MTFCA Forum

I have no connection to the ad but have never seen this accessory clutch. Anyone seen them or ran one? https://www.ebay.com/itm/Model-T-Ford-A ... 5678!US!-1

Haven't seen one but looks to be a dumb idea to me, why would you want to coast? the engine is half or more of your braking on a T.

Quite a few British cars in the 30s had freewheels, the idea being you could save fuel. BUT, you had a lever to disengage it when you needed engine braking. This T accessory on its nice tin is a lovely display item but I wouldn't want it in my car.

I'm going way out on a limb here, but I think I recall adds for "Free Wheeling" on cars from back in the '40's/'50's maybe. I assume it could be disengaged when needed, I don't think the idea went over very well. I also remember the over the road truckers talking about "Georgia Overdrive"(kicking the transmission into neutral on hills) back then too. I don't know how popular that actually was. Dave

Plymouth had free wheeling on the PA and PB models.

I was riding in a 60's car when I was 7 or 8 , not sure what it was , and the driver was showing me how it always coasted when you weren't under power. So coming up to stop sign there was no engine assisted stop. It was an automatic transmission of some sort, and I also remembered that she had to let off the accelerator to make it shift up.

I once drove a 1933 Plymouth PC as regular transportation. It had a straight 6 with hydraulic brakes and a free wheeling transmission. There was a knob on the dash you pulled to get it into free wheeling and pushed for normal.

A lot of American cars had free wheeling in 1932 and 33.

Today's answer is "no-wheeling" with a stop-start system. It automatically shuts off the engine when the vehicle is at rest to cut fuel use and eliminate idle emissions. It then restarts the engine automatically when the driver lifts off the brake (or puts in the clutch to select 1st gear) to get going again. The basic logic is hard to argue with. Why burn gasoline if you're just sitting there? Only the most fuel-efficient cars have this option, usually hybrids, but in the last couple years they've begun appearing in the U.S. on vehicles with conventional gasoline engines. Ford F-150 comes with stop-start with the EcoBoost gasoline engine. NOTE: turning the engine on-off when stopped is not the same. Test have shown that these systems actually save fuel & emissions in "most" driving conditions.
Excerpts from https://www.edmunds.com/car-reviews/fea ... -fuel.html
There is were lot more modifications to make to to this technology viable.
.the starter motor has to be more robust so it stays reliable despite being used far more often
.the battery must have deep cycle capability that can endure more frequent draws from the starter.
.the engine's crankshaft & rod bearings need to have special low-friction coatings to handle the extra loads placed on them during restarts.
.the stereo, fan, lighting or wipers shouldn't shut down each time the engine shuts off
.electric pumps are necessary to keep engine coolant circulating and to maintain hydraulic pressure in the transmission.
.air-conditioning system may have additional humidity and temperature sensors to monitor the core temperature of the system during the shutdown period. if the passengers might get too warm, the computer can abandon the shutdown cycle.
.quick restarts in the order of .5 seconds
.needs to work with the latest driver assist technology
So how does it work
It is the cars software that decides when to stop and when to start again. Nominally, the engine stops when speed reaches zero. But the computer first needs to see steady brake pressure and little or no steering: evidence of a routine stop. The command to start again is given as the brakes are released (or the clutch is depressed) in order to get the engine back on line before the driver has time to transfer his foot to the gas pedal.

All this to be replaced in 10 years with "no-driver" technology

Overdrive, which was a very popular option in late 30s to late 50s cars usually "free wheeled" in overdrive at speeds under 25 or so. There was a lever on the dash to put it in underdrive and lock it in at lower speeds.
Hot Rod Lincoln:
Took my foot off the gas and man alive, I shoved it down into overdrive.
Even the hot rodders had it in their rods in those days.
My Rambler I sold a few years ago had overdrive.

Friend of mine had a "coaster-gear" on his 50s Chebby Apache pickup, when we went downhill with a trailer and the trailer started pushing we only had the brakes to keep everything under control, no subtle engine-braking, boy we went faster than we wanted in no time at all
My buddy had the time of his life keeping the rig from jack kniving
Dangerous things those " coaster gears", extra so on a T !!
But a great conversation piece, all kinds of hairy stories can be told by people who got to know the effect of them...