Rare T KRW Tool

[RajoRacer]

I picked this up 40 ? years ago at an antique shop - I think one would be hard pressed to find another ! Merry Christmas, All !

It is going to a new home.

[Moxie26]

Merry Christmas to the new owner !

[Dan Hatch]

Those are great if the block has never been decked.
Still a nice piece. Dan

[Dan McEachern]

And you have cast iron pistons and an original unreground cam shaft!

[OilyBill]

Dan is EXACTLY right!

This tool is perfect if you have an original unground camshaft, the block has never been surfaced, and the valve seats have never been ground.

In reading all the articles and other stuff on this tool, from the very first time I read about it, it all sounded like a pile of B.S. trying to sell a new tool.

When I read through the articles in the original "FordOwner" my first impression was doubt. Unless you have a camshaft made of rubber, you shouldn't see any large variation in the measurement values you obtain in looking at the camshaft, valve lifter, and valves themselves. The illustration in the original article shows a lifter that must be worn down about 1/8" AT LEAST.

After reading the claim that using it, would generate an effect where you "seemed to have gained another cylinder", I am afraid my detection meter pegged out.

And if you have installed adjustable lifters, you have pretty much cured any kind of dimensional sloppiness involved, anyway, and the original article about this doesn't apply, then.

The Model T Ford engine is a very simple unit, WITHOUT any extreme engineering. It was never designed as a high-performance racing engine. And if you read about the things people HAVE done, to get large performance increases, you find that their efforts and skills are what made the big difference.

This IS a cute tool. But the idea that it will produce 25% more power in a Model T is rather silly. If you examine the articles that have been printed about this tool, I think you will agree with me.

[Scott_Conger]

With respect, look at what Steve sold: a NOS period tool, with original instructions and its original mailing envelope - all for a tool which was just one step up from a throw-away item after 100 years of existence. This was not bought to restore engines. It's a display piece.

Additionally, with respect, if one believes that adjustable lifters solves the issues that this tool attempts to mitigate, then you have an incomplete understanding of what is being accomplished by its use.

It is not a tool that was meant to stand against the tides of time and inevitable reworking of the motor with new parts and machined surfaces nor is it practical for use on most existing cars these days. It's a display piece and honestly it seems as if an awful lot of folks in the hobby just don't "get it" these days.

Even when new, it did not claim to improve new motors - though it did engage in typical puffery in its claims to revive old motors. On an original tired engine, it WILL improve running smoothness in many if not nearly every case, but at the expense of a terrible valve clatter as the mandatory adjusting of valves results in most clearances far exceeding acceptable settings in order to accomplish its goal. It is important to understand that KRW made tools for the MECHANIC, who needed to service a customers car quickly and efficiently and hopefully in a manner as to impress the owner with a car that performs better than when it came in - and in this instance if it came in running irregularly due to wildly out-of-time valves, and left running smoothly (albeit noisily!) at a minimal cost, that would be a noteworthy accomplishment. I'm certain that this tool led to many Model Ts coasting through the Great Depression on a wing and a prayer when there were no dollars to spare for a new camshaft.

If you think adjustable lifters are the equivalent "fix" to what this tool is providing, then you don't understand what it's point in the first place. The only thing adjustable lifters do in this case is make the adjustments quicker but they are not the "fix" in and of themselves.

BTW - it does not matter one whit if the valve seats have been ground (or not)

spend some time with a seasoned "T" mechanic who has used one of these things, original or repro, and let them explain what is being adjusted and why, and what the outcome typically is. You'll end up knowing just a little bit more about your car, how it was maintained "back in the day" and begin to appreciate the craftiness of those old boys and appreciate all the more the wealth of knowledge they imparted to us through these sorts of tools, and the depth of knowledge we still have to discover on our own but didn't know what we didn't know.

As an aside, raise your hand if you or someone you know has lengthened a valve by stretching/peening. Not many hands, huh? Those old boys accomplished things we cannot imagine or barely believe if found in print.

[Jerry VanOoteghem]

It's a display piece and honestly it seems as if an awful lot of folks in the hobby just don't "get it" these days.

Amen...

[Dan Hatch]

They were fine back in the day. But now 100+ years later? I use the method with a dial indicator at TOP the stroke. And my timing gauge.
But that one is a great one to have, NOS with the instructions. Great find!

Stevens made a tool to stretch the valve stem. Love to find one of those.

[Gleaner]

With respect, look at what Steve sold: a NOS period tool, with original instructions and its original mailing envelope - all for a tool which was just one step up from a throw-away item after 100 years of existence. This was not bought to restore engines. It's a display piece.

It is not a tool that was meant to stand against the tides of time and inevitable reworking of the motor with new parts and machined surfaces nor is it practical for use on most existing cars these days. It's a display piece and honestly it seems as if an awful lot of folks in the hobby just don't "get it" these days.

As an aside, raise your hand if you or someone you know has lengthened a valve by stretching/peening. Not many hands, huh? Those old boys accomplished things we cannot imagine or barely believe if found in print.

Scott, I thank you for your kind words. I completely agree that some of the “newer” T collectors don’t “get it”. I have met some who think they were smarter than Henry Ford. I like collecting the old tools and “improvements” of the day. I have read a lot of good post and some that make me roll my eyes. I bought T #22 from an old time collector that I highly respect even though one poster ran the car down because it had a modern wiring connector in the engine compartment. I decided to buy the car anyway I can replace the connector!
I have a great respect for the early collectors like Aardeen Vaughn and my Dad who hauled in Model T’s to save the history long before it became a fad. They saved hundreds of tons of T’s and T parts from the junk furnaces. I am 65 years old and Dad was hauling in T’s 10 years before I was born. I have spent my whole life with Model T’s and now that I have retired and rented my farm out I can spend every day on my hobby. Not a bad life buying “unusable junk”

One last thing to say. I do not worry about the Model T market. My rare cars won’t be on the market again until I die and Kurt Aumann will sell them to the next owner to care for them. Might even give a couple away to some young person who shows the real heart of a real collector, not an investor looking to make money. If you buy a model T to make money you better buy something else.

[Jerry VanOoteghem]

Scott, I thank you for your kind words. I completely agree that some of the “newer” T collectors don’t “get it”. I have met some who think they were smarter than Henry Ford. I like collecting the old tools and “improvements” of the day. I have read a lot of good post and some that make me roll my eyes. I bought T #22 from an old time collector that I highly respect even though one poster ran the car down because it had a modern wiring connector in the engine compartment. I decided to buy the car anyway I can replace the connector!
I have a great respect for the early collectors like Aardeen Vaughn and my Dad who hauled in Model T’s to save the history long before it became a fad. They saved hundreds of tons of T’s and T parts from the junk furnaces. I am 65 years old and Dad was hauling in T’s 10 years before I was born. I have spent my whole life with Model T’s and now that I have retired and rented my farm out I can spend every day on my hobby. Not a bad life buying “unusable junk”

One last thing to say. I do not worry about the Model T market. My rare cars won’t be on the market again until I die and Kurt Aumann will sell them to the next owner to care for them. Might even give a couple away to some young person who shows the real heart of a real collector, not an investor looking to make money. If you buy a model T to make money you better buy something else.

Ed,

I like everything you've said and can relate to most of it. Dad drove Model T's as transportation and owned them all his adult life. I too have grown up with Model T's. Dad's cars always ran great and somehow he accomplished this without the help of a laptop. He and the cars understood one another. His common sense, can-do spirit, along with infinite patience seemed to be all that was needed. My gosh, do I ever miss him, and all the others of his generation who were in this hobby. I'm certain that #22 will have a worthy custodian.

[BHarper]

Scott Conger, I have my hand raised as one who has stretched valves.

Dan Hatch, I made a Steven's valve stretcher, but it was less than a resounding success due to a lack of being able to heat treat a few parts.