MTFCA Forum

I have wooden bands. I have not driven my T in a couple of years and am getting it ready to drive. I’m sure the bands are pretty dry. Does one have to allow the car to sit and idle while the bands saturate themselves with oil before driving? How long would it take for the car to be running in idle before the bands were sufficiently oiled before being safe to drive? Thank you. Jim Patrick

Have you considered jacking up your back axle , move lever into high, and then turning the engine over a few times by hand giving a chance for the oil to lubricate the engine bearings and throw oil on your bands? Just be sure your oil is up to snuff. ...... Happy turkey day! ,.... After that, you can idle till you're satisfied and it's thoroughly warmed up and then go for your ride .

If the car has not been driven in a couple of years, might be good idea to change the oil and pour the new fresh oil over the top of the bands when you put it in. Just sitting the oil can be contaminated with moisture and who knows what from running in the past. If the car has been driven in the past, the wood should still be holding some oil, don't think it is going to just drain out and just starting the motor and letting it run should dump a good amount of oil over the top.

Yes. I plan on changing all the fluids including the Freon in the radiator and rebuilding the carburetor. Good idea about pouring the new oil over the bands. I’ll hold off turning it over so as not to contaminate the bands with the old oil. I also plan to jack up the rear end and running it to lubricate the bearings as Robert suggested. Thank you. Happy Thanksgiving

At that rate you'll have to replenish all the oil cups, fill all the grease cups

I'd think the wood bands would wick up oil and stay oily. Fresh oil and gas is a good idea. Taking the plugs out and putting a little MMO in the cylinders then spinning the engine with the plugs out won't hurt anything. If you have a roller timer, it would be a good idea to wipe it out and put some light oil or MMO in it. I'd oil everything on the car, including the springs.

Fresh oil will help de-gum the bands and clutch plates.

I would run it enough to get the old oil warmed up. No need to drive it for this. Once warm, then drain the oil to give it a fresh lot. There should be no need to pour oil into the transmission to lubricate the bands. If you don't believe me, start the car up with the cover off the hogshead!
Allan from down under.

James .... Have you had a chance to... perhaps idle/ change oil/ adjust transmission bands ... on your car before going for a ride?

Not yet Robert. We are having some beautiful weather here right now and I am taking advantage of it to work on my house: repair the rotten woodwork, repair and treat the rusted areas of the roof with Ospho and coat the roof with a rubberized coating and paint my house. I am renting a 60’ high lift for $100.00 a day so I must get as much use out of it as I can while it is here. I will get to my T in several weeks, or early, 2025, when my house is done. Thank you. Jim Patrick

James .... Good man! You got a good job ahead of you..... And my wife doesn't let me clean out the gutters.

One of my t's has wooden bands and I only get to drive it once a year. Never had trouble with them sitting, by the time you get the car started and ready to go they're well oiled.