Three to One Gears

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Original Smith
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Three to One Gears

Post by Original Smith » Sun Sep 22, 2019 3:11 pm

Two of the last three cars I have bought have had three to one gears. One set was probably installed in the car in the late forties when the car was first restored. They are in mint condition too, with the name of the gear company stamped in the ring gear. It's amazing how this installation was done. They had to remove all the studs from the rear end to get the driveshaft out, and they still used the original no bump driveshaft roller bearing housing. The other set is in my 1917 coupelet. I don't like them either! The car is too heavy for them in the city, and I have to use Ruckstell quite a bit to keep from lugging the car. The original ratio is the only way to go.

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George N Lake Ozark
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Re: Three to One Gears

Post by George N Lake Ozark » Sun Sep 22, 2019 3:19 pm

By its self I agree. In my Ruckstell , I’m happy with it


Norman Kling
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Re: Three to One Gears

Post by Norman Kling » Sun Sep 22, 2019 6:07 pm

That ratio would be good if you lived in Kansas or in San Jaququin Valley and never went to the big cities or mountains. The car rolls along pretty well at higher speeds on flat land. You very definately need auxiliary transmission for mountains or city traffic. We had a large car, I think a sedan or towncar on one of our tours. That car had a high ratio and they ended up parked and rode with others because it was not good at hill climbing. I have one Roadster with 3-1 gears, and when I start out from a stop where there is even a slight grade, I need to use Ruckstell low. It starts out in Ford low on level or downhill. The others have standard Ford gearing and now problem.
Norm


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Re: Three to One Gears

Post by Allan » Sun Sep 22, 2019 7:28 pm

I used the 3:1 set in my speedster. It went very well, but the brakes were severely compromised. So I have a perfect 13 tooth pinion of someone needs one, having mated one of Chaffin's 12 tooth pinions to the 39 tooth ring gear. Still get a taller ratio, but better brakes.

Allan from down under.


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Re: Three to One Gears

Post by Les Schubert » Sun Sep 22, 2019 7:32 pm

I really like the 12 tooth pinion (gives 3.25-1with a 39 tooth crown or a 3.33-1 with a 49 tooth Ruckstell crown ). Yes you need to buy it separate, but hey it’s only money!!!


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Re: Three to One Gears

Post by Alex Dragone » Sun Sep 22, 2019 11:01 pm

If you have a lot of power (OHV) and a light car, 3:1 gears is awesome!


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Re: Three to One Gears

Post by Erik Barrett » Mon Sep 23, 2019 2:03 am

3:1 gears are not a good proposition for a full body model T. Definitely not for a coupelet. These are for lightweight speedsters or runabouts at most. If you have an overhead on your car you don’t need them either. These engines work at higher rpm ranges so stock gears will give you all the speed you will want. Right now I have a Mercury speedster in the shop with 3:1 gears and a Rajo B model head. I bet this thing would do way better than 100 mph easily if I had the nuts to hold the throttle open long enough. I don’t.


gary80005
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Re: Three to One Gears

Post by gary80005 » Mon Sep 23, 2019 3:25 am

I have three to one gears with a ruckstel in my 27 roadster and I put 100 miles on it in the Colorado mountains on Saturday. I gained 2,700 feet from my house in Arvada to Conifer, CO 8,277 ft. I had to use ruckstel on the steep grades, but my car will pull them at 30 - 35 mph in high gear low ruckstel. I made it to Conifer in 65 minutes, my modern car does it in 45 minutes. I have a milled stock head, 280 cam, model A intake and exhaust with a J1A Tillotson carb. I had domed pistons on my last engine before I sent the crank through the block. I decided not to use the domed pistons on this engine so I could put a high compression head on it someday. I've been driving three to one gears in Colorado for 30 years and they work fine.

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AndyClary
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Re: Three to One Gears

Post by AndyClary » Mon Sep 23, 2019 10:11 am

I have a 26 Coupe that had 3:1 gears and me Mercury had 3:1 gears. I didn't like the way either car drove. All my cars have ruckstell axles. My 14 I seldom use low ruckstell, my others with 3:1 I am constantly rowing the ruckstell. The bigger problem is going downhill, the higher gears just want to roll on requiring a lot more use of the brakes. I am actually contemplating 4:1 in my Mercury since installing the of warford transmission.

Andy


Topic author
Original Smith
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Re: Three to One Gears

Post by Original Smith » Mon Sep 23, 2019 11:11 am

You are either in Ruckstell or you are not! Low Ruckstell to me is Ruckstell and low pedal.

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AndyClary
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Re: Three to One Gears

Post by AndyClary » Mon Sep 23, 2019 1:45 pm

Since the ruckstell is a semi permanent installation, the proper terminology would be engaged or disengaged. For the sake of clarity the term everyone understands is low or high. If the wrong term is used long enough it becomes the norm. Sorry Larry


Andy


Al Meadows
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Re: Three to One Gears

Post by Al Meadows » Mon Sep 23, 2019 7:30 pm

When I first got my car on the road in the 70s I installed 3:1 gears in my Ruckstell. I wanted to be one of the fastest Ts in the club. Wrong! I used low band on many hills that the other cars in high just dropped to Ruckstell. "You sure got a speedy car there, kid.", they'd snicker Ya, right. I joined the rest of them running standard ratio within 6 months. For our area here in N California I thinks it's best, at least for a stock touring. Larry knows.

Al

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Ruxstel24
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Re: Three to One Gears

Post by Ruxstel24 » Mon Sep 23, 2019 7:43 pm

I run 3:1 gears in my touring, by no means is the engine stock, but nothing crazy. Without some upgrades, a T will struggle with hills in high and 3:1.
Around here is a little hilly and at 35mph or better, I have no problem climbing most in "high"
I start in Ruckstell and use "high" as more of an overdrive. I feel it's easier on the low band that way. And it stops much better in Ruckstell. JMO
I would consider a 40 tooth ring gear when I need to open it up.


Les Schubert
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Re: Three to One Gears

Post by Les Schubert » Mon Sep 23, 2019 8:20 pm

Dave
The only 40 tooth crown that will work with a 13 tooth pinion is a original genuine Ruckstell one which would give me 3.075-1. A stock 40 tooth crown is mounted to close to the pinion I’m pretty sure!!

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Ruxstel24
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Re: Three to One Gears

Post by Ruxstel24 » Mon Sep 23, 2019 9:13 pm

Les Schubert wrote:
Mon Sep 23, 2019 8:20 pm
Dave
The only 40 tooth crown that will work with a 13 tooth pinion is a original genuine Ruckstell one which would give me 3.075-1. A stock 40 tooth crown is mounted to close to the pinion I’m pretty sure!!
I'm sure you're right Les.
I guess a 12 tooth pinion would be what I would like to try...


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Re: Three to One Gears

Post by YellowTRacer » Wed Sep 25, 2019 4:34 pm

Well, as usual I'm the wierdo. I love 3 to 1 gears. Had them in the ice cream truck (car chassis) dead stock engine other than aluminum pistons, 2 spd Ruckstell. I love long drives in my cars/trucks, and don't like overworking the engine. For me the good outways the bad.

Ed aka #4

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