MTFCA Forum

What are the differences in Model T drag links? I understand that some have riveted ends while others are forged. What years used what links?
Craig

From a previous discussion

I addition to the above chart, the ends on the earlier ones were of a fine thread. Then they were changed to one end being fixed and the other on a coarse thread. Then came the riveted and brazed on ends.

Allan from down under.

Allan, I have seen coarse threaded drag links threaded on both ends. I've never seen one threaded on one end only. Please elaborate.

I have a drag link here at the house that is forged on both ends. Craig

'09-'10: Fine threads
'11-'12: Coarse threads
July '12: pinned at different angles
Nov '12: pinned at same angle
Jan '14 - on: pinned and brazed

Richard, the one I found when building my 1912 chocolate van had just one end threaded. It took till 2010 at Chickasha for me to get a good threaded end, from the fellow who makes the reproductions for the vendors. I ran the car for 15 years with a one piece riveted end 1913 item until I got the correct one.
Double ended threaded rods were likely easier to make initially. Once they could forge one end on the rod, a single threaded end could be used to get the angles between the two right. The next step obviously was to forge both ends at the correct angle and leave out all the machining, riveting and bronzing.

Allan from down under.

What year did forging both ends start? Craig

My guess is somewhere between 1913 and 1915.

Allan from down under.

Forged drag links began in July 1916. Existing stock of old drag links from other suppliers were used concurrently until May 1917 upon which FORD forged drag links were used exclusively.