Confusing Model T terminology

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2nighthawks
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Confusing Model T terminology

Post by 2nighthawks » Sat May 28, 2022 1:59 pm

The recent topic titled "Adjusting The Clutch Band" brings to mind an interesting point,...the fact that old automotive "parts terminology" can sometime cause confusion. As an example, back in the Model T era, what we nowadays call a tappet, or valve lifter, or cam follower, was, back in the day ( and still in Model T parts catalogs) is called a "PUSHROD"! I'm quite sure that almost nobody of todays automotive "community", whether Model T folks or modern "gearheads" would think of anything but long, skinny soda straw-shaped rods of the valve train of the modern overhead valve type automobile engines,...just a thought,....harold :roll:

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DanTreace
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Re: Confusing Model T terminology

Post by DanTreace » Sat May 28, 2022 3:29 pm

Guess terminology is still “floating” as a valve does.

To me the T engine is L head or side valve so thick ‘lifters’ are used directly to move the valve stems up.

Other valve train designs like overhead valve set ups use pencil like ‘pushrods’ to move the rockers arms to send the valves down.


But maybe blame Henry for the confusion. This is page from 1913 Model Owners manual!


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TXGOAT2
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Re: Confusing Model T terminology

Post by TXGOAT2 » Mon May 30, 2022 8:35 pm

I think some Ford literature referrred to the engine block as "the cylinder".


Allan
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Re: Confusing Model T terminology

Post by Allan » Mon May 30, 2022 8:38 pm

Was it Henry who called the bonnet the hood and the hood the top?

Allan from down under.


TXGOAT2
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Re: Confusing Model T terminology

Post by TXGOAT2 » Mon May 30, 2022 8:41 pm

I believe those terms originated with foreign agents! Those sinister operatives would conceal accumulators beneath the floorboards, and were known to replace the proper Ford wrenches with spanners. Some even attached sumps to unsuspecting customers' cars.


John Codman
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Re: Confusing Model T terminology

Post by John Codman » Thu Jun 02, 2022 10:51 am

Allan wrote:
Mon May 30, 2022 8:38 pm
Was it Henry who called the bonnet the hood and the hood the top?

Allan from down under.
The Brits. They also called the trunk "the boot", and the fenders "the wings". Some of their cars were "positive Earth" and were equipped with a "windscreen".


Jerry VanOoteghem
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Re: Confusing Model T terminology

Post by Jerry VanOoteghem » Thu Jun 02, 2022 12:27 pm

And of course, the gas lever was known as the "acceleratrix" and the brake was known as the "deceleratrix". The clutch pedal, of course, was the "velocitator".

Okay... I made those up myself... :oops:


Chris Barker
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Re: Confusing Model T terminology

Post by Chris Barker » Thu Jun 02, 2022 12:41 pm

A cotter pin is a tapered pin with a nut on the thin end used to fix a lever on a shaft - most commonly on older bicycle pedals.

We stop nuts unscrewing with split pins, but only after tightening them with a spanner.
:)

Somerset
England

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