MTFCA Forum

Professor Fate

Anyone ever try black pepper? A few tablespoons? Radiator
Shop says use pepper! Also, the bars leak tabs have
always gotten me home.

Professor Fate

Greetings.... I had the Viton needle sticking in a NH. I used a dremel with a polish tip and some mag/chrome polish to get the Viton needle to slide freely so as to be close and open without issue. Don't polish the Viton tip, just the shaft of the needle. It worked for me and stopped it from overflo...

Professor Fate

Btt............

Professor Fate

It's for the original Clarks Trading Post "Wolf Car"

Professor Fate

Looking for a Franklin steering box used
in speedster and sprint cars. Please
SEND A MSG.
THANKS!!!

Professor Fate

Dan Hatch wrote: ↑
Wed May 07, 2025 1:46 pm
Are you running a hot air pipe?

You might be making carb ice even with the hot air pipe.
When it bucks and stalls, open the hood and look to see if your carb and intake are wet on exposed outside surfaces. If wet, you have ice.

Professor Fate

Stitch it! Gotta be somebody local to you
that does it. My guy is in Milbury Massachusetts.

Professor Fate

Does Jay Leno own any model T's?
Does anyone know if his car collection was impacted by the fires?

Professor Fate

Wrong coast for me. Wish it was local. I'd be after it!

Professor Fate

I had a sticky one. Fixed it by polishing the non viton covered sides so it glided effortlessly from closed to open. Problem solved. Used a dremel with polishing tip and maguire mag/chrome polish. The viton tip was gently wiped, and I swabbed a q tip with brake cleaner in the seat where the viton se...

Professor Fate

20230517_134135.jpg Professor Fate's secret recipe for a straight thru shotgun muffler.... From the stock t exhaust pipe, one inch and a half to two inch flare, welded to eighteen inches of two inch pipe, with another inch and a half to two inch flare turned around with the small side inserted and ...

Professor Fate

I took the inoperable map light off my '26 dash and got a weather proof modern button (20 amp) and a fuse. The button fit perfectly in the pre-existing map light hole. The repro switch I have had no spring back feel to it. The repro switch is on a shelf. I can change it back to stock easily if I cho...

Professor Fate

Pictures please?

Professor Fate

Hi!
A good tank should be in the $125-$150 range. Give the tank a shake....
If it rattles, you've got loose baffles. Chaffins and Lang's
Might be good starts to inquire...
Best of luck,
Dan

Professor Fate

Is there a local T club that has somebody that
can help?

Professor Fate

Some thoughts..... Clean your sediment bulb. Gently clean the Viton needle tip, and the seat with a q tip. Check to make sure the needle moves freely up and down from closed to open. I polished the needle sides with a dremel to ensure minimal friction. Check float height and make sure your float is ...

Professor Fate

I had my '26 with excessive toe out ... the car handled very poorly and was wildly dangerous to drive until i set the toe properly. Huge learning experience! Is the tie rod in ok shape? It's a hollow tube that can bend or even flex. Also, if your steering bracket bushing is worn and the steering sha...

Professor Fate

Check the toe in? Maybe somehow it needs to be reset?

Professor Fate

In 3 yrs of driving the car, it's not been like this.... I'm thinking I bent the rod that goes thru the block to the carb, and it's rubbing or tweaked.. Spring tension from a bowed rod may be what's forcing it to move. Gotta look... I remembered I had the carb off to clean and blow it out back in M...

Professor Fate

Les Schubert wrote: ↑
Sat Aug 31, 2024 11:11 am
Having driven T’s for 49 years, I have to ask, WHY?

Thought I'd try one... my throttle lever is creeping from closed to open. I gotta take a closer look at it anyway.

Professor Fate

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Any sell them or have a plans drawing to make one?

Professor Fate

I've had issues with the valve sticking in the seat. Could it be the California gasoline? Try polishing the sides of the bottom of the needle with a dremel and mag/chrome polish. I had a sticky needle that I fixed using this method. The needle has flat sides which makes it easy to do.... just a tho...

Professor Fate

Brevard is a beautiful place. We've had friends move there too

Professor Fate

check out the following show. 2nd topic is a private collection of T cars/stuff. The young guy in the video is responsible for me having T's.... CHECK out the very rare body on the "estate car." Only one known to exist!!!
https://youtube.com/@chroniclewcvb?si=SAT35ZuRJ-2plDhB

Professor Fate

There are places in the south that have a slab 3 bed 2 bath 2 car selling for $280k or less. And property tax ranges from $700 to $1800. Sell high and buy low!

Professor Fate

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Professor Fate

I wanted to do a few things on my T's but have held off. Haven't wanted to spend the money
..

Professor Fate

I didn't want to violate the "rules," so I started a thread on OT. CHECK it out.

Professor Fate

Thought I'd start something in OT to keep the other forum clear of my disgust..... there's a good thread developing but I did t want to violate content rules.... My homeowners policy has doubled in 6 yrs. My property tax (poverty tax) has also doubled from $4200 to $8000+. Groceries are up by 30%-40...

Professor Fate

I've been advised by the local national vendor to replace old original fans with the new modern repro.
A friend has experimented with a new plastic multiblade sold for the model A. That fan is an excellent performer that cools well. It moves a lot of air.

Professor Fate

Sorry if I missed this being discussed here.... but what about spark,throttle, and mixture settings?

Professor Fate

How are our old cars going to fair with this type of thing going on???
Future headline....
" DRIVERLESS CAR KILLS HORSE"

Full article here:
https://dailycaller.com/2024/07/05/body ... site-lane/

Professor Fate

iffdemages.jpeg from blue oval: "This accessory type replacement spring snaps around the crossshaft and locks onto brake pawl. It is not visible when installed" unnamed.jpg Don't trust the brake until you have a serviceable brake pawl with notches that hold, and you have the spring in place to keep...

Professor Fate

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Professor Fate

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Professor Fate

Pic came to me via f'book. I see the pixel shenanigans now....

Professor Fate

What the heck went on here? Wow!

Professor Fate

Thanks Pat,
Was thinking same. No water pump set up.

Professor Fate

Yes, I'd prefer antifreeze. Distilled water cost is less. I'm cheap.

Professor Fate

I drained the radiator this spring and put distilled h2O in as usual. I had it boiled out 10 yrs ago. Maybe it's time to do that again. It might be possible the mixture was a tad lean. Timing was right on. No issue there. Older radiator so maybe the fins are shrinking away from the tubes too. Lots o...

Professor Fate

I'll reset and adjust mixture next time I run it.

Professor Fate

Can running a T engine with spark plugs gapped at .030 run hotter and almost be overheating vs. running with a gap of .025? Will an .025 gap run the engine cooler? My '23 would always run with the moto meter half way up the circle. This year it's running at the top of the circle on a 65f day. The o...

Professor Fate

Thank you!

Professor Fate

What's this spring loaded ball for? Lubrication point?

Professor Fate

30 years ago I had the 14 gallon tank in my homebuilt experimental Cassutt IIIM airplane crack and leak avgas. The tank was aluminum. *We soaked and rinsed the tank for 2 weeks with various soaps and water. *We then pressurized the tank to 2 psi with Argon gas to prevent any residual fumes from Ign...

Professor Fate

Tabs failed.

Professor Fate

I'm not a fan of the new repro tabbed starter switch. I had one fail on me and weld itself on continually cranking the motor. Fortunately I had a master kill switch within reach.
My preference is to seek an old switch you can refurb using parts from a supplier.

Professor Fate

The ethanol apparently allows the water to dilute and be suspended in the gas giving the gas a foggy or milky hue if mixed or shaken. See the picture I've posted for reference. The water will separate if the fuel is left alone and not disturbed. Clear gas will collect at the top, and water at the bo...

Professor Fate

I think the MMO or C foam would be best, along with taping the vent hole in the T cap. I think the big thing about water is more about storage than during the car operating season, unless you get garbage gas from the pump. Like I said earlier, I think I made a big oops by not treating my fuel for st...

Professor Fate

Tape over the vent hole will help. But one must remember to remove it before each run.

Professor Fate

What's popular [product additive] for treating 10% ethanol gasoline to prevent water accumulation? What's your best and worst experience?

Professor Fate

Will do. Thanks!

Professor Fate

Issues all resolved... water in gas and a New Day having a "bad day." Drained the gas and refilled with fresh fuel, and I refaced the timer to clean up that mess. Car's running great again. I also regapped plugs, checked out the NH carb, and had my coils tested. Evidently I made the mistake of putt...

Professor Fate

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Professor Fate

Foggy fuel isn't helping any either.
More work to be done tomorrow.....
Checked a bunch of things today. Will start it tomorrow after more work.

Professor Fate

Steve's comment about brush condition made me look at the picture closer. The brush surface looks like it's far from being smooth based on the scraping on the timer contacts and plastic.
If anyone close to me has an ECCT, please reach out to me.
Thanks as always.

Professor Fate

Will check spark plugs as you say.

Professor Fate

Was and still is on the car. Only has 400 miles on it.
I used some 400 and 600 sandpaper to clean it up along with brake cleaner. Still runs like crap.

Professor Fate

Coils checked by my over qualified and expert friend today on a Robo Strobe.
I have new plugs to swap, and a new NEW DAY TIMER to install. If. If that dosent fix it, then I'm also going to swap the NH out for a good rebuild. Draining the fuel tank is also a thought

Professor Fate

New Day having a bad day.
Dirty.

Professor Fate

Coils checked ok.... on to other things....

Professor Fate

Intake leak negative... used the rings not the one piece. Advance may be too much at idle. Will check again in a.m. when I get a new set of plugs installed. If no change, off to ask a friend to put my coils thru his ROBO STROBE... Last steps will be a carb swap if needed, and draining the fuel tank....

Professor Fate

Cleaned the timer, checked all wiring, checked coil box innards, and it's now skipping at idle and at half throttle or more. All plugs are firing, compressions good, and there's no intake or carb gasket leak. Sometimes I can adjust the mixture and have it smooth out for a bit, but the skip always r...

Professor Fate

Thanks to all for ideas and recommendations. I'll work on it this this week and see what happens....

Professor Fate

Engine runs smoothly at idle. At half throttle or greater in high gear, I'm getting an intermittent skip that I can reduce by adjusting mixture on the NH Carb. I'm going to check and regap plugs, check coils, check timer, and check the car running in the dark for sparking. I have black rubber fuel l...

Professor Fate

_p_3_p30664.jpg If you're just rolling it inside the garage 10 ft, then I'd put wheel dollies under the rear wheels and turn a front wheel by hand to roll it in straight. If you go in crooked, you can position the car rear, remove and place dollies under the front wheels to final position. I was to...

Professor Fate

I once used roofing tar and beer cans to repair rotted wheel wells on my '80 Jeep Cherokee 35+ yrs ago.... a glob will do yah!

Professor Fate

The Ford issued manual for the T. Most everything we need to know is in there.
Lang's has them. I have two.... one in the shop, and one in the house.

Professor Fate

After 20 yrs, suggestion is to go thru the front end and make sure it's tight, cotter pinned, and ready to go. Repacking the front wheel bearings, greasing cups and oiling stuff per the chart is a good idea. Check the fan for cracks too.... just some thoughts. Good luck!

Professor Fate

Professor Fate

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Professor Fate

Adam wrote: ↑
Sat Dec 16, 2023 11:30 am
Do you realize that is a Model A?

Yes.... but I really liked it. Here's a pic of my '26... I've since cut the fender supports that stick out in the bottom pic.

Professor Fate

How about posting some SPEEDSTER eye candy???

Professor Fate

Upgrade.....Ball bearing fan pulley?

Professor Fate

Burger in Spokane wrote: ↑
Sun Nov 26, 2023 1:40 am
" nefarious POS"

COULDN'T AGREE MORE!

I just couldn't believe what a total hack job this tank set is. I've never seen one done so poorly.

Professor Fate

Here's a great example of someone having no self pride in workmanship. Both underground 1k gal propane tanks are manifolded together to a regulator in the center. Excessive amounts of yellow sheathed vapor copper tubing, accidentally placed to keep the tank lids open and unable to close. The snow an...

Professor Fate

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Anyone know what the Vermont roadster is? It's the radiator shell badge... what is it?

Professor Fate

Highly recommended. My '26 is looking great a few years after being painted.

Professor Fate

I brought my '26 Lower windshield to my glass guy. He removed the glass for me. I then took the frame home and cleaned it up, and painted it. I brought it back to him and I got a nice safety glass install for $175. I let the pro deal with the hazardous 97 yr old glass and I'm glad I did. [/size 202...

Professor Fate

Just a bit curious... do you have a picture of the tag or data plate?

Professor Fate

I have a two chime. The horns sound nicely but the electric compressor needs a refurb. It's going on my '26 eventually.

Professor Fate

What about using one of those production bolt on heavy cabin heat shrouds and ducting the air to the carb.? I'd want some kind of controllable flap to increase and decrease hot air intake.

Just thinking....

Professor Fate

"Hot Spot?"

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3

Professor Fate

That chart is awesome!

Professor Fate

"Inside icing" refers to the internal passageway of the intake manifold actually building ice, restricting air/fuel mixture flow to the engine. As this ice builds, and you change power setting enough to allow the heat from the stove pipe to melt the ice, performance will suffer further as the engin...

Professor Fate

"Cool & wet" is quite different than "Icing" - if the manifold had actual ice, then you need to address that issue with pre-heat. The internal icing condition was making the outside sweat. If the outside was ice, then the car probably would not be running at all. I'm gonna wipe the timer out too ju...

Professor Fate

I don't run a water pump or a thermostat. The combo of the new Brassworks radiator and the '26-'27 improved car fan which is mounted higher, seems to be hyper cooling the motor. In Summer, I barely see 180f on a 90f day. After a good 10 mile ride home, the top of the radiator was about 140f. Before...

Professor Fate

Drove the '26 today and it ran poorly. Investigation revealed a wet exterior of the intake manifold. I think I was making ice internally with the temp and dewpoint so close today. Very damp and raw. Car would run great ceuising at just less than half throttle and mixture adjusted. Any advance or mo...

Professor Fate

my '23 has been on jackstands since the 1rst week of August..... I want to go for a ride....

Professor Fate

Make up a jumper wire to go from (+) on battery to the input of the coil box, thus bypassing any switch issue you may have. If the coils don't buzz with a direct jumper, then it's either contacts in the coil box or the coils themselves.

Professor Fate

Thanks!

Professor Fate

I've been waiting for tube flaps from Coker for 5 wks. Anyone know if they're stocking or shipping flaps for clinchers? I need the lubed ones that are rounded not flat.
Thanks!!!

Professor Fate

20231001_133228.jpg Here's another way that I did here.... light socket extension with 2 side plugs and two home depot led lights. The lights plug into a conventional electrical plug in the light socket extension. Lights are hung by two hooks each to provided chains. It all works nicely off the wal...

Professor Fate

TXGOAT2 wrote: ↑
Sat Sep 30, 2023 11:19 am
Spike the blob with Ronrico 151 rum....

Professor Fate

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Professor Fate

Live and learn! I screwed up! Learning by doing again! I only have one nut on each stud instead of the proper and correct two per. So the cable end is compressed against the switch base, not against the 2nd nut. I'm an idiot!😨 A friend set me up with a fine rebuilt original foot switch last week. I...

Professor Fate

I had a switch fail structurally and short itself out. It actually welded itself on. Very poorly constructed repro crap. Part of why I'm moving on.

Professor Fate

I'm going to change
this out for a solenoid, and push button set up, with a modern battery cut off switch like my other car. If not this fall, 1rst thing next spring. Old technology to be put on the shelf. If I ever sell the car, the next owner can do what he wants.

Professor Fate

I replaced a starter foot switch in my '23 today. The post that comes from the [+] on the battery tightened down and then started to spin as I tried to tighten further. I stopped tightening. Post tightened enuff. Cable does not move. Question..... if that cable connection stud has spun and moved wh...

Professor Fate

Ever try nailing jello to a wall?

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