MTFCA Forum

Allan

One of the tasks undertaken to return Henrietta to service was the fitting of new rear axle seals and lined brake shoes. There was so much grease and gritty stuff clogging up the works that one side was almost filled. There was evidence that the right hand side shoes and springs had been scraping, e...

Allan

If you buy a new one from the vendors, check the attachment to the tube. A little rework on the tube often means the funnel needs some re-bronze work to ensure firm attachment.

Allan from down under.

Allan

Hank, that is how I make mine, holes drilled and tapped just for that purpose, as I mentioned in an earlier post. If for some reason they are pressed in, it may take a press to get them out again .That will require some tricky bits to engage on the inner end of the spiggot and to support the backing...

Allan

Mark's observations are in sync with mine. If I can post such observations before potential purchasers enter the fray, I do so to help. Once a buyer has entered the fray, such observations may queer a sale, and I am hesitant to chime in. How do others feel about these matters? I work from a base tha...

Allan

Speaking of signs, I saw one at a plant nursery last week. "If a man says he will fix it, he will, without a reminder every 6 months."

Allan from down under.

Allan

Roger, if you don't score one locally, I have a few.

Allan from down under.

Allan

Are the iron man's legs and nose a modified front wishbone?
Allan from down under.

Allan

These photos show how mine work. 20191208_173714.jpg The wire clip carrying the bulb holder simply fits into the groove around the light and the wire is threaded through the vent at the top. 20191208_173714.jpg Here the clip is removed to show details. These are tail/stop lights using a two pole soc...

Allan

Or, rather than cutting costs, is it to shorten the life span of tyres to sell more? With today's virtual monopoly on production of tyres for a model T, cost cutting is meaningless when there is no competition in the market place. But if they can sell more of an inferior product, that will do nicely...

Allan

I made my own. I bent up a circle of Hi tensile fencing wire to clip into the rim of the lamp, leaving a leg into the centre of the lamp. To this leg I soldered a tail light globe holder from an 80's Japanese. Later models have plastic holders, so they are no good. The wiring is fed in through the v...

Allan

Ralph, if the aim is to create a passable early pan out of a later one, there are other things to consider. later pans have the rolled edge all round the pan rail, the pressing shape at the wishbone ball mount is different, the pan arms are different, as is the casting at the rear. If we know your a...

Allan

Making the whole exercise more difficult is the strength of the reproduction springs offered. I have found them way too strong to comfortably compress at times. I use springs selected from a parts house offering. These are also much easier on aluminium hoods on early cars.

Allan from down under.

Allan

I believe that tool was designed to pull tubless tyre valve stems into the rim. It sure works well for that. It is also handy when installing truck tyres and the various stem configurations used on those. I have never had the occasion to use it on a T, but then I have never mounted tyres on wooden f...

Allan

Phillip, how then do you remove the tape before the hub engages on the taper?

Allan from down under.

Allan

Keith, are you saying that the two beads and the valve stem are wider than the distance between the edges of the rim? If fitting one side of a clincher tyre first, then trying to stuff the tube in and get the valve stem down the hole, I can see why some resort to notching the bead. As you pull the u...

Allan

Eric, the difference is in the terminology. A floating hub takes the weight off the axles and transfers it to the axle housing, like it does in trucks. A "safety" hub is a floating hub with a retainer of some sort to stop the wheel coming off the spiggot. When fitting "safety" hubs, how is the inner...

Allan

When I made these I found considerable variiation in the diameter and the machined finish in the axle housings. Consequently, the clearance between the spiggot and the housing means a press fit is not readily achievable, or necessary. I do not install them with solicone as a seal because it can make...

Allan

Here's what I mean. Old tyre with wide beads. No notch needed. 20191204_123403.jpg You can use a clamp on both sides of the stem if you like, but one will do. 20191204_123403.jpg Tbere is no flap in this assembly, rather a rim liner cut from a discarded 13" inner tube. Both beads are levered on toge...

Allan

I cannot believe that there is still a need to cut a notch in the narrow beads on tyres available today. I have never mounted a 3" tyre, but even with old, wide footed 30 x 3.5" tyres there is no need for the notch, if you fit BOTH sides of the tyre at the same time. With the tube inflated just enou...

Allan

John, just be aware that if you need to replace the latch pieces, be sure to offset them as in the last few photos. The pin needs to be wholly on one side of the split. If you have the pin centred over the split, which seems intuitive, you will not be able to split the rim and mount tyres. I have a ...

Allan

John, I bought a tub of model T nuts and bolts at a collector's clearing sale, just to get the Stromberg choke control that was in the tub. That tub goes with me to swap meets and all contents are 10 cents a piece. Numerous buyers ferret through it looking for their needs. I keep it topped up whenev...

Allan

Donnie, as far as I know, the only bolts without split pin holes are those which go into blind holes and do not use a nut, eg. the two lower bolts on the universal joint ball go into a thread in the pan, so no pin holes. The two top ones have nuts and pin holes. So, all pan bolts continued to have p...

Allan

Nice work again Martynn. I am not at all familiar with that style of sediment bulb, so these observations may not apply. The standard drain petcock has a tapered thread to fit it wherever it is needed. Hence the washer you show is redundant. It would be needed if the tap had a parallel thread and a ...

Allan

Matt, that looks like a shackle pin to me. The knorled section may screw off to be filled with grease. The wingnut would be wound out to accept the grease in the cup, and wound in somewhat to force grease into the shackle. A more complicated way of doing the same thing as a Ford greaser as used on t...

Allan

I bought a few of those electric tail lamp bodies at Chickasha in 2010, including two Brown made ones. Mated with a RHD version, and fitted with two pin sockets, they make a matched pair of left and right stop tail /lights. I have one left in stock, so I guess I can restore one more car! Allan from ...

Allan

Mark, I have never seen a Ford script tail light lens like that. Most of or Canadian sourced lenses were much darker in colour then that you show. They are characterised by a 1/2" round flat spot in the centre of the lens on the outside. There are many replacements available in the lighter red you s...

Allan

The front and centre caps are different! I must go and check my stocks. I had never realised that.

Allan from down under.

Allan

I have always laid one piece of natural coloured burlap/hessian over the timbers first. To reduce the imprint of the timbers a THIN sheet of padding is next. I use dacron sheeting because it hods together and is not effected if it gets wet. That comes from a shop stocking quilting supplies. it comes...

Allan

Kevin, I would start again with your fuel system. There is no need for an electric fuel pump in a T, so that can go. It would seem that your car is fitted with a modern carburetor from a small engine. That should go too. If there is any fuel filter, that will restrict flow as well, and it should go ...

Allan

If you don't send it back, how can the vendor ever know that it was not a serviceable part? They need to know so that the suppliers can rectify the problem. It is not the end user's responsibility to ensure the product is fit for use by re-working it. That said, if you are unsure of it's status, ask...

Allan

Steve, if Hagerty will pay postage to Australia and back, we have the most excellent brass light restorer here in South Australia. His work is world renowned, but not exorbitantly priced to reflect this. He did all the lights on my 1912 van, and just recently repaired a hinge on one side light, free...

Allan

Dave, this is my 13 tooth pinion gear. It is barely polished and still shows machining marks on both sides of the teeth. Chaffin's 1916 catalog price was $175. I can let this one go for $150, including postage to your door. If you don't want it, others may chime in. Allan from down under. 20191123_0...

Allan

Ed, your year frame may need revising. My 1915 tourer had pressed steel brackets which used two holes to mount to the firewall and still used the two holes on the top of the frame rail like the three hole forged brackets used earlier. Mine was a Canadian sourced car, so this may not apply to US prod...

Allan

Steve, the best solution is to have a pro do the work. New flares would be most satisfactory. If you want to have a go first, you may be able to save some cash. I would use a press to get things back in shape before working on any dents. The damaged section of the flare needs to be supported from be...

Allan

Dave, if that chip is the worst of the ring gear, I would not be too quick to discard it. If you need a 13 tooth pinion, I have a nice one I removed from my speedster before I sold it. Maybe 5000km only. I kept the 39 tooth ring gear and used it with a 12 tooth pinion in my roadster. Let me know if ...

Allan

Garland, whenever I fit a Z head, I always have pistons one and four at the op of the stroke to position the head gasket so there is proper clearance. There is enough variance in gaskets and heads to cause interference problems if things are not aligned. Hand crank the motor over before you tension ...

Allan

Tommy, there is at least 1/4" of adjustment.I discovered this when I mistakenly cut the stems on some modern replacement valves to the wrong groove on the two piece collets. There was enough length in the adjusting bolts to compensate, but I wouldn't recommend winding them out that far. Allan from d...

Allan

John, just make sure you switch to the battery position on the switch!

Allan from down under.

Allan

Brendan, I had a similar event. The root cause was low coolant level. Number 4 piston got quite hot, enough to leave aluminium scored onto the cylinder walls as it seized. This may be what you are seeing. At the same time the gudgeon pin also became rather tight in that piston. The good news is I wa...

Allan

Don, it's not an uncommon occurrence. You only need to shorten the odd bolt which causes the interference. The others can be left as is.

Allan from down under.

Allan

Great find Jeff. I was lucky to have the tail light for my 1915. Finding one missing sidelight was not so difficult. If anyone you know needs a pair of fork mounted electric headlight buckets, I have a pair, with most of the original black paint still covering the inside.

Allan from down under.

Allan

Garland, if you put a straight edge along the block face you may be able to determine the area which might be low and its depth. This can be compensated for by cutting a brass shim of suitable thickness, and inserting that under one layer on a copper head gasket. This is not a permanent fix, but wil...

Allan

DON, I can still give your F truck a good home. It would look mighty good at Chickasha with a load of new purchases in the back, heading for the west coast and beyond.

Allan from down under.

Allan

In Australia, so when I found this little fellow at last weekend's Bendigo swap meet, I thought he may have US origins. Is this so?

He is chrome plated brass, but would look nicer in brass on an original dogbone I withdrew from my sales stuff.

Allan from down under.

Allan

I wonder what keeps the pin in place? Had I the need to fit these, the shaft would be chucked in the lathe, a deep groove machined at the cam and shaft interface, and a substantial weld used to fill the groove. All the while it was fitted I'd be looking for some good original forged pieces. Assembli...

Allan

I recently discovered a Paterson speedo drive unit, with the brass two piece spiral drive gear, but it needs a new fibre pinion gear for the drive shaft. Are they available anywhere?

Allan from down under.

Allan

John, that Bendix may not be for a T. To my eyes, the colar on the end of the spiral is not as wide as that on a T Bendix.
Hope this may avoid some angst.
Allan from down under.

Allan

John, four bolts do hold the rim on the wheel, but that is only part of the story. The rims are designed to be jammed onto the felloe by the tension in the four rim bolts. It is this jamming of the rim which provides the binding between the two components that keeps the rims tight on the felloes, an...

Allan

The best use of these I have seen was in New Zealand. The fellow who makes the best hickory spoked wheels, for any make and model of car, had a set of T drums and clutch mechanism in the drive line for his big old lathe on which he machined out the centre hole for the hubs and trued the faces or the...

Allan

Scott, in the interests of accuracy, I found a box of such screws in the stuff I just loaded for the Bendigo swap meet. They are labeled as chipboard screws! My theory is that tapered wood screws would tend to work out of chipboard, but parallel threaded screwd would maintain their hold. While chipb...

Allan

Don, this may/may not be helpful. My 1915 Canadian tourer had firewall to frame brackets whjch still bolted to the top of the frame rail. They were unlike the previously forged 3 hole brackets, being made from flat strip. They followed the frame at the foot, bent upwards and then back fown again, to...

Allan

John, that small upset around the valve hole is to protect the valve stem. By adding to the thickness of the hole for the valve stem, there is less likelihood of damage to the stem. This is particularly welcome when using rubber stemmed tubes.

Allan from down under.

Allan

Not infrequently I have found the square under the head of the bolt has been upset a little to keep the wheel bolt captive in the felloe. Such bolts have to be driven out of the felloe to remove them. This may be something to do with loose lug rims used on our Canadian sourced cars. Allan from down ...

Allan

You can cheat a little length in the stud by winding the lower nut on just far enough to get the split pin in. Then back the plate off until it binds on the nut. This often means two or the thread coils are left above the plate.

Allan from down under.

Allan

George, what you show is a self tapping screw used in metalwork. Wood screws will have a tapered thread for its length and there will be some plain shank. Once installed, the appearance will be the same.

Allan from down under.

Allan

Steve, the rear spring perch bushing is 2". Front ones are 1.5". That makes a difference when making estimations. I still don't know what the washer is!

Allan from down under.

Allan

Harry, if the car came from the Spokane club, it is likely the one I helped to put together at a national tour in Post Falls , Idaho in the late 90's/early 2000's. There were three teams competing against the clock that day. To make our team of 6, we Aussies included one lady and a New Zealander, so...

Allan

Art, sometimes after a hundred years and lots of re-working, things just don't match up. Check all we can throw up for you, and if the answer is not found, there is no reason why you can't shave a little off the bottom of the bracket to get the fit you need. I know in the ideal world it will work, b...

Allan

Kevin, that is a good thought, but I don't think it is correct either. That washer is quite thin. The base is flat, and the sides are at right angles rather than rounded as this one shows. The transition from the flat to the right angled sides is quite narrow and sharper than this one. I can't find ...

Allan

Darryl, I'm not sure they didn't run concurrently. Perhaps they were from different suppliers. The majority of our Canadian sourced cars had the squared holes.

Allan from down under.

Allan

If you blokes bought a new refrigerator and it wouldn't keep food cold, would you not go back to the seller for a replacement? Why are faulty tubes something to be worked around to try and make them work as they should? Is it not the seller's responsibility to sell goods fit for purpose? I don't get...

Allan

Charles, it might save some angst if the 12/14 fitting range is explained. On a 12 model, the bracket pieces are all the same because the windscreen fits vertically on the dash. On the 13/14 screens, the lower half of the screen slopes to the rear. This means the two front pieces of the brackets are...

Allan

Scott, our Canadian sourced cars all came with Kelsey loose lug wheels until at least mid 1925, and even the early ones in that range were still loose lug type. So we only saw welded lug 23" rims in the latter part of 1925, prior to the improved cars with 21" wheels. My barn find original 1925 ute h...

Allan

If a tube will not hold air, it is not fit for the purpose for which it is made and sold. Perhaps they should be replaced by the vendor. He/they need to sort this out with their suppliers. Tubes used to hold air, so it's not unreasonable to expect them to do so now.

Allan from down under.

Allan

John, quite apart from the finish for rims, the photo you posted shows a rim I would reject. The bead is heavily rust pitted and quite rough on the edges. Beginning T modellers without previous experience are often unaware of how a good rim looks and how much heavier a good one is. Allan from down u...

Allan

I made my own using a front frame cross member, to fit my KC Warford. It is spring loaded too, and that spring is adjustable to vary the the support offered. By spring loading the mounting/support, wracking in the frame can still go on with no detrimental effect.

Allan from down under.

Allan

Go for it! 3.25:1 works great in my roadster.

Allan from down under.

Allan

I have a pair of thrust washers which certainly look like babbit material. They are silver rather than dull grey like the originals. i have been tempted to use them, but have always resisted the urge and gone with bronze replacements. Is there an easy way to identify if they are truly babbit materia...

Allan

Thanks David, I've learned something today.
Allan

Allan

Scott, I believe you are correct in saying that the rims should wedge against the inside ledge on the felloe, and the wheel bolts just maintain that wedging effect, but I also believe that this is true only for welded lug rims, which have a wider rolled edge on the inside of the felloe. Kelsey loose...

Allan

Richard, it is a bit hard to see what is going on with the shoes in place on the backing plate. Can you take them off and put them in the drum, with a spacer the width of the cam? That will show you what you are dealing with. You do need a little clearance, to allow the cam to rotate a little as it ...

Allan

I am not familiar with TT wheels so this comment may be way out of order. The felloes on your rear wheels have a depression on which the end of the spokes rest. On a 23" wheel this would indicate that the felloe had been modified to make spokes fit tighter in the wheel, and that someone had already ...

Allan

David, did you mean Chev rims on Ford wheels? Chev rims are easily picked, the lug nearest the valve stem being slotted. Chev rims are wider than T rims, and this means that the lugs will stand further off the felloe than a T rim, as the rims bind on the inside edge of the felloe. Allan from down un...

Allan

Going on proportions, that is a front shackle bush. I don't see a valve stem use for the washer, unless it is used under a repop bridge washer with no inbuilt ridge.

Allan from down under.

Allan

That's the second time in a month or two I have seen spindle arms with the speedo mount hole re-purposed for a different application. Previously they were used as one of the mountings for motorcycle disc brake calipers used on the front axle of Fronty powered T roadster. Very neatly done, and easily...

Allan

John,Scott is right about the fixed lug rims. Unless the rim/ felloe have been left loose and have worn, there should be a gap. However, loose lugs also should stand off the felloe, each foot of the lug registering on the rim and felloe nothing, with the flat between them not touching the felloe. Al...

Allan

Terry, if your measurements are correct, they are not for a Ford. They are rear perches and need to be 2" wide, and I think the shackles have 9/16" pins.
Allan from down under.

Allan

Listen to Steve. If you have the correct combination of original components, there will be no problems getting a belt to fit. Photos WILL help.

Allan from down under.

Allan

There was a set of double arm shocks listed for sale in the classifieds recently which need that type of perch. Here in Australia Duncan and Fraser offered English made Richards Wilcox double arm shocks which require the same type of perch. These interpose the arms between the spring and the perch u...

Allan

Gene, I don't know if this is of any help, but I have always used proper tyre mounting lubricant when fitting tyres. It dries out quickly, unlike many of the soapy solutions some use. I suspect there was something else going on in your case, but possibly a rather too slippery lubricant may have play...

Allan

I was anti the child seat restraint laws introduced for old cars in the eastern states when they were introduced. No restraint, no ride until the kids are 8 years old. Then they brought it in in our state. My son and I devised mountings in the back seat of my 1924 tourer, two sets actually. The loop...

Allan

My good friend Chris got me back on the air and able to post photos again. I guess I still nned further instruction on how to get them to stay where I put them. Have fun sorting the correct caption for each.

Allan from down under.

Allan

First you see them.

Now you don't.

I mounted the brake lights and turn singles on hinged flaps so they could be clippedup under the tray when Henrietta was on display.

Like this.

Allan from down under.

Allan

Mark, if I spent the time getting as organised as you, I wouldn't get anything done. The only spreadsheet I have is used to throw over stuff on which I don't want paint overspray. As for expendidtures, if I kept a record of those and my wife found out, well............... I much rather keep the peac...

Allan

Steve, that's what makes original parts different from reproductions. the stamped, flanged wheel lug nuts on Kelsey loose lug wheels often have the threaded hole off centre to varying degrees. The excellent replacements available are fully machined, perfectly formed and accurately drilled and thread...

Allan

Tim, whatever it fits, it is not a good design. Fine threads like that are more easily stripped when pressure is applied, and some T wheels require a good deal of pressure. A far better puller has a pinch bolt which allows the puller to be clamped down tightly on the threads once full thread engagem...

Allan

Bob, it was a Waltham stem wind car clock. The back screws off and the hole which was soldered closed, took a stud and wingnut to fix it to a metal dash. I just love the sound of the mechanism as it works. They are delightful pieces. Mine comes with a funny story. I bought it from an antique store i...

Allan

I am lucky with my chocolate van. There is a small, modern cylinder and an old, two gauge regulator on top. With this set-up, the headlights can be adjusted way down so you have parking lights!

Allan from down under.

Allan

William, the plug spanner is a good one to use. Some are not. The T 2333 camshaft nut toll is almost useless, because the offset in the handle pulls the jaws off the nut, deforming it at the same time. I usually go modern in tools, but when time is of no consequence, it is nice to see what can be do...

Allan

Looking at the first photo, I am seeing a definite stepped shoulder on the front hubs. That would indicate that these are wooden wheel hubs, worth far less than wire wheel hubs. If they are wire wheel hubs, they would be the most valuable part, followed by the Hasslers.

Allan from down under.

Allan

Just Google Fuel Tank and radiator Services and you will find them under parts/tools. The price will surprise you.

Allan from down under.

Allan

Larry, in the 1970's a restorer here had a couple of hundred springs wound. Only trouble was, they sprang the oiler open rather than shut!!!! Oops. i don't know how many replacements he had made, but he died years ago.

Allan from down under.

Allan

Any connector is a possible source of failure. It is easy to extend wires by splicing the two ends together and soldering the joint. Heat shrink is your friend to insulate the joint. Sometimes I have even cut the existing wire shorter to make the joint where it cannot be seen.

Allan from down under.

Allan

Jed, if you have new kevlar linings, I would advise that you adjust them until they work. This will mean some trial and error adjustment to get them set initially. The idea is to have them set so you have maximum clearance between the bands and the drum, to avoid any drag, while still having the ban...

Allan

Are these gizmos fitted because the carburetor leaks?

Allan from down under.

Allan

I have resorted to this a couple of times to rescue Hayes wire wheel felloes. After sitting in the dirt some 8" had to be cut out and replaced. I veed out the joints on the outside and filled the V with weld, and then followed the joint with a weld on the inside. The inside was left unfinished as it...

Allan

They are Australian made and available from Fuel Tank and Radiator Services. You will be pleasantly surprised by the price, especially if you order a few sets for the one parcel. When re-fitting Henrietta's original manifold after our national Tour, I found it to be bent almost 1/8". These rings are...

Allan

Often those bodies were easily removed. The trucks were trucks during the week, and the charabanc was fitted for weekend tourist work. I have some photos of other makes set up for this purpose.

Allan from down under.

Allan

Every time my elder son is transported in the ambulance, we score sheets and cotton blankets as they are no longer laundered. The sheets are dustproof and the blankets hold them down. This is one small upside to being 24hr carers.

Allan from down under.

Allan

I still don't get why the plugs are pulled. Whenever I have to flat tow a T on a rope, either a stiff new re-build or just a broken down car, the plugs are left in place. Given, the car is hard to push manually with the plugs in, but it makes no difference when towing. Except there's no mess, and th...

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