Steering Linkage

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2009: Steering Linkage
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Rob on Saturday, October 10, 2009 - 04:13 pm:

Was there different lengths to steering linkage over the years, save for the obvious wide track T differences?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mike Walker, NW AR. on Saturday, October 10, 2009 - 04:43 pm:

This is from the Encyclopedia, accessible from the home page of this site:

STEERING CONNECTING ROD
(“Drag Link”)
Factory Number T-289
7-29-12 Riveted rod adopted. Brazing pin holes at various angles.
11-4-12 Pin holes now drilled in the same direction.
1-9-14 Both ends of brazing pins riveted over.
9-19-14 Length of rod changed from 30-11/16” to 30-11/16—30-3/4”. A month later it was changed again to 31.062—31.125”
7-14-16 Ford design with forged end adopted. Earlier type continued in use (supplied by outside firms).
5-8-17 Ford design now used exclusively.
10-2-17 Length changed to 30.938—31.062”.
5-19-19 Length changed to 30.312—30.438”
Factory Number T-289-B
At the introduction of and for the 1926 models, the length was 31.125—31.250”.
10-7-25 Length changed to 30.812—30.875.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By "Hap" (Harold) Tucker on Saturday, October 10, 2009 - 10:03 pm:

Rob,

Actually if you are building it up from parts it can get a little confusing sometimes. As Ford changed the arms on the spindles to shift the position of the drag link higher so it would easily fit above the wishbone that was now mounted under the axle. The 1911-1919 spindle arms are curved and the late 1919 to 1927 are straight. But you can put the older style spindle arms on a car that has the wishbone under the axle -- they will fit -- but I don't think the drag link (part number 2717 called Spindle connecting rod in the price list of parts) will fit properly. The 1911-1919 spindle arms are curved and the late 1919 to 1927 are straight. And if you have any British Drop Frame parts in that stash -- they are different from the USA and Canadian parts.

See: http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/80257/80333.html?1233523419

http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/29/20557.html?1163256403

http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/29/40382.html

Respectfully submitted,

Hap Tucker 19l5 Model T Ford touring cut off and made into a pickup truck and l907 Model S Runabout. Sumter SC.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Rob on Sunday, October 11, 2009 - 06:34 am:

Thanks Hap and Mike. As Hap knows, it was built from parts. I guess I am going to have to check part numbers, etc and see if they match up (yearwise). I doubt that I have any British drop frame parts, but hey, how would I know?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mike Walker, NW AR. on Sunday, October 11, 2009 - 12:03 pm:

"The 1911-1919 spindle arms are curved and the late 1919 to 1927 are straight."

I believe you have them reversed, Hap.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By "Hap" (Harold) Tucker on Sunday, October 11, 2009 - 05:04 pm:

Mike,

Thank you so much for taking time to share a correction. That is one of the best ways I have for updating the information I post and especially since I often repost what I last posted. In this case I started to change my text to agree with what you shared. But after reviewing the information, I think it is probably correct as it was posted. Please take a look at it again – and see if one or both of us may be looking at it incorrectly. Lord knows I have told people to look at the old car on the right only to have them ask … “Did you mean your other right?” I may be doing that here also.

Below are the primary things that lead me to believe the 1911-1919 spindle arms are straight and the 1919-1927 spindle arms are curved. My beliefs – at least about Model Ts -- are always subject to change when new information becomes available or when I gain a better understanding of the existing information.

Below is the price list of parts picture from Bruce McCalley’s “Model T Comprehensive Encyclopedia CD at http://mtfca.com/encyclo/mccalley.htm (used by permission).



Bruce has the caption that it is typical for the 1912-1916 and a few parts were deleted for the 1917 price list. Note 2696B is for the right hand side for 1911-1915 and has the hole for the speedometer.



Above is a paragraph from the 1919 price list of parts (no 1920 references)/ Note the only spindle arm with a hole is for the right 1911-1915 cars. Note the 2696 will fit left or right. But the 1919 use 2692C is right use only and the 1919 use 2696D is left use only. But from the parts pictures it is difficult to say if it is or is not curved.



From the 1922 price list of parts – not the 2696 C and 2696 D is clearly curved.



Above is the one that “clinched it” for me. Phil Mino had posted this during one of the previous discussion. Note “It has the HOLE for the speedometer” and is therefore clearly the 2696 B. Note that it is straight and NOT curved.



From that same thread Phil Mino posted the 2696 for the left side use 1911 – 1919 use and the right side use for the first 56,000 or so 1911 and then again starting in 1915-1919 when the speedometer was discontinued as standard equipment.

Based on the above I believe the straight arms go with the 1911-1919 with the wishbone above the axle and the curved ones go with the 1919 to 1927 with the wishbone below the axle.


By the way – this wasn’t an easy one for me. Some things that tended to throw me off (that is easy to do) -- John Sizemore’s picture shown below:



The caption helped a lot with this one. As it is on a speedster he built. The tie rod is actually in front of the axle. Note that it has the 1919-1927 curved arms but they are installed upside down so the tie rod is lower rather than higher. Another demonstration that the parts can be mixed and matched. Just be sure they are mixed and matched the way you want and that they are safe.

I also went and looked at the two front axle assemblies I have with the wishbone below the axle and they both had the arms without the curve. I looked in Bruce’s book and other locations and it is easy to find the below the axle wishbone with the straight arms. What gives? In my own case – they are both 1918 front axle assemblies. It appears the previous owners apparently upgraded the front axle by removing the above the axle wishbone and replacing it with the below the axle wishbone – but they kept the straight spindle arms. That means the drag link tends to just touch the wishbone at lease on the front axle still in the car. It still seems to work – but long term I think I will eventually replace the straight arms with curved ones or put the above the axle wishbone back on and add a reinforcement brace below it.

Mike – again thank you for suggesting the correction. It has been educational for me and hopefully it will help others put the axle back together safely.

Respectfully submitted,

Hap Tucker 19l5 Model T Ford touring cut off and made into a pickup truck and l907 Model S Runabout. Sumter SC.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mike Walker, NW AR. on Sunday, October 11, 2009 - 09:24 pm:

Hap -- I'm glad I was able to help further your Model T education. :-) I've certainly learned a lot from your posts over the years.


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