Am I ready for the Parade?

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TspokeMan
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Am I ready for the Parade?

Post by TspokeMan » Sat Jun 01, 2019 12:34 pm

I've been driving my restored '25 T Roadster PU for 2 weeks now. My driving comfort level is getting better each day. Understand I never have driven A Model T before this. But I have driven on some of the higher traffic, 4 lane streets lately.
There is an annual theme parade in town in one week that I am interested in partcicipating with my T.
I guess my question is 'am I ready'? Other than making sure I top off the gas tank, what other preparations, concerns are thoughts out there from you experienced owners/drivers?
If I have the parking brake clutch in neutral is it ok to use low speed off and on during the parade route? Other suggestions?

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DLodge
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Re: Am I ready for the Parade?

Post by DLodge » Sat Jun 01, 2019 1:25 pm

TspokeMan wrote:
Sat Jun 01, 2019 12:34 pm
... If I have the parking brake clutch in neutral is it ok to use low speed off and on during the parade route? Other suggestions?
That's how I do it, for what it's worth.

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Steve Jelf
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Re: Am I ready for the Parade?

Post by Steve Jelf » Sat Jun 01, 2019 1:33 pm

What Dick said. Just be sure you hold the pedal down tight when you use it. Letting the drum spin against the band lining too long is what causes excessive heat.
The inevitable often happens.
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MichaelPawelek
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Re: Am I ready for the Parade?

Post by MichaelPawelek » Sat Jun 01, 2019 2:21 pm

Just because you will have the engine idling and pressing the low pedal down don’t make the mistake of having the timing all the way retarded. The engine will overheat in a parade quickly. Advance the spark enough for a slightly higher idle. Been there, done that! :)

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Ruxstel24
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Re: Am I ready for the Parade?

Post by Ruxstel24 » Sat Jun 01, 2019 2:23 pm

Take your time and leave plenty of room in front of you.
My question is, is your T ready for a parade ?
Ts love to get hot at slow speeds, as long as you have a good flowing radiator, you should be fine.
Make sure your bands are adjusted up prior and enjoy !!


Rich Bingham
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Re: Am I ready for the Parade?

Post by Rich Bingham » Sat Jun 01, 2019 2:53 pm

Driving in a parade will be an experience you'll never forget. Everyone should do it once. Some folks love it, others will run away screaming. Fun for some, not for all. Enjoy !! :lol:
"Get a horse !"

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Mark Gregush
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Re: Am I ready for the Parade?

Post by Mark Gregush » Sat Jun 01, 2019 3:55 pm

Heck our club president is a complete novice and he just did the St Johns Portland Oregon parade. I normally have a blast but this year was too darn hot. The 25 cut down vapor locked and stalled a total of three times, added water the first time and crank started her all three times (on battery). The crowd had a blast watching, me I was sweating buckets! LOL :lol: And yes I will do it again.
I know the voices aren't real but damn they have some good ideas! :shock:

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Peter, Memphis TN
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Re: Am I ready for the Parade?

Post by Peter, Memphis TN » Sat Jun 01, 2019 6:12 pm

You probably already know this, but a Model T will spit excess water out of the radiator overflow, until it gets to its comfortable level.

The only mistake I have made in a parade was having the spark retarded too far, and she overheated and stopped. After she cooled off, she was AOK.

All the other hints given above are absolutely correct, and all you need to know.

I'm from New Orleans, and I know about riding in a parade. It is likely to be the most fun you've ever had, both for you and your passengers. Be sure the kids have plenty of goodies to throw. Not chocolate, but hard candy and trinkets. (Chocolate melts and ..... you know).

Have a ball!

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Mark Gregush
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Re: Am I ready for the Parade?

Post by Mark Gregush » Sat Jun 01, 2019 6:27 pm

RE throwing candy etc; make sure it is allowed first. Some parades do not allow it.
I know the voices aren't real but damn they have some good ideas! :shock:

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Norman Kling
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Re: Am I ready for the Parade?

Post by Norman Kling » Sat Jun 01, 2019 6:30 pm

If you have Ruckstell or other auxiliary transmission, put it in the lowest range and also lock the lever into the neutral position. If it tends to slip on the quadrant, cut a wedge which will fit in front of the lever to hold it into neutral. Then use eilther the low the brake or leave in neutral. The slightly faster idle and partially advanced spark will also help. What I do is neutral until the gap in front of me widens then push low just long enough to catch up, and then neutral again. Likewise if the persons in front of me slow down or stop, I use the brake until the gap widens. Driving a T in a parade is quite easy.
Norm


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TspokeMan
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Re: Am I ready for the Parade?

Post by TspokeMan » Sat Jun 01, 2019 7:59 pm

Some good points made. I appreciate the input. I'm looking foreword to the parade experience🙂


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Re: Am I ready for the Parade?

Post by Scott_Conger » Sun Jun 02, 2019 11:13 am

David

being new, and I don't know the condition of your brake quadrant, and probably you don't either, I would take the extra step to make a block of wood that fills the emergency brake slot that will hold the brake lever in neutral and then screw a second piece on top of that. This block can be laid on the floor and kicked into the slot with your foot when you're ready and it will ENSURE that the car does not jump into high.

Being new, and the excitement of a parade (you and spectators), all this extra effort is waranted in my opinion

Have fun.
Scott Conger

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NHUSA
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Re: Am I ready for the Parade?

Post by NHUSA » Sun Jun 02, 2019 11:39 am

What everyone has said.
I attached a cord to the anti-high gear block so I could easily remove it.

I used to do parades but realized that they were hard on the T - especially if there were and hills, even small ones.
NH - Where I used to live - not the carburetor ! :lol:


HaroldRJr
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Re: Am I ready for the Parade?

Post by HaroldRJr » Sun Jun 02, 2019 10:03 pm

TspokeMan - Some good advice here in this thread! You might re-read what Norm Kling wrote above, and I would add just a bit to what he said:

A lot of guys dislike parades, because they can be hard on bands, however, if you leave some room ahead, and drive smart, you usually don't really have to be "hard on the bands". Most T guys dislike the Model T's tendency to "creep", however, position & block (if necessary) the hand brake lever in neutral as Norm said, and a couple others have repeated, and a lot of the time, on the level stretches of the parade, you can just let the car "creep" and you often don't have to depress the clutch pedal at all! "Creep"can be your "friend",....FWIW,....harold

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