MTFCA Forum

The wheel gear is steel but the Ford Special gear at the end of the cable isn’t. I’ve not lubricated these gears in the 3 years that I’ve mounted the unit and I’ll be going to the Texas T Party next week. Any ideas ?

This is probably an area best left to experts like Russ Furstnow, but if you're talking about the little, rather expensive, gear that sits on top of the large gear, and not the gear(s) in the swivel housing, I don't think those 2 gears are ever lubed. At least in the 6 years I've had Clara, my '13 Touring, I've never lubed those gears.

Keep them clean and lube free. Lube traps and holds dirt and grit, which acts like grinding compound.

What Mark said. While the fibre gears are quieter in operation, I believe they were also a sacrificial item, designed to wear out without lubrication, thus preserving the steel wheel gear.

Allan from down under.

There are some dry type lubricants sold for use on bicycle chains that appear to be a lubricating substance, perhaps teflon, suspended in something like naptha. When applied, the liquid quickly evaporates, leaving a thin residue of lubricant that does not attract dust and grit. I'd think such a product would be ideal for open speedometer drives. Whether you use any lubricant or not, best results would be obtained by keeping the working parts as clean as possible and avoiding adverse conditions. Disengaging the speedometer drive when off pavement would be a good idea.

Very good. Great advice all. Thanks !! As I’m driving this particular T for the first time in years, let me remind everyone to retighten rear axle nuts before adding tour mileage.

George House wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 21, 2021 12:11 pm

Very good. Great advice all. Thanks !! As I’m driving this particular T for the first time in years, let me remind everyone to retighten rear axle nuts before adding tour mileage.

And check every few hundred miles until the wheels take a set.