MTFCA Forum

The plate on my '17 Touring

Today was a beautiful day in my part of Michigan. Bright sunshine and highs in the mid-50's. A few weeks ago I purchased a nice Hayes front wheel into which I installed new bearing cups before painting the rim and hub. My plan was to replace the left front wheel of my '17 touring because it has a li...

Welcome to a fellow Michigander! Before you plunk any money down, do get a quote from your current insurance company. I'm with Auto Owners which lets me put my T into "Storage" for the winter months, saving me some cash while still protecting it from fire, theft, etc. They also offer different level...

I've sailed aboard the "Plague Ship" (Zaandam) a couple of times and can only imagine what they are going thru. Most of the cabins aren't much bigger than a cell so being on lockdown has got to be difficult, especially the interior cabins. I was supposed to be on her sister ship the Veendam earlier ...

Its hard to realize that paved roads are a phenomena of the last 100 years. Even the state highways in my area were gravel until WWII or later. Our Model T's were designed for such conditions which makes me chuckle when I hear guys talk who are afraid to take their cars on a gravel or dirt road. Me,...

Joking aside, I worry about the Amish if the bug gets into one of their communities....

The Lloyd Flanders company still makes wicker products in Menominee. I doubt they’ve made anything else as neat as the wicker T.

Does anybody have pictures of what the seat backs in a 1917 touring look like with the upholstery removed? I got a kit from classtique but am reluctant to remove the old without some idea of what I'm getting into.

Except we won't have a readily available team of horses....

I hang my painted parts like George with great success. Some parts for an airplane I'm building were stored that way for years without problems except maybe a little dust. I think they cure better in the open air.

Are those discs on the wheels to keep the mud from building up, or?

I bought the Hayes and one Kelsey wheel from Craig. The spokes are epoxy sealed, tight and solid. The rims aren't pitted at all and look as good as any I've seen. If you're looking for some Kelsey's Craig has some nice ones.

Tim,
The lever extender in the upper right corner with "tad" in the handle. Available? Price? Email please.

Keith, Thanks for the well-wishes. I'm still dealing with the aftermath of the accident in the form of pain in my right hip (the opposite leg) probably due to nerve damage. That said, I'm working on my Model T and when it warms up a bit I'll be out driving it. My plans are to trailer it to Oshkosh a...

It's a guv'mint plot....nothing to worry about.

Fear is playing a role, no doubt. However, an invisible virus with multiple modes of transmission is definitely something to avoid. Covid-19 is something new and appears to have a greater mortality rate than flu, which alone was expected to kill up to 30,000 Americans this year. Multiply that by a f...

People are frightened and feeling helpless. They hear about others buying huge amounts of TP and figure there must be a reason so they do too. I was in a Sam's club Thursday and they were cleaned out of TP so people were buying paper shop towels and the like. Purell? Gone too.... A lot of things wer...

I bought a disc brake kit from a fellow who had sent this pedal out to have the tab welded on. Since my car is a '17, I sent my pedal out to be welded rather than use this one. If anyone has a use for it I'll accept a reasonable offer. Be aware that if I ship it in a flat rate box it'll cost $15.05 ...

These days you have to call ahead to see if a place is open. Restaurants and their staffs are really taking a hit. Times are changing and not for the better.....

TP is pretty much sold out in our area. People are stocking up on the darndest things....

First of all, not mercury. My motometer can only be viewed from the driver’s seat.

The 50th annual Eastside A’s swap meet at Russ Milne Ford in Michigan has been cancelled. Michigan’s gov has closed the schools and banned all gatherings of 250 people or more. Stay well out there.

Dave,
Unlikely. The husband disassembled a bunch of Model A’s. I looked for T parts but didn’t see any. I WISH it was Model T stuff...there is so much of it.

Sorry Hank....that was a crappy thing for me to say

From personal experience I can tell you that Hank is definitely one of the "good guys" on this forum. I am only one of many people he has helped out in the past.

People like Hank and the others who've offered their help and suggestions are the one of the main reasons I enjoy this hobby so much.

I know a lady whose late husband collected Model A parts - she has a couple of barns full of just about anything you can imagine. One thing I noticed is a whole bunch of wire wheels. I understand some people adapt them to fit a model T - not that I'm interested in them for my 1917 but maybe a set wo...

Looks like Bubba built a motorized outhouse.

If the pandemic continues to worsen I think you've just seen the tip of the iceberg as far as cancellations. The last time something like this happened was 1918 and no one is around today who lived thru that. I was due to leave on a chartered cruise on Wednesday. The cruise was cancelled by the grou...

Do not drive on that rim. Some of the most knowledgeable people on this forum have told you it's a bad idea and given you some alternatives. If you can't make one work....park it until you get a good rim. Tire / rim failure on a Model T can lead to a lot more trouble than the inconvenience of sittin...

A 1910 fire truck in the Stahl Collection in Michigan.

Great news! Made my day. Congrats Russ!

Steven, By installing the ring gear and the notched coil ring you're ahead of the game. I have a 1917 and when I had the engine rebuilt I installed a starter although I took a little different approach. You are correct about the hogshead, starter and bendix. Don't forget the cup that goes over the b...

That is very strange. I had a problem with a new brush that had a weak spring but changing it had no effect on the timing. Is the pin location different? If so, maybe you could install a new brush in the old holder and avoid having to re-do the timing.

I got a low black flat tube radiator for my 1917 from Bergs. A friend picked it up at Hershey. My car has never once overheated, including on several 90 degree days at last year's Covered Bridge tour. Climbing long hills with four people....no problem. As the other Tim said, we're a very small marke...

In late 2018 I paid $4400 for a total rebuild of engine and transmission. That included block machining, a new coil ring and a flywheel with a ring gear that would accept a starter. We went with upgraded valves, aluminum pistons, kevlar bands, etc., etc. I thought it was a fair price.

Here in the Thumb of Michigan the signs of spring are arriving a little early. The Redwing Blackbirds returned almost two weeks early and other migratory birds are making an appearance. Temps have been above freezing, we've had a string of days with nice blue skies and the Sun actually has some warm...

I used Rustoleum Silver paint - looks good and holds up well.

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I used a rustoleum silver paint. Holds well and looks good.

Drool.....and it's not for the biscuits! Enjoy, it's a beauty!

I was contacted by someone clearing out a huge collection of Model A parts that belonged to her deceased husband. She mentioned she had a "Field Boring and Pouring" kit for making babbitt bearings. I haven't looked at it but wonder if it is something I should try to get my hands on....if not for me ...

Erik,
So sorry to hear of your loss. Be grateful that you had such a wonderful relationship with your dad.... you are a lucky man and I'm sure that he felt lucky to have a son like you.

Tim Juhl

The nut that holds the brush on the shaft? In a word, "yes" it could cause problems if loose. Also check that the contact surfaces are clean.

Try Henry's Car Covers... they usually have sales. I like the one I got for my '17 touring.

My tank had dried fuel gum and rust. I cleaned and coated mine using the PQR 15 process, very carefully sloshing on the final coating to be sure it covered everything. It took a few days as I let the cleaner set in different position so it got to all areas. I also installed a finger screen in the ga...

Update: I know people need facts in order to make a decision so I’ve been running down motels along my proposed route. I haven’t made any reservations but I have some prices and local information. For 5 nights it’s looking like $215 per person ($430/ couple) for double occupancy in modestly priced m...

George, We have access to a cabin on Drummond Island and usually go up around mid-October. A couple of times I've trailered my 1952 M38a1 Jeep up and driven some of the trails (great Jeeping country - some of the trails qualify for a Jeep "Badge of Honor.") Our Jeep is not enclosed but I've found if...

Steve, You are correct - such a tour would require a hardy person, like one who would sleep under a tarp in a Walmart parking lot. When my late daughter was attending NMU in Marquette we used to go up the first of October for a color tour. Yes, weather can be unpredictable but it should be doable i...

John - Do you have a designated driver? :lol: Marty - that would be great! I'm doing my best to keep costs down. Should cost less than a typical tour. The dates I'm looking at are two weeks after OCF and the tour would wrap up by the weekend before Hershey starts, giving most guys 3-4 days before th...

Wayne, that would be four dogs in a model T-one of whom weighs 130 pounds. Not this year but hey, I’m up for anything

Dave, your earlier post is what got me thinking. Right after OCF would be a great date but unfortunately for me, my daughter and son in law will be on a cruise and we’ll be dog sitting. I was thinking September 27-Oct 2 or 3. Same time as last years covered bridge tour in Indiana. Temps there were i...

I got thinking the other day that rather than waiting for people to plan tours to places I'd like to see... maybe I could do it. I've led a color tour and am working on the Michigan Jamboree right now. I've also led some tours for my Military Vehicle Collectors group. My problem is that I came to Mo...

I belong to both clubs. Michigan is a MTFCI state but with joint membership I can also participate in tours and activities hosted by the MTFCA - also, as others have stated, it allows me to use this forum guilt free... Many years ago there may have been a reason that the two groups split off but tha...

It's been almost two months since I lost my buddy Goose. About two weeks ago we brought home Rosie, a young Black Lab rescue that had been brought to Michigan from a high-kill shelter in Georgia. A mid-Michigan group (New Hope Pet Rescue) has brought a total of 110 dogs and 30 cats to Michigan since...

Ed, I agree - phone it in. I explained our needs to the owners and they set aside 34 large sites for our group. The 16 they showed available are those not reserved for the Jamboree. For others thinking about camping, remember, they've only agreed to hold the sites until April 15th and they are the o...

Geez! And here I thought three pedals on the floor were an effective anti-theft device.

The Thumb features some great Model T roads and with 90 miles of Lake Huron shoreline, has some spectacular scenery. We're working hard to insure everyone has a good time. August is usually beautiful in the Thumb and not as crowded as some other parts of Michigan. FWIW - I heard from co-chairman Bri...

For those who also belong to the "other" club, the website is up for the 2020 Michigan Jamboree if you're interested. I'm co-chair if you have questions.

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A wheel with hub (front or rear) would be fine too as long as the felloe is as previously described.

The other front wheel is a Hayes with a straight edge & a notch. I also have (on the rear) one with a rolled edge. I have both Hayes and Ford demountable rims on the car. The wheel measures 1 5/8 inches across the felloe where the spokes attach and the hole for the tenon is 1/2 inch. The wheel I hav...

I have a good hub and am looking for a steel 30 x 3.5 felloe to build up a wheel with new spokes. I want one that has no or minimal rust pits in the areas that are visible when the demountable rim is mounted. My goal is to match the wheel shown below.

Congrats! New blood (not necessarily young) is needed to keep any organization healthy so they have shown great trust in passing the torch to you.... Good luck!

Joe, If you fly in plan to arrive early or you may get diverted to a satellite field and have to ride the shuttle in. This will be my 46th consecutive visit to EAA Airventure at Oshkosh. First time I flew in as the copilot of a WWII B-25 Bomber.... I've flown my own plane in several times but for th...

Hi Keith - we didn't meet until later - at your Oshkosh "camp" and again at the OCF. The Model T community is certainly a tightly knit one... Since joining your ranks I have met and made friends from all over which is great! I just wish I hadn't waited so long to get a Model T and join the fun!

Look like what I've used on airplanes for fuel lines, oil lines and brake lines in areas where rigid lines are not acceptable.

Yes - I made the trip to the Homecoming with my scooter. I was definitely not disappointed and did pick up a few items and meet some nice folks, Tim W included. It was just plain fun and maybe I'll be able to bring my T this year if all goes well. I see the doc this Friday about an issue with my oth...

Yup Tim. Tony's is a place I will remember. I've driven past it many times but never stopped before. Thanks!

Carson - living in the desert you know the importance of water.... I don't know the condition of your radiator and cooling system and whether you plan to run plain water or antifreeze but be aware that it is not unusual for a T with an original type radiator to boil over. The cooling system is not p...

I can't give a comparison between Brassworks and Bergs, but I bought a flat tube Bergs for my 1917 and so far so good. The car runs cool, never getting near to overheating, even on Indiana's covered bridge tour with daytime temps in the 90's. I have a Motometer Junior and the thermometer never rose ...

Yawn! I got up well before the Sun and made my way to Saginaw. There were lots of people there, but little of interest to me. It was put on by a Model A club but I saw very little Model A stuff ---- mostly the kind of things you would see at a flea market. The only Model T item I noticed was a sad l...

Letter in the mail for one of each.
Thanks,
Tim

Tim-there is a State Street Tony’s listed at that address, I hope that’s the place you’re thinking of. I’ll be on my own and looking for a place to do lunch. I plan to arrive early at McDonald’s and will be getting hungry by late morning...thanks for the suggestion.
The other Tim

Sounding better and better

I'll be there...."lord willing and the creek don't rise." I'll be the big guy with the grey Ford hat and a limp. I don't expect to find one there but I'm looking for a un-pitted steel felloe for a 30 x 3.5 demountable.... Anyway, that's my excuse for driving over

Today, January 21st, is the one year anniversary of breaking my ankle in a freak tractor accident. I'm not fully recovered but able to do a lot of things without needing a cane.... I run out of steam quicker than I used to but I'm still functional. Today I also faced a situation similar to a year ag...

Am I correct that these appeared on later 1917's? I think my September 1916 '17 used the same data plate as the 15-16.

It looks pretty cool to me. You could take a lesson from classic aircraft construction - Fabric stretched over a frame and painted would be lighter than wood in places where you could get away with it. For example, the empty weight of my Aeronca Champion aircraft is less than that of a Honda Goldwin...

If these tyres turn out to be superior to the Vietnam variety then the solution is to find someone in the US to import and market them. Economy of scale

Perhaps one of our members across the pond can chime in. Personally, if I knew the tires would last longer than those currently available from asia I would pay the price willingly. I wonder whether they make their own tires (tyres) or outsource them?

Depends.... my '17 has headlights with clear glass lenses so when the lights are off you can tell the bulbs are modern. In cars with other than clear glass I would think it would be really hard to tell.

Welcome to the forum Carson. Glad you didn't do like me and wait until you were 69 to start working on Model T's. Similar to you I learned to drive by driving my dad's 1955 Ford around our horse pasture. Running over the occasional bush kept the underside clean but is not recommended... I have a few...

Yes, I agree that shipping costs are out of control. I try to combine orders and take advantage of free or reduced shipping when available. As to the things you ordered from the "other organization." I know the folks who handle the sales and you should know that they are unpaid volunteers. I've seen...

You're a good writer.... you should keep us supplied with the "Adventures of Bob and his T(Rusty) Model T and former girlfriend." I had a original 1917 round tank that had varnish from old gas and rust in it. I purchased a PQR 15 kit and followed directions to clean and coat the inside with a epoxy-...

I've had similar experiences where strangers have stepped forward without hesitation to provide elbow grease and parts to get me going. On my first tour I learned the quickest way to meet people it to open the hood on your Model T.

Men at work - Michigan Jamboree 2019

"You get what you pay for" is a true statement. I have no objection to paying a bit more for quality and to make it possible for the small manufacturers to survive and make a profit. All the previous posters have made good points and as Hank says, the future of the hobby doesn't depend on our genera...

I measured the amount of oil required to fill the pumpkin to 1.5 inches below the fill hole and came up with 20 ounces. I also pre-greased the hyatt bearings before installation. I made a Jelf tool to check levels and it has remained about where it is supposed to be. My rear end runs very quietly us...

I don't know if this would apply to your situation, but in a recent conversation with RV Anderson he recommended removing the wood filler at the bottom of the sockets and filling them with pourable epoxy. The epoxy is supposed to prevent corrosion and provide additional strength to the tube. Somethi...

John, It's guys like you who make our hobby possible....thanks! Do you have a website? Where can we get more info on your product(s)? Robert, I've had the same experience as you.... the big names often get their products from the same sources so sometimes the trick is to figure out who the source is...

My Juhl grandfather was born in 1860 and died in 1960 when I was ten - I kick myself for not asking more questions when he was around. My mom has been gone for 41 years and my dad for 31.... since their passing I have come up with so many questions I would like to have asked but it is too late. Ever...

I can't seem to find good contact info for RV Anderson. Is there a website?

I think I've got this figured out but would appreciate hearing from those in the know.... I'm going to install a top on my 1917 Touring this spring. There is no top on it now. I need to order the straps that hold it in place. Looking at figure 1 - The green arrow is pointing towards a footman loop t...

Purists would roll their eyes at me but I didn't use a foot switch, preferring to use a starter solenoid instead. One reason was comments I read where people climbing in a car inadvertently stepped on the switch, activating the starter with damage or injury resulting. I considered putting a dummy sw...

I'm pleased to welcome another Michigander to the affliction. Sounds like you've got a better handle on it than I did when I started. You'll find the guys on the forum to be a great source of help, information and encouragement. Hope to see you on the road!

Frank, We've got those too, not to mention the stupids. I remember a visit to Arizona a few years ago where every so often the grass in the highway median would be burned black. Some idiot had pitched a cigarette out the window and a fire ensued. In a recent case a guy shot at an exploding target as...

Frank - there is no doubt weather patterns are changing.... you're right that fires are not a new phenomenom, but in the US the fire season has gotten longer and more intense. Human activity has played a part in the change as have other factors. It doesn't change the fact that humans and animals are...

Aircraft engines use filters but you can pull a lever and direct hot air (carb heat) from a shroud around the exhaust into the carb to melt ice if it forms. Since the temp of air passing thru a venturi drops, ice can form even when it is warm out.... depends a lot on the humidity. You normally don't...

Boy! Is that the truth!

Is your New Day Timer made by Tip-Top timers? If so, I'd contact Mark Hutchinson [(509) 220-0892] and explain the situation. He'll work with you. Bakelite holds it's shape well but will break rather than flex.... You don't want a timer cover to flex anyway. I'd not try to repair it...odds are it wil...

Mack, I took my "yard sale" mobility scooter with me and had no problems getting around Hershey. It was my first trip there so I was concerned. I had a vendor spot so I parked my camper van right on the grounds which was nice. I also saw ample handicap parking if you have to drive in. They also rent...

I like it better when you can see at a glance without having to look at a person's profile.

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