Little helpers

[Rich P. Bingham]

Working on a model T can be challenging, often frustrating. Generations of T guys have come up with clever "helps" not necessarily found in the repair manual, but can make the work easier. Here are a few I've collected, mostly "home-made" or improvised:
Left to right, half clamps permit seating the exhaust manifold then positioning the intake separately - Aluminum jig for centering the timing cover, made by Gene French - U-clamp keeps band "ears" together when seating the hogshead - pedal clamp keeps pedals seated against the ramps makes seating the hogshead easier - a 13/16" nut makes an acceptable gauge for adjusting the clutch. String prevents losing it in the abyss.
Below, center, a gauge for setting the initial retard position of the timer according to measurements given in the manual - below that, "helping fingers" to hold the universal joint when re-installing the engine, or the rear axle/driveshaft assembly, or maybe just a bent up coat hanger

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What other "helping hands" have forum members come up with to make

[havnfun]

I repurposed a broken channel locks

[John kuehn]

That’s a good idea! That’s better than tying up the joint with a piece of string that I used!

[TWrenn]

That’s a good idea! That’s better than tying up the joint with a piece of string that I used!

I set a jack stand under the driveshaft tube prior to pulling the engine so it's pretty much lined up for the re-install..then I help hold the U-joint in place for the final "slip in" with a simple coat hanger...the curved part that hands on the closet rod. Works great!

[nicklm]

We recently reinstalled our rebuild motor in our T. The rebuilder told me that if you turn the universal so there is a corner at the top, it would be easier. It was a good suggestion, and worked well.
The pictured tool would keep your fingers our of harms way and may be better solution.
Nick

[Allan]

Here are a few of mine.

The half manifold clamps have stand-offs off's so more tension can be applied without cocking the clamps on the studs. The modern Ford 13/16" wheel nut clutch setter has a handle.
This group holds the original Ford cam nut wrench in place so it does not cam off the nut.

When I rebuild an alloy hogshead, this fly cutter allows me to make a land for a lipped oil deal around the outside end of each pedal shaft. It is hand driven on the hex nut on the end.

My 12 year old son made no.5. Can you guess it's purpose?

This is a magneto horn adjuster.

Some get repeated use. Others not so much.

Allan from down under.