Ruckstell axle, can it do what a "T" can't

[bmklawt]

I don't own a Ruckstell and here a lot of people talk about hill climbing and I'm just curious, can a Ruckstell get me up a hill a normal "T" couldn't get up?

[CudaMan]

Yes, if you shift it into Ruckstell in combination with the Ford low gear. Good for climbing stairs or creeping along in parades.

The biggest advantage of a Ruckstell in my opinion is that it provides a gear between Ford low and Ford high. It allows you to climb some pretty steep hills when shifted into Ruckstell in combination with Ford high so that you don't wear your left leg out keeping pressure on the low pedal.

[Norman Kling]

I agree that the Ruckstell is good for hill climbing. Also good for moving slow in parking lots, parades or when travelling on gravel or dirt roads. Which we have all of them in my area.
Norm

[Wayne Sheldon]

Not so much that you can climb hills with a Ruckstell that you cannot climb without it. However, it is that you can climb a lot of hills more easily in Ruckstell gear instead of going all the way down into Ford low band and holding it for the duration. They also tend to be easier on the engine and crankshaft at lower speeds than lugging along any distance in ford high.
I have run a few model Ts for awhile without a Ruckstell for a variety of reasons. I prefer my brass era model Ts be properly equipped as brass era (I tend to be hardline HCCA), so my few brass era cars have been toured without Ruckstells. I have so far not regretted that decision, finding touring without the Ruckstell to generally be not a problem.
On the other hand, most of my later Ts, including speedsters. I really like the auxiliary gearing (either Ruckstell or under/direct/overdrive gear transmissions.

It really boils down to individual owners, their driving habits, mostly how much they want to drive their Ts, and the types of roads and hills in their driving areas.

A Ruckstell, today or a hundred years ago, was one of the best improvements one could buy for their T!

[AndyClary]

In simplest terms the ruckstell essentially gives you a 3 speed transmission. It’s like downshifting into second to get up the hill. I seldom use low ruckstell and the low pedal except for parades.


Andy

[Joe Bell]

The part I like the best is turning a corner in town, drop a gear and it is just what you need for a heavy car.

[Loftfield]

Back to Mr. Sheldon's post about authenticity. Ruxtells didn't come on the market until 1920's, but they can be retrofitted back to 1913. The clamshells of the earlier cars aren't big enough to take a Ruxtell so installing one means installing a later differential, more motion away from authentic. Even living n the mountains of Western North Carolina I am not sure a Ruxtell would be too useful as going up is more often regulated by the amount off fuel in the tank and worries about burning up #1 bearing from lack of oil.

[Norman Kling]

The Ruckstell is also good for going down steep hills because it is much easier on the brakes, in fact, it even amplifies the power of the transmission brake. If you want to shift into Ruckstell going downhill be sure to do the shift before you start down the hill or you could get in trouble missing the shift. The engine must be speeded up as you make the shift so the engine is running as fast as it would after you are in Ruckstell.
Norm

[WatchDog]

Definitely handy in certain situations but generally overrated. You just don’t need it for normal driving.

[speedytinc]

Definitely handy in certain situations but generally overrated. You just don’t need it for normal driving.

Thats a matter of opinion. Overrated??
If you only drive in flat country with stock gearing a rux would not be necessary, but is still useful for slower driving with power such as on dirt/gravel/wash board roads.
In rux you have better braking due to the lower gearing.

[WatchDog]

Sounds like we agree!

[Original Smith]

I have three T's that I drive regularly, and all of them have Ruckstells. Wouldn't own a T without one.

[TWrenn]

I think a lot also depends on the rear axle ratio whether it's Ruckstell or not. My '13 will climb any hill around here without a ruckstell as good as any car with one, I discovered that with my former '11 with a Ruckstell. It always amazes me how that little girl eats up a hill the way she does. That's why she's my pet car!

[Cordes_jeff]

Drive a stock center door in hilly country and you will wish you had a ruckstell and outside brakes.

[TWrenn]

Drive a stock center door in hilly country and you will wish you had a ruckstell and outside brakes.

Yeh Jeff, gotta admit my '26 Fordor could use a Ruckstell but in our parts it isn't justifiable to make the switch. I just deal with it, it weighs in at 2240 lbs. and maybe could use a different rear end ratio and I may get ambitious next winter and tackle that aspect.

[Norman Kling]

I have a 26 Roadster with Ruckstell and standard Ford gear ratio. On a trip to Death Valley, Lee Chase told me about "Dante's View" It is a switchback up to a viewpoint of the valley. I went up and down in Low Low. With the gas tank in the cowl, it went right up. I don't think an earlier T could have made the grade. I also have an exterior oil line so it got enough oil to the front of the engine. I was the only T on the tour to take that detour.
Norm

[John Warren]

Ruckstells are great! But a BIG word of caution: you must also have auxiliary brakes!!!!

[Erik Barrett]

The Ruckstell is such a great accessory that it is the only one ever endorsed by Henry Ford for use in the model T. If you look at the cars on any national tour the majority of them will have one, and also some kind of auxiliary brakes.