1919 Centerdoor Kingston adjusting rod confusion...

[Marshall V. Daut]

I am helping a local friend straighten out a few mechanical problems with his newly-acquired 1919 Centerdoor. One area is the Kingston carburetor and its adjusting needle and adjusting rod. It's a brass bodied L-4, which should be an L-2 for this year, according to my research. We're staying with the L-4, however. It has the later '26-27 swivel adjuster and adjusting rod, which had been installed ad hoc and doesn't turn easily due to the bind caused by misalignment. I have the correct two-hole adjusting needle to replace the swivel style, but that means a different adjusting rod is required. We are ordering parts to rebuild the carb's innards on Monday, so I'd also like to order the correct adjusting rod. Aha! But therein lies the rub!

In Synder's catalog, #T-4129-C is called for with wooden firewalls, 1914-21, which this body has. It's a complicated affair with bezel that seems more correct for the brass era, as well as being quite pricey. In Lang's catalog, however, the simple design 4129AOR or 4129A is specified. In Snyder's catalog, those models are supposed to be for steel firewalls. Quite a difference in form and price - and apparently in application! Which one is correct for this 1919 Centerdoor: the brass knob style with a steel bezel plate or the simple 18 1/2" rod, that looks like a kissing cousin to the oil level checking tool? I couldn't find relevant photos in Bruce's book or in other photos to guide me.

Thanks in advance.
Marshall

[Mark Gregush]

Maybe these will help. My as found 1920 coupe. It is hard to see but there is a slot behind the steel plate the rod sticks through and had the fork type end. Pretty sure, it has been a while that the plate was put on like installing the one on the steel firewall, then the plate is screwed to the firewall but it could also have been the slot in the plate was big enough that it could have been mounted separately.

[Marshall V. Daut]

Thanks for the information and photos, Mark. Most helpful. The Centerdoor's owner called in the order yesterday and was going to ask the vendor which adjusting rod is correct for his model and year. Either one will work, so we'll rely on their expertise. I like the simplicity of your arrangement. We'll see what the vendor recommended when the parts arrive.
Marshall

[Mark Gregush]

Here are a couple of more shots with a tape measure that might show the holes from engine side. In the 2ed shot you can see the slot that matches the angle of the adjusting rod.