MTFCA Forum

I've never had my T in a parade but I suspect I'll be asked this year. I've driven my Army Jeep in many, but I just disconnect the front hubs and run in low range - easy! With the T, I'm a little concerned about "smoking" the low band from repetitive application and release.....what do you do?

Dont do parades.

A Ruckstel may help

I have done a number of parades and have yet to smoke my low band with or without underdrive. I just set the parking brake so car is in neutral and bump the low pedal to move.

Kevlar bands Also you can put the brake lever in the upright position using first gear only and there is less fatigue on the driver for shifting. You can go easy on 1st gear too don't mash it too hard.

As Mark said, have the handbrake lever upright, and bump the low range, dont ride it. I feel better doing that then a model A constantly clutching in.

Parades are hard for a T, did one once, never again.

If the road is wide enough and you have another car in the parade you can drive around each other, drive the wrong way, and just have fun. Crowd loves it. Just watch for little ones running into street for candy. They can see a tic tac 40 feet away, but can't see you.

I let the car in front move a little and then just hit low and get it rolling till I catch up and then stop till they give me room to do it again. You don't need to go fast to coast a ways. Just try not kill it unless you have a starter or get a lot free starts but if I ever do kill it I guess people would enjoy the show when I get out and crank it.

Don't drive it behind the horses.
Terry

If you do kill it make a big production out of it. Spin the crank, run around it, try to push, pretend you are Bozo, wave your arms around, then crank it correctly. Real crowd pleaser.

bowerss2 wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 29, 2021 2:33 pm

As Mark said, have the handbrake lever upright, and bump the low range, dont ride it. I feel better doing that then a model A constantly clutching in.

Agreed. I've done more parades than I can count. Never an issue.

DHort wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 29, 2021 3:54 pm

If you do kill it make a big production out of it. Spin the crank, run around it, try to push, pretend you are Bozo, wave your arms around, then crank it correctly. Real crowd pleaser.

Haha I like that idea.

I have 3 T's and all have Ruckstells. I drive in many parades, usually 2 or more per year. The trick is to put it in Ruckstell (I think this would also work with Warford or other reduction transmission). I put the hand lever straight and pull the spark about 1/2 way down. Set the throttle for a fast idle. Then I just bump either the low pedal or the brake depending on whether I want to move forward or slow down. At least half the time I will be in neutral. The important thing is not to slip either the low or brake. At that speed unless you are going uphill, you can just coast along. If you are going uphill, wait until there is a space between you and the next party in front of you and then push the low pedal and hold it until you catch up.
Norm

Remember that parades progress at the speed of the slowest baton twirler!

I will say that for non T class cars the 4th of July parade is usually when a bunch of people figure out they need new throwout bearings.

For parades get a TT with a Ruckstel or Warford, and stock ratio worm. They were made for that speed, jump out, run completely around the truck and get back in with out slowing down.

RE the hand cranking..yes twice in one parade! Would have been much more fun for me if it had not been a bloody hot day, but the watchers loved and some even helped push out of the way. I don't drive in a straight line, weaving back and forth etc. Unless the parade is all up hill, if you are burning out the lining, you might be doing something wrong. That my OP and I am going to stick to it.

I've done one parade and it was lots of fun. Make sure the route is fairly flat. Just put lever in vertical position, leave lots of space and "bump" it in 1st when you need to move.

Jack Putnam, in Ohio wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 29, 2021 4:53 pm

Remember that parades progress at the speed of the slowest baton twirler!

...who may well be nine or ten years old.

I never try to match my constant speed to the parade's speed. I tend to drive in on-again off-again spurts. Haven't had any complaints so far.

Absolutely no problems with parades. If you know the parade marshal try and get placed as close to the front as possible, this eliminates the "waiting" to move which can be as long as the parade itself. Enjoy

Yes, leading the parade is good. Chicago low at a fast idle is a good walking pace.

Hummm...Drive in an area with hills in a 427 Mustang, standard transmission, no power steering, competition clutch. The T is so much easier.

I love parades. Have done many in my 1919 firetruck I try to do every vetrans day parade I can. Have had the honor to carry many grand mashals. Vetrans, even a Navajo code talker and there families and lots of my grandkids. Have been the support vehicle for my grandsons marching band.
Run in Muncie under & low, ( car rear end ) alot of the time that is the speed of the parade. I do believe a water pump helps, summer time parades are often over 100 degrees by the end in Arizona.

The best advice I can give is, try NOT to do a parade in an election year! If you do, make sure the organizers have made sure the politicians DON'T stop at every Tom, Dick, and Harry to glad hand as many people as they can. That can get WAY out of hand. Dave

That's only one of the Beauties of a Warford. You can drive super slow in underdrive and sometimes idle in high pedal or creep very slow in low pedal and not have to start and stop. I like under and high pedal so your leg doesn't get tired. If your car is properly tuned you can slow to a putt putt putt slow idle which is about a walking pace.