What's the most popular (or maybe controversial) subject here?

[Luke]

Given some of the various topics that crop up fairly regularly I thought it'd be interesting to do a brief search of the forum for certain terms in order to see which is the most 'popular'.

Unfortunately the phpBB search engine is a little lacking, and it wasn't something I wanted to spend the entire day on, so the way I've gone about the search is entirely unscientific and necessarily crude, however it's of some amusement value perhaps to see what the results were:

Oil

8146 matches: oil

Unsurprising perhaps, the bald term 'oil' was a really rather too broad, however a more specific search for oil grades revealed:

276 matches: synthetic
112 matches: 10w30
72 matches: 10w
51 matches: 20w
44 matches: 0w20
30 matches: 15w40
26 matches: 15w
23 matches: 5w20
21 matches: 20w50
3 matches: 20w40
14 matches: 10w40
1 match: 15w30
1 match: 20w30

So, from this do we conclude synthetic 10W30 to be the winner? Note the search engine didn't like '/', so anyone using say '10/30' as a term wasn't counted.

Coils

3564 matches: coils

In my view this is probably the most genuinely popular term here. The word isn't used a lot with regard to anything else in a Model T except for the wooden trembler coils, so I think we can be reasonably sure that these coils are a hot topic.

Timer

2987 matches: timer

Coils are closely followed by 'timer', another hot topic. I didn't drill down into timer types as one or two utilise common names that also appear in the forum, however it's clearly one of the most commonly discussed items here.

Starter and generator

3728 matches: starter
2498 matches: generator

Sticking with the electrics 'starter' was ahead of 'generator' by more than 1000 entries. I guess a starter is arguably a more controversial subject, whereas the poor old generator just sits there and does it's thing, until it doesn't?

Pump

1895 matches: pump

This had to be a popular term and I wasn't disappointed. Given we don't have an oil pump, and 'tyre pump' had a fairly low count I think this simple term gives a fair idea of the interest in water pumps ('water pump' returned 876 matches, but as quite a few people shorten it just to 'pump' during discussion this meant adding 'water' tended to lose some relevant posts).

Bands

1779 matches: bands

Closely following pump, 'bands' were another term well up there. It was interesting to drill down a little

408 matches: cotton
540 matches: kevlar

'Scandanavian' returned just two, and I think the term 'wood' was probably to wide. As you can't set a specific term with the phpBB search engine 'wood bands' doesn't work especially well.

12 volt

1410 matches: 12 volt
739 matches: 12v

Back to the electrics and we see that 12v comes up quite a lot. More controversy?

Light bulbs

1005 matches: led
778 matches: bulbs
150 matches: filament

Haha, another favourite topic - and LED surpasses the broad term 'bulbs' by a reasonable amount, but even more so than 'filament'. More controversy perhaps, but maybe LEDs are eventually winning the war...

Regulator and cutout:

831 matches: regulator
592 matches: cutout

I was a little surprised to see that 'regulator' trumped 'cutout' by a good number. Perhaps it was something to do with the 'diy regulator' thread, but neverthless good to see people are clearly aware of regulators - even if it's less certain they might know why they're a better thing than cutouts

Alternator

435 matches: alternator

Another very surprising result, I really didn't think this would return as many times as this. Perhaps worth some more investigation as there could be another reason for this.

And a few more random searches of things that pop up from time to time. I would have liked to include the 'FACT' coil tester too but searching for 'fact' gives obviously useless results. Anyway I should think Mike would be justifiably happy to see 'ecct' up there. Also good to see that 'diy' gets some hits.

819 matches: hcct
476 matches: ecct
573 matches: diy

No doubt there's many more terms one could look for, and you could get quite a lot more sophisticated with the search mechanism, but this should do for the moment I expect. What do think?

[TRDxB2]

Did you try "magneto"

[babychadwick]

All these are the same topic, stock or not.

[Scott_Conger]

I'd think the weather in New Zealand was too nice right now to worry about this sort of thing.

[Steve Jelf]

I knew when I saw the title what would be Number One.

[Luke]

Did you try "magneto"

Good point Frank: 3349 matches: magneto

I'd think the weather in New Zealand was too nice right now to worry about this sort of thing.

Nice it is indeed, although I'm not worried, just curious - and perhaps a little amused

I knew when I saw the title what would be Number One.

I should add that I just considered the > 2019 General Discussion Forum, widening the search could give different results.

[TXGOAT2]

Water pumps on Ts have their uses. They were certainly useful in cold weather states during the alcohol antifreeze and no antifreeze era. I believe one would be useful today on a car that is driven in cold weather if a person wanted to install a hot water heater, or two of them, in the case of a touring car, or on a car that is driven in cold weather with no antifreeze in the system. I also think one would be useful on a stationary engine application or any heavy duty T vehicle operating in very hot weather or low speed, stop and go service in hot weather. Another possible practical use would be on a T operating at high elevation.

[Charlie B in N.J.]

MMO and Stabil.

[TXGOAT2]

Both MMO and Stabil are useful products.

[John kuehn]

Coming up with controversial topics that create more controversy. Oil is first in line.

[TXGOAT2]

Ford insisted on using high quality, light bodied oil. (about 20W)
It's difficult to find such oil today, and many straight grade, non-detergent oils are of inferior quality.

Mulit-grade, synthetic oils with a low first number are far superior to anything available in the model T era, and are highly suitable for use in a Model Ts under all operating conditions.

Most modern gasoline, in spite of its mandated shortcomings, gives excellent results in model T engines.
It is far better than the typical gasoline available in the 1920s. It prevents carbon deposition, it has far higher octane than needed, and is free of sulfur and heavy gum. It is volatile enough to give good cold weather starting. E-free or E-10 work fine. E-10 can deteriorate when left in a vehicle in storage for longer periods of time.

Modern anti-freeze is far superior to plain water as a coolant.

[TRDxB2]

Controversial
Any discussion containing the words "If Henry..."

Popular
Period Photographs, Paint

How To's
Set Timing, Check rear axle lubricant,"What Year is my T?"

[Luke]

MMO and Stabil.

Good point Charlie, I'd forgotten these, they're not something we tend to use here (that I'm aware of), however:

194 matches: marvel
47 matches: stabil

So not at the head of the list, but Marvel at least gets an honourable mention.

[Terry_007]

Here is the biggest controversial topic - summed up in just one word - ORIGINAL!
I also get tired of people asking where the cheapest insurance is for their antique cars.
Terry

[babychadwick]

As mentioned stock or not, i.e. original. Currently the forum favors those who run their cars on tours and occasional drives not those that are out there having to navigate modern traffic. IF someone new has a T and wants to be able to take it out as they might a newer old car they are usually flooded with rebuild the coils and it was great how it was made. Go out and enjoy it, not realizing that this person may not have nice empty country roads to drive it on, they may be in a city or suburbs where anything less than 50-55 mph may get you run off the road by a soccer mom late for practice. An original T for these people may be either a death trap or garage queen.


Getting back on topic though the forum is geared towards stock T's and this is not controversial because the battle has been won by numbers on the stock T side.

A while back a speedster forum idea was mentioned and mostly turned down because speedsters get mentioned plenty in the forum so it wasn't needed. I thought it was a good idea (by the time I saw the topic it had been discussed plenty) because the mindset of the forum would be more from a "let's make the cars go" rather than "look I have a speedster". A forum like that would mean exterior brakes aren't controversial but what kind you might be using, maybe metropolitian front drum brakes? Oil would be discussed in a different matter along the lines of what pressurized system works best. Choosing to run a mag (external) would be controversial as to whether a mag or dist. Other "controversial" topics may include fenders (yes, no, cycle?), windshields (yes, no, monocle, screens?), exhaust (muffled, straight, exposed, size?) not to mention lowering methods. . .When someone shows up with the intention to build or modify their T they are flooded with "rebuild the coils" "you don't need a water pump" "replace the babbit washers in the rear end" etc rather than what may be what they are looking for.

Sometimes real controversy doesn't go mentioned as much. Using politics (not talking) as an example if the ______ side wasnt represented and you looked for hot topics you would only see what the other side was talking about and the opposite would true as well while missing the point the the real divide is left and right i.e. stock or not.

[TXGOAT2]

Speedsters, being custom builds, are correct if the builder is satisfied with his product. (Real ones do not contain fiberglass parts)

[babychadwick]

Perhaps the controversy, the real controversy is whether pre or post 1927 and for the speedsters yes that indlused downdraft, SR, etc. For the non speedster disc brake turn signal seat belt etc.

[AndyClary]

Apparently right now the most popular subject is an old hub cap with a piece of broken hub in it.


Andy

[Duey_C]

Luke, black-painted wheel spokes verses natural spokes.

[Luke]

Luke, black-painted wheel spokes verses natural spokes.

Duane,

Given the 'free field' nature of conversation around these things it's quite difficult to devise a search term that includes just we want to know but will exclude the rest, and to some extent trying to differentiate between black vs natural with regard to spokes is good example of this! Searching just for 'spokes' would also bring in wire wheel spokes too so in the end I just went for pretty much exactly what you asked:

91 matches: natural spokes
89 matches: black spokes

A quick look at the text of these responses suggests the answers are reasonably on form, although some crossover is to be expect.

By itself 'spokes' returns 1179 matches, but the text there brings in many other things than just the colour!

Terry, that was a good catch:

522 matches: insurance

Unfortunately the phpBB software claims the word 'original' is too common and refuses to cough up any answers on that.

Chad,

Again the nature of the phpBB search function means I can't make it search for a specific phrase. Thus 'post 1927' returns matches with both 1927 and post, which is clearly erroneous with reference to what were wanting here. Thus the best we can do here is, out of interest, see how often '1927' comes up, which turned out to be somewhat more than I'd have thought:

2949 matches: 1927

Otherwise while I agree with much of your longer post it's probably getting a bit difficult, and out of scope of the intent of this thread, to try and search for some of those things.

However both you and Pat reminded me to check on 'speedster' which returned a healthy 3834 matches, and then led to a few more searches:

3930 matches: roadster
975 matches: centerdoor
837 matches: tudor
243 matches: tourer
43 matches: fordoor
4 matches: centredoor

Andy

Luke.

[Mark Gregush]

Apparently right now the most popular subject is an old hub cap with a piece of broken hub in it.


Andy

LOL I was thinking the same thing.

[Jerry VanOoteghem]

Apparently right now the most popular subject is an old hub cap with a piece of broken hub in it.


Andy

LOL I was thinking the same thing.

HA! Me too!

[MichaelPawelek]

How many Model T’ers can squeeze through the door of a ice cream shop in one minute….

[Burger in Spokane]

Ford quit making Model T cars after 1925.