1915 model T
Forum rules
If you need help logging in, or have question about how something works, use the Support forum located here Support Forum
Complete set of Forum Rules Forum Rules
If you need help logging in, or have question about how something works, use the Support forum located here Support Forum
Complete set of Forum Rules Forum Rules
-
Topic author - Posts: 27
- Joined: Tue Jul 13, 2021 9:18 pm
- First Name: Ralph
- Last Name: Burrow
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1915 model t
- Location: Chugiak ak
- Board Member Since: 2021
1915 model T
New member here...just wanted to introduce myself and ask my first question...I recently bought my 1915 model T and I am ready to install the 6 volt battery and was wondering are the model T's positive ground or negative ground... I do have a 1919 engine in it with an electric starter but I just want to hook it up right so I don't mess anything up... thank you in advance as I have been doing a lot of reading here on the forum and really enjoy learning from what appears to be some very intelligent and knowledgeable people ... my T has been fully restored and has been sitting in a garage for the last 10 years and I can't hardly wait to here it finally running again...again thank you in advance...R E Burrow..Chugiak Alaska
-
- Posts: 363
- Joined: Thu Jan 03, 2019 1:38 pm
- First Name: Chris
- Last Name: Brancaccio
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1909 Roadster 1915 Coupelet 1923 Coupe 1926 Touring
- Location: Calgary AB
- MTFCA Number: 443
- MTFCA Life Member: YES
- MTFCI Number: 23136
- Board Member Since: 2005
- Contact:
Re: 1915 model T
Negative ground.
Make sure to clean all connections really good.
With all connections clean 6 volts will work well.
Chris
Make sure to clean all connections really good.
With all connections clean 6 volts will work well.
Chris
Chris Brancaccio
MTFCA Webmaster
MTFCA Forum Admin
MTFCA Webmaster
MTFCA Forum Admin
-
- Posts: 4307
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 12:18 pm
- First Name: Steve
- Last Name: Tomaso
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1914 Touring, 1919 Centerdoor, 1924 TT C-Cab Express, 1925 Racer
- Location: Longbranch, WA
- MTFCA Number: 14972
- MTFCI Number: 15411
- Board Member Since: 2001
Re: 1915 model T
I have a good Model T friend in Eagle River - perhaps I can get you guys together ?
-
- Posts: 3840
- Joined: Fri Feb 12, 2021 12:24 pm
- First Name: john
- Last Name: karvaly
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 14/15 wide track roadster. 23 touring, 27 roadster pickup, 20ish rajo touring
- Location: orange, ca
- MTFCA Number: 14383
- Board Member Since: 2020
Re: 1915 model T
Be sure battery cables are the large 6V type. 0 gauge. NOT the skinny 12V cables 6 gauge.
-
Topic author - Posts: 27
- Joined: Tue Jul 13, 2021 9:18 pm
- First Name: Ralph
- Last Name: Burrow
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1915 model t
- Location: Chugiak ak
- Board Member Since: 2021
Re: 1915 model T
speedytinc wrote: ↑Fri Jul 23, 2021 10:00 pmBe sure battery cables are the large 6V type. 0 gauge. NOT the skinny 12V cables 6 gauge.
Thank you RajoRacer that would be awesome
-
Topic author - Posts: 27
- Joined: Tue Jul 13, 2021 9:18 pm
- First Name: Ralph
- Last Name: Burrow
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1915 model t
- Location: Chugiak ak
- Board Member Since: 2021
Re: 1915 model T
Thank you ChrisB.... I was thinking that it was but the old battery that was in it was not connected but it was sitting with the positive post by the ground wire so that's why I wanted to ask and make sure
-
Topic author - Posts: 27
- Joined: Tue Jul 13, 2021 9:18 pm
- First Name: Ralph
- Last Name: Burrow
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1915 model t
- Location: Chugiak ak
- Board Member Since: 2021
Re: 1915 model T
Yes that I had already checked and they are... thank youspeedytinc wrote: ↑Fri Jul 23, 2021 10:00 pmBe sure battery cables are the large 6V type. 0 gauge. NOT the skinny 12V cables 6 gauge.
-
- Posts: 3637
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 3:13 pm
- First Name: Wayne
- Last Name: Sheldon
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1915 Runabout 1913 Speedster
- Location: Grass Valley California, USA
- Board Member Since: 2005
Re: 1915 model T
A 1915 did not have a battery, box, or wiring for one originally. So anything would be something someone added. Often, people used the standard 1919 and later factory battery carrier. Sometimes they used era type after-market battery or tool boxes on a running board. Other people would scavenge up heaven-only-knows what themselves. Sometimes under a seat, or in a runabout's turtle deck. Almost anything is possible. Negative ground is preferred, but some people did wire model Ts backwards. There is a silly (read as stupid?) reason for that.
-
- Posts: 5201
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 7:21 pm
- First Name: Allan
- Last Name: Bennett
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1912 van, 1917 shooting brake, 1929 roadster buckboard, 1924 tourer, 1925 barn find buckboard, 1925 D &F wide body roadster, 1927LHD Tudor sedan.
- Location: Gawler, Australia
Re: 1915 model T
An Optima 6 volt battery can be laid on its side under the back seat. It just needs to be held down and have its terminals isolated from any other 'stuff' you might carry there. Otherwise the suggestions Wayne made are valid, but these involve drilling holes in the frame/splash panels which some would frown upon, me included. I did mount the battery in a tin box on the running board of my wide body D and F roadster, but that was how it was done originally on that car, so i was not fussed about drilling holes in the splash shield.
Allan from down under.
Allan from down under.
-
Topic author - Posts: 27
- Joined: Tue Jul 13, 2021 9:18 pm
- First Name: Ralph
- Last Name: Burrow
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1915 model t
- Location: Chugiak ak
- Board Member Since: 2021
Re: 1915 model T
Yes my engine is from a 1919 and the battery carrierWayne Sheldon wrote: ↑Fri Jul 23, 2021 10:24 pmA 1915 did not have a battery, box, or wiring for one originally. So anything would be something someone added. Often, people used the standard 1919 and later factory battery carrier. Sometimes they used era type after-market battery or tool boxes on a running board. Other people would scavenge up heaven-only-knows what themselves. Sometimes under a seat, or in a runabout's turtle deck. Almost anything is possible. Negative ground is preferred, but some people did wire model Ts backwards. There is a silly (read as stupid?) reason for that.
-
Topic author - Posts: 27
- Joined: Tue Jul 13, 2021 9:18 pm
- First Name: Ralph
- Last Name: Burrow
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1915 model t
- Location: Chugiak ak
- Board Member Since: 2021
Re: 1915 model T
Thank you AllanAllan wrote: ↑Sat Jul 24, 2021 1:21 amAn Optima 6 volt battery can be laid on its side under the back seat. It just needs to be held down and have its terminals isolated from any other 'stuff' you might carry there. Otherwise the suggestions Wayne made are valid, but these involve drilling holes in the frame/splash panels which some would frown upon, me included. I did mount the battery in a tin box on the running board of my wide body D and F roadster, but that was how it was done originally on that car, so i was not fussed about drilling holes in the splash shield.
Allan from down under.
-
- Posts: 3284
- Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2019 10:43 am
- First Name: Larry
- Last Name: Smith
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 13 Touring, 13 Roadster, 17 Coupelet, 25 Roadster P/U
- Location: Lomita, California
- MTFCA Number: 121
- MTFCA Life Member: YES
- MTFCI Number: 16310
Re: 1915 model T
If your car is a real 1915, you don't need any of that stuff listed above! Buy yourself a small 12 volt battery, about the size of a Model T coil. All you need is some 18 gauge wire for the positive and negative connections. That's it.
-
- Posts: 3389
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 10:53 am
- First Name: Tim
- Last Name: Wrenn
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: '13 Touring, '26 "Overlap" Fordor
- Location: Ohio
- MTFCA Number: 30701
- MTFCI Number: 24033
- Board Member Since: 2019
Re: 1915 model T
I agree with O.S. on my 15 touring I had one under the front seat and it worked fine.
-
- Posts: 6463
- Joined: Fri Jan 04, 2019 9:37 pm
- First Name: Steve
- Last Name: Jelf
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1923 touring and a few projects
- Location: Parkerfield, Kansas
- MTFCA Number: 16175
- MTFCI Number: 14758
- Board Member Since: 2007
- Contact:
Re: 1915 model T
I think some may have missed the part about this being a 1919 engine with starter.
The inevitable often happens.
1915 Runabout
1923 Touring
1915 Runabout
1923 Touring
-
- Posts: 223
- Joined: Wed Jan 09, 2019 6:48 pm
- First Name: Eric
- Last Name: Dysart
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1914 Touring, 1916 Touring, 1927 Runabout
- Location: PNW
Re: 1915 model T
When I recovered my Father’s very-not-original “16” touring after 25+ years of storage, it still had his 6v dry cell lantern battery (the square one with the coiled spring terminals) sitting under the driver’s seat at the end of the gas tank, wired up to the battery side of the coil box. Used only for starting, he said that it would last for years and 1000’s of touring miles. Replacements were available at any drug store or supermarket. Apparently, this was a pretty common solution for the active Model T Club members with non-starter cars in the early 1960’s (before the MTFCA was formed).Original Smith wrote: ↑Sun Jul 25, 2021 11:22 amIf your car is a real 1915, you don't need any of that stuff listed above! Buy yourself a small 12 volt battery, about the size of a Model T coil. All you need is some 18 gauge wire for the positive and negative connections. That's it.
Keep crankin’
Eric
-
Topic author - Posts: 27
- Joined: Tue Jul 13, 2021 9:18 pm
- First Name: Ralph
- Last Name: Burrow
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1915 model t
- Location: Chugiak ak
- Board Member Since: 2021
Re: 1915 model T
Thank you SteveSteve Jelf wrote: ↑Sun Jul 25, 2021 12:35 pmI think some may have missed the part about this being a 1919 engine with starter.
-
- Posts: 4069
- Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2019 1:39 pm
- First Name: Norman
- Last Name: Kling
- Location: Alpine California
Re: 1915 model T
One other thing to check. The polarity of the cutout on the generator. A Model A is wired with a positive ground and the cutout looks just like a T cutout. If the cutout is backward you will burn out the generator. The cutout should only allow the current to flow from the generator to the battery, but not from the battery to the generator, so if your cutout is correct with the engine not running, you should have voltage on the side of the cutout where the wire is connected, but no voltage on the side that is connected to the generator, then when the engine is running, you will have voltage on both sides. You can check this with a light bulb between the contact and ground. On the side toward the battery the light will light up but on the side toward the generator it will not light until the engine is running.
Norm
Norm
-
- Posts: 4069
- Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2019 1:39 pm
- First Name: Norman
- Last Name: Kling
- Location: Alpine California
Re: 1915 model T
One other thing to check. The polarity of the cutout on the generator. A Model A is wired with a positive ground and the cutout looks just like a T cutout. If the cutout is backward you will burn out the generator. The cutout should only allow the current to flow from the generator to the battery, but not from the battery to the generator, so if your cutout is correct with the engine not running, you should have voltage on the side of the cutout where the wire is connected, but no voltage on the side that is connected to the generator, then when the engine is running, you will have voltage on both sides. You can check this with a light bulb between the contact and ground. On the side toward the battery the light will light up but on the side toward the generator it will not light until the engine is running.
Norm
Norm
-
Topic author - Posts: 27
- Joined: Tue Jul 13, 2021 9:18 pm
- First Name: Ralph
- Last Name: Burrow
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1915 model t
- Location: Chugiak ak
- Board Member Since: 2021
Re: 1915 model T
Thank you Norm I will definitely check thatNorman Kling wrote: ↑Sun Jul 25, 2021 3:24 pmOne other thing to check. The polarity of the cutout on the generator. A Model A is wired with a positive ground and the cutout looks just like a T cutout. If the cutout is backward you will burn out the generator. The cutout should only allow the current to flow from the generator to the battery, but not from the battery to the generator, so if your cutout is correct with the engine not running, you should have voltage on the side of the cutout where the wire is connected, but no voltage on the side that is connected to the generator, then when the engine is running, you will have voltage on both sides. You can check this with a light bulb between the contact and ground. On the side toward the battery the light will light up but on the side toward the generator it will not light until the engine is running.
Norm
-
- Posts: 3389
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 10:53 am
- First Name: Tim
- Last Name: Wrenn
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: '13 Touring, '26 "Overlap" Fordor
- Location: Ohio
- MTFCA Number: 30701
- MTFCI Number: 24033
- Board Member Since: 2019
Re: 1915 model T
Ha ha! Brain flatulence again!! or I could blame it on being out in the heat too much!Steve Jelf wrote: ↑Sun Jul 25, 2021 12:35 pmI think some may have missed the part about this being a 1919 engine with starter.
I DID see that and promptly forgot. Nothing new there.
-
Topic author - Posts: 27
- Joined: Tue Jul 13, 2021 9:18 pm
- First Name: Ralph
- Last Name: Burrow
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1915 model t
- Location: Chugiak ak
- Board Member Since: 2021
Re: 1915 model T
You mean I'm not the only one that has that brain flatulence problem???? Believe me it's not the heat.... 43 years in AlaskaTWrenn wrote: ↑Sun Jul 25, 2021 4:43 pmHa ha! Brain flatulence again!! or I could blame it on being out in the heat too much!Steve Jelf wrote: ↑Sun Jul 25, 2021 12:35 pmI think some may have missed the part about this being a 1919 engine with starter.
I DID see that and promptly forgot. Nothing new there.
-
- Posts: 3389
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 10:53 am
- First Name: Tim
- Last Name: Wrenn
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: '13 Touring, '26 "Overlap" Fordor
- Location: Ohio
- MTFCA Number: 30701
- MTFCI Number: 24033
- Board Member Since: 2019
Re: 1915 model T
Ralph....LMAO!!!