prior to assembling them and leaving a long tail of the floss hanging to the outside of the hogshead is good insurance. That way, if you inadvertently drop a part down into the transmission, you've got a good chance of pulling it out.

One last thing, don't even take the cover off the hogshead without pulling the keys out of the ignition switch.

So, really, pulling the hogshead off isn't really necessary if you take your time and use a sensible approach to the job.

I agree with Mike's post above, but to make it even easier for you, just use one single bed sheet. Its enough material to stuff into the trans to make sure nothing goes amiss and falls in, and you pull it out in one piece knowing you left nothing behind...Just my 2 cents.

John, I've only got the one flannel bed sheet and I share it with the dog and a couple mangy cats. It's the only comfort I've got on cold nights.

Mike, I would certainly never ask you to give up your flannel. Once you sleep on them you will never give them up, even for our beloved T's.

Mike,

You forgot one word in your post. I admire your luck. I hope you have success and keep beating the odds:

"I Have never had a drum crack yet as a result of one of my band changes using Kevlar bands."


IMHO,TH

Terry, I'd love to tell you it's skill not luck but I'm not that foolish. Perhaps I'm lucky. Knock on wood. Seriously though, I don't feel there's a lot of risk in what I'm doing, but I'm also very slow and methodical with my approach. I guess if I thought I was presenting a risk of bending, twisting or messing the bands up some how, I wouldn't do what I'm doing. Also, I don't think I'm the only one that uses this approach. But hey, I've been wrong before. A lot!