MTFCA Forum

I visited John Baumgarten, in Schoharie, New York about 25 years ago. I don't remember the year, but he had just got an award for setting up at Hershey for 40 years without a missed year. He showed us several Model Ts, some he was trying to sell. That was the first time I ever saw or heard about the...

N.O.S. CRYSTAL TIMERS FOR SALE FOR SALE BY OUR DOWNEAST CHAPTER, ORIGINAL 1920’S CRYSTAL TIMERS THAT HAVE BEEN MACHINED TO FIT THE TIMER COVER. PART OF PROCEEDS BENEFIT MTFCA MUSEUM IN RICHMOND, INDIANA $50.00 (includes postage paid in continental United States) Mail check made out to: Downeast Chap...

Are they all sold out now?

I have one like it, but my step on part got lost.

There was a note 15 or 20 years ago that said the spring was too strong and you had to cut out two loops of wire to make it right.

When I rebuilt my first transmission about 40 years ago, I had difficulty finding anyone that knew the thickness of new clutch disks to determine if they were needed. A random measurement of what appeared to be slightly used original new disks produced an average .0485 measurement. A random selectio...

Seems like I saw a note someplace that the open cars had wood spoke wheels in 1926, and for $60 more, you could get the wire wheels like the closed cars had, wind wings, the radiator nickel plated surround, like the closed cars had and a brown canvas top.

Some New Day Timers have a number by each terminal and the numbers are just going around like clock numbers and they will cause you to put the wires in the wrong order.

1 and 2 might be right or 3 and 4 might be wrong.

If the lever is cast, that is a real early switch and I have one or two that I am not going to restore.

I have four frames I don't need if anyone want to try Ed's plan.

I get $209 plus $11 shipping.

2 sets of late: $139 + $70 = $219 plus $11 shipping.

That brass radiator has the top inlet 3/8th inch off center, but it is hardly noticed until you repair one with the part on wrong side out and then it is 3/4th inch off center.

If you turn the crank just a little bit, and the buzzing stops, you are OK.

If the buzzing continues, you have a problem!

Great News!

Thank you!

Is there anyone still making Model T Radiators here or in China?

If not, is anyone planning to start building them?

The rest of the story is they were made in West Virginia by a member of the Paul family that made 50 specials using original 1922 dies and the E was added to keep the metal from warping.

Cliff Jenkins has the rest of this story his book, "My first 50 Years".

Then, if you don't get the magazine with your number on top of the address, you have move without leaving a new address or your dues have expired.

That little oval part on the left was pressed for a choke and there was no choke wire in those early years, if my memory serves me well!

I have this one that is copper and nickel plated.

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Eagle had stopped making Ford Oil Cans, but Cliff Jenkins organized a 1984 New York to Seattle Cross Country Tour and met someone that owned that factory in West Virginia and they agree to do a small run of about 50 to 100 oil cans for the members that went on the tour. That one with the E on the ca...

My July-August 2025 The Vintage Ford magazine arrived today and gave me something to read this afternoon.

It also gave me two questions.

1. Has anyone ever seen or owned one of these devices that is shown on Page 41?

2. What was the Voltage and Amperage the unit supplied to the Coil Ring?

The Right Side Tail Light Bracket seems to be another part no longer available.

Perhaps another trade secret. You can slowly increase the cranking speed of a HCCT that has two meters and watch the AC Volt Meter reading increase when you increase the speed until the sparks happen around the spark ring. That lets the spark happen at a slightly different voltage level for each coi...

That device will tell you when a coil is bad if you get no sparks.

I cannot tell you the coil has a good capacitor!

There is no capacitor tester on this device.

If the capacitor was not important, the coil would not have one!

Henry was not one to hang on the bells and whistles on his T parts.

Another good plan is to keep a spare restored set, just in case you or one of your friends need some or one.

Some T owners carry one or two, a set of spark plugs, a spare timer and a spare carburetor., along with the spare tire and often a new tube.

Ron and John have been the "best of friends" for many years. That is about the same with Ron and me. Early in production, Ron suggested I should get a StroboSpark and I bought one. A few weeks later, Ron asked me how I liked it. I told him I was going to send my unit back, as it does not seem to wor...

Put another way, "Has anyone ever replaced the points on an original coil and found the capacitor was still good?" I am kind of new yet, I have only been testing coils for 45 years, and I have a Capacitor Tester, an ECCT with the Computer Program, a StroboSpark, A New and Old Stafford Coil Tester, a...

Thank you!

That narrows the list way down now!

Now I just have to fins two of them.

I sent two of those otherwise great shape coils to someone in the mid-west to rebuild.

When I asked about them two years later, I was told they needed new points and none were available.

Evidently there are still no points available!

Open up one of those coils and examine the capacitor. You will find two rolls of tin foil with two rolls of wax paper between them. The capacitor is attached to the two coil points, and they have to be open for measurements. If the capacitor is shorted, rather than open, there will be no sparks at t...

The Fire Truck.

Here is a slightly fuzzy blow up of the only one I have ever found and it was on this early Fire Truck.

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Would anyone recognize what company made this rim and if it was made by Ford or an After-Market Company?

One of our newer club members that lives in Baltimore, MD needs a complete 1926 Roadster Top Frame.

Email Jim Golden for more details.

Look at the carburetor cross view and notice that little tunnel that goes up alongside to the two small holes that straddle the throttle butterfly, one keeps gas flowing for an idle position. They are always overlooked and usually a problem for most "do it yourself" model T owners. A single backfire...

The first question of interest: Did the Magneto ever work? The one I posted above that produced 22 AC Volts at road speed didn't work the first time because someone had patched the Mag Coil Ring with two wire coils that belonged in the other places. Going around with the compass noted the Mag Coil w...

Anyway, they did not have any tacky old tar in them that had to be removed to replace a capacitor.

Then with the Model Year changing on 1 October 1909, or 1 October 1910, you have the Calendar Year vs Model Year argument to deal with, as to which is most important.

Take the lid off one and you will see why no one has ever heard of them.

An easy coil test is to remove the distributor cap and cover (if there is one) to see the points. Slowly turn the crank until the points are closed. Remove the coil wire from the distributor center and hold it about 1/16th inch from the metal area, like the exhaust manifold. The just reach in an ope...

A recent tourist with a Model T group had his T quit and it was the resistor in the roto had burned out.

A 6 Volt Coil on a 12 Volt system might be the problem.

This NOS Brass Fan was found in a General Store on the same location for many years.

The black paint is original on the blades. Contact Jim Golden, Bowie, MD

The rear

brass roller bearing is also there and original.

I use an old Golf Cart Battery Charger that used to charge six 6-volt batteries. It puts out 40 Volts DC and $0 amps DC or a little less if the Mag Coil Ring measures more than 1 Ohm. The Timer was changed to push button and three 5 second Zaps does a full charge. Laying the Mag Coil Ring on the Mag...

Those fan blades look dangerously close to the radiator fins.

The Top Right insulated terminal goes directly to the Magneto Post.

The Lower wire is providing a ground to make the horn blow.

The other end of that wire should go to the horn button.

The other wire from the horn button should go to ground.

Both of the horn wires should be black.

I had a hair from the original fuel line gasket get cought in the needle valve, so the bowl never shut off and kept leaking for quite some time.

I put a cup of Marvel Mystery Oil in my transmission years ago, on someone's recommendation.

That made the brake so slick that I could not stop for miles.

The 1926-27 Canadian top is totally different.

That may be a Canadian top.

I had that problem for a different reason. Most engines will backfire with the mixture leaned too much. It used to seem to be a bigger problem with radial aircraft engines. My first Model T was missing the carburetor air intake funnel. I did not think it was important while driving on clean black to...

I got three set of the NOS cotton bands in the yellow boxes. They were al 20 t0 30 years old. I got 40 miles out of low after stopping about every 5 miles on a 40 mile tour. I was more surprised to see the mid section had burned for about 4 inches on the brake band, when I put in Kevlars for a repla...

I bought his last head at Luray.

They were selling like hot cakes there.

If they were not good, they would not sell as good, as the word gets around, like your note will.

Many years ago, one of our club members had the same problem. Removing the gas tank as a last resort to see what would shake out, a small quarter sized brass top from some product came out. How the part got off the container and still remain completely new and unbent to get in the gas tank was anoth...

Then too, you can sometimes find them at a farm show, as a lot of old tractors used magnetos.

I got this one for $100.

You can make yourself a small test light with a 12 Volt bulb, a socket and two wires with alligator clips on the ends. Clip one wire on the Mag Post and one wire on a bare spot on the engine. Then, start the engine and the bulb should light. If the bulb lights, follow the wire through the connection...

I am kind of new with Model Ts, I didn't get one until 1978.

One question that has never been answered was, "why was the ground changed from negative to positive?"

Have the motel prices already go up for those that wish to attend?

Don Mueller and I will be bringing a trailer with 25 of those black, yellow top boxes full of nothing but Model T parts.

Here are a few:

15 Mostly Rebuilt brass carburetors.

4 New Old Stock Champion X Sark Plugs in the original boxes.

Brass Carbs Photo.jpg

Champion X Spark Plugs Photo.jpg

Don Mueller and I will be bringing a trailer with 25 of those black, yellow top boxes full of nothing but Model T parts.

Here are a few:

15 Mostly Rebuilt brass carburetors.

4 New Old Stock Champion X Sark Plugs in the original boxes.

NO, but it is a lot less than the original.

Brent, that is a great improvement if it can test both the capacitor and secondary coil.

If Mike built it, I know it will work!

I have a TrueFire test set, but I have never been able to find the switching transistors in the Timer Cover. The box is more reliable than the Timer cover. The Test Set is simple to make. A big wing nut, not shown, on the left rotates the Timer Rotor. The metal uprights represent the block. TrueFire...

I have two NOS Originals and a few foot cutouts.

They do not sell good, as they are not legal in any state!

30 years ago, I got 72 psi with domed pistons.

You don't hear much about them anymore, but they did make hill climbing easier.

The Jackrabbit Clutch disk pack was the secret, as it comes with 8 thicker Turbo400 disks and only uses 9 original disks with it, or perhaps 10 and they are available. The main advantage is it improves the ability to shift from Lo to Hi or Hi to Low. Snyders had a set and the transmission is back to...

A friend has a problem that may relate to the TT Truck Rear Axle Ratio. His TT Truck goes slower than most with a top speed of 12 miles per hour. The rear axle ratio must be printed someplace, but I cannot find it. The Model A used the same rear axle with different wheels. Would that axle in a Model...

Carl Earl Megonigle Obituary Carl E. Megonigle, Commander U.S. Navy (Ret’d) passed away peacefully on Monday, April 7, 2025 in Langhorne, Pennsylvania at the age of 90. Carl is the beloved husband of Mary Ann Beatty Megonigle for over 45 years. In addition to his wife, he is survived by his loving c...

For Sale - What is a New Old Stock Champion Spark Plug worth? Email me.

A friend in Maryland has two frames for sale and the price is reasonable. Email me if you are interested.

Dan, thanks for the photos.

Now, I only have to find one that is for sale!

There are plenty of the related disk packs anyway.

Add a prayer for Sam's friend, Ben Martin!

Langs does not have any now!

Don was checked first, as that is where this one came from several years ago.

The problem I have is the center modified gear is on the shaft so tight that it is warped now and still will not come off the transmission shaft. Dave said they can be straightened with a press. That will only work if they can be separated in one piece. That wheel was sold as a Jackrabbit Low Speed ...

Chaffins does not have Part Number 3332 modified with many small grooves to accept the Turbo400 Disks with all the notches listed in their on-line catalog! That is the part number I need and can't find. I will call Dave a little later, after he gets to work. They do have the equipment to make that p...

Is the Turbo400 Inner Clutch Disk a thing of the past or is someone still making them?

I am having a problem finding one.

Get your room reservation ahead of time or you may be sleeping in your car.

Getting several nights in a row there now is getting rather difficult.

You can stay for the weekend Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday Tour, if you have signed up.

A few years ago, I was helping a friend replace the exhaust pipe and muffler on a TT Truck. The nut could not be loosened with the original wrench made for that purpose. We had an audience, so my friend warmed the nut with his torch. I explained to the crowd that a strong pull on the wrench was bett...

The little book that came with original HCCTs noted that double sparks were OK to have, but then electricity was rather new and not fully understood yet.

Those pieces are all a cut to specks, pound to fit, and paint to match, as near as I can tell for sure.

I have not heard of anyone having a problem with the Prus Head. I have not heard of anyone having a crack in a Prus Head. I do know the difference between the stock head and Prus Head is several horsepower. I do know that Model Ts climb hills much better with the Prus Head! The actual number is not ...

Then there are the wire wheels, are they the same wheels for the 1926 USA and Canadian Ts?

I was told yesterday by a man that has a 1926 Canadian T that the tires he bought do not fit the wheels.

This Red Truck has retired to Delaware, but still runs well.

Reeder is the only one to make a high compression low head that I have found.

The only difference is the height and number on the lower rear left side.

A 1926 Canadian Model T.

The Made in Canada 1926 Model Ts had electric cowl lights.

That Timer was the 4th patent that Ira T. Leager held, but apparently he never made any money with any of them. He was born in Delaware in 1877, married in Delaware in 1899 and they soon moved to Salisbury, MD, where he was a Life Insurance salesman in 1900. He was a blacksmith and had a shop in Mas...

I have some of those someplace here. The guy that patented that Timer never had a factory in Ridgely, just a Model T and other cars repair garage. A local Model T Club used to meet in Ridgely and I did some research on those Timers. I never found anyone that ever had or used one or what if anything ...

The latest plan is to have everyone write down the things they have done for the year.

Then fire the ones that do nothing!

That drawing on how to bend the gas line is confusing to a lot of people. There is no mention as to which end goes in the sweet potato. I have always thought it should come straight forward, then bend over in front of the exhaust pipe. For most year Ts that works fine for me, and you have to cut off...

That program knows how to keep the hackers out for sure!

Does anyone remember this part or know what it was used for, of why it is no longer used?

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Wanted A Wheel Jack or a reason why they are no longer available.

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I have a few or a lot.

I can send one fully charged for a test comparison.

Henry Ford said the magnet was charged enough if it would lift a piston.

My charge will lift two pistons taped together.

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I still have two working Fun Projects Beepers, but I might purchase one, if it has a capacitor test for sure. When I bought my StroboSpark, I thought I would have to send it back, as I had tested over 40 coils and they all had a bad capacitor. I was telling Ron Patterson about my capacitor issue. Ro...

If you fill the radiator full for a hot day tour, and the overflow is even a little bit plugged.

The radiator will look like this of the air temperature is 98 degrees.

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When I bought my 1927, I had to get new floorboards, as those were all covered with a thick layer of carbon, because the exhaust pipe was cherry red and started the fire. The temperature was only about 40 degrees on that late fall tour in Maine and the owner just thought everyone had started their w...

I had a problem years ago that only one area of the manifold was getting red like that.

I found that due to a bad coil, one cylinder dumped the gas charge in the exhaust manifold, and the next cylinder to fire ignited the charge in the manifold with that discharge, also due to the timing being off.

Well, now I know some people read my concerns, as I was told the Part Number is 3051 and not 5051.

I do have a set of Standard Size Aluminum Pistons and Rings that are very seldom used, but maybe I will find a buyer some day!

Who has cornered the market on Inside Oil Lines?
Who has some?

Many years ago, I was a U S Navy instructor. All the coursed I taught had lessons on a Logical Trouble Process for Testing the equipment. One stressed importance was a case where you have a minor problem and a major problem. You always fix the minor problem first, as it is often the cause of the maj...

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