MTFCA Forum

You mighty try "muffler cement". It's a hard-setting substance that can supposedly stop exhaust leaks. You might be able to make a better sealing surface with it.

You need the right spring to keep the crank away from the crankshaft. A little oil on the crank bearing from time to time will prevent wear and ease cranking. Any excess oil will probably get on the front spring, which is good for it. Many people say that rebuilding an original starter switch gives ...

Any OHV head that lacks automatic oiling will probably require frequent lubrication of the rocker mechanism.

See the recent thread on carburetor flooding.

You might try putting the car in "high", engine off, and have someone rock it forward and backward to see if the noise occurs, and you could also look into the transmission while the load is changing, and try applying the different bands while the car is being rocked. You might want to take out the ...

Albuquerque's altitude may also be a factor.

"Afterboil" may indicate late timing for operating conditions.

Triple gear bushings need adequate lubrication, and using a high quality, light bodied oil with high film strength in a stock T should facilitate that. As I understand it, the triple gears are idle when running in "high". Using the correct oil and allowing the engine/transmission to warm up thorough...

"So, after a long winter off the road doing wheels, rear end, new axles and kingpins, took her for the first drive today..."

What caused the triple gear issue to develop while the car was out of service for rear axle repairs?

Could there be some issue with the newly-overhauled rear axle?

Be sure your motor mounts are tight.

Will, since you live in Florida, you should have no issues using a good quality 30W non-detergent oil in a Model T, especially if your engine has at least a few hundred miles on it. If I were you, and already had the 30W, I'd go ahead and use it. You can improve the non-detergent, straight grade oil...

Old, high mileage engines with oil pumps and full pressure lubrication do very well using Wal Mart 20W50 conventional oil. In hot weather, adding a pint of STP can be beneficial. An exception would be old model Chevrolet sixes and others with splash type rod bearings. These engines require a light b...

My Model T has run the Montana 500 using full synthetic oil. It has stock bearings and crankshaft. I have run full synthetic 5W20 or 10W30 oil in it for over 15,000 miles at speeds up to 45+ MPH with no issues what so ever. Multi-grade full synthetic motor oil meets, and FAR exceeds, Ford's specific...

Synthetic oil works well in a Model T. 10W30 is a good choice in most parts of the USA. Ford recommended 20W. 10W30 covers that nicely. If you run a T in cold weather, 5W20 is a good choice.

A New Day will give excellent results with properly adjusted coils.

I don't know specifically what they are, other than being T-based speedsters.

An original Ford timer will fit properly and work properly if maintained properly. A good reproduction timer will do likewise. It's important that the engine timing cover be properly located relative to the camshaft. If it isn't, several problems will arise, rapid timer wear being one of them.

The spring loaded fit between the timer cover and the engine timing cover is very tight, if everything is in good condition. Manipulating the spark lever tends to wear the two parts into a very close fit. Some oil leakage from the timer is probably more good than bad, since leakage will tend to redu...

Mixed up timer wires can cause kickback. They are color coded, but that only works if they are connected properly at the coil end, and they may not be.

12 volt battery, lights, and starter.

If you get kickback with the spark on full retard, something will have to be adjusted. You should have no kickback at all when starting the car, whether you use the starter or the hand crank. Be certain the wires are in the proper order, and adjust linkage as necessary to get the spark to occur afte...

A buzz box is much better than trying to adjust coils "by ear". But an HCCT is FAR BETTER, and an ECCT is best.

A small mechanic's mirror may be useful for inspecting the timer.

Ford recommended a light oil for general timer lubrication. That would correspond to 20W today. For cold weather, an even lighter oil was called for, such as 20W mixed with a little kerosene. Ford also insisted on using a light, high quality oil in the engine. (20W) I have had excellent results adhe...

Hemming's Motor News, August 2025 issue, Ford 1903-1931 listings, page 212. Two Model T speedsters listed, one in MN, one in ME.

There is one in the magazine, if I'm not dreaming. Two, actually.

A possible cause of the sandpaper look to the contact surfaces and roller is electrical arcing. One cause for excess arcing could be excess current draw from the coils. Another could be excessively thick lubricant. Worn parts would probably aggravate both arcing and promote rapid further wear. I wou...

The Ford type roller timer requires a light oil, not grease of any kind.

Ford recommended 20W oil for the engine and the timer.

Check the latest Hemming's Motor News, Ford section.

If the cut out springs get very hot, they will probably get weak. You can adjust the carb while driving down the road. Somewhere around 1 turn off the seat is usually OK. I start my car at about 1 1/8 turns off the seat, and it runs good when warmed up at about 7/8 to 3/4 turn off the seat. Most adj...

Does he need someone to cash a large check for him? Does he want someone to allow him to deposit his late grandfather's massive fortune in an American bank account?

If this "collector" actually owns a car, it's probably a Trabant, or perhaps a Pobeda.

FWIW, I'd as soon consult a "California Psychic" for advice on repairing an antique car fender as "AI".

Things really flow in my kitchen area since we replaced the old flooring with wombats.

Any repair needs to be as flexible as the rest of the fender or new cracks will develop if the car is driven much.

It would be a good idea to determine what the problem is before trying to remedy it.

Yep. Bulgaria's nice this time of year....

Steel crystalizes, or becomes brittle, when subjected to flexing. Model T fenders flex from vibration and road defects. Many of them have also been bent to some degree or other and straightened, or had cracks welded in the past, and most have some degree of corrosion. All these factors can complicat...

1910 was a long year.

Inspecting your spark plugs can tell you a lot about how the different cylinders are performing. What kind of timer do you have? Have you cleaned or lubricated it recently? Is your fuel filter clean? What about the carburetor adjustment? Have you tried adjusting the carburetor while driving down the...

Zero is best.

Proper vacuum tubing should not collapse. You may need to take the cutout apart and see if you can get the parts to fit together better.

The sound a coil makes does not necessarily indicate its condition. I adjusted all 4 of my coils to sound about the same and the car would barely run. The only way to correctly adjust the KW type coils is to use an HCCT or ECCT. All 4 coils can deliver a strong spark and still be out of adjustment. ...

The new, highly-polished marble flooring really sets off the rich Corinthian lather in the rear compartment and sauna area while providing faster acceleration and higher top speeds. Act now for hot summer pricing!

The straighter you can get them, the better. Perfect is good enough. Wheel runout sets up strains and forces that degrade ride and handling, contributes to tire and suspension parts wear, and may contribute to loosening wood wheels. It also consumes horsepower that would be better used moving the ca...

Use Loctite AND wire.

You'd probably be OK with a 40/60 mix of antifreeze and water. But.... Texas weather can be unpredictable...

Fuel pressure is always marginal with an under seat tank. It diminishes further as the fuel level drops. Anything that raises the carburetor relative to the fuel tank, such as a steep incline, reduces fuel pressure. Heat always seems to aggravate any weakness in fuel systems. Fuel demand is high whe...

Re: Airflow ... I believe you are correct.

Pulling up a long, steep slope in reverse will tend to cause the engine to run hotter than normal. Anything that tends to lower the radiator relative to the engine such as descending a steep slope or backing up a steep slope will increase the tendency to overheat. Making fuel system improvements wil...

Ford did build cars in 1910. But... did they build 1910 models?

I do hope the gentleman is able to locate a car that looks like a 1910 Ford.

"Mr. Azevado your reply is another opinion and please read my topic. I wrote I want to buy Ford Model T and the reason why I want to buy it. I don't care what other MTFCA members write here about authenticity and originality. I care that I will buy Ford Model T and fulfill my childhood dream" Then y...

In hot weather, 190 to 200 F is not too hot. It should not boil over. It's a good idea to go over the entire vehicle checking for loose or missing nuts, bolts, etc.

The clunky noise might be a cracked transmission brake drum. Or it could be a dry u-joint. Or a rear hub that is not tight on the axle shaft. Have you oiled and greased the entire vehicle, including all moving body parts and all the chassis parts, including filling the u-joint housing with grease? B...

5/8 is too much. I'm guessing you have mis-matched parts or a bent spindle arm. Normal wear would make the tie rod shorter, not longer. Caster angle is very important to good roadability. A Model T will handle very nicely when the steering parts are in good order. There should be very little to no f...

The action of the spring leaves against one another works to remove any lubricant used. Graphite resists this action better than oil or grease alone. Road dust and muddy water seem to be as good at getting between spring leaves as lubricant is at getting out.

Stiff springs contribute rattles, squeaks, and to cracked sheet metal and cracked front cross members.

The 5th wheel lube would do a good job. Used motor oil is also good, and used motor oil mixed with graphite is excellent. If you drive your car much, the springs will either be greasy or rusty unless you service and clean them often. Greasy is far better than rusty. Spring gaiters can retain lubrica...

1905 was indeed a good year..... and NO INCOME TAX!

The hood standing beside the engine looks like it may be for a fire truck. So does the frame.

Nah... it has spark plugs and a distributor. Hall-Scott?

The wires connected to the timer take quite a bit of abuse from vibration and rubbing on other parts, often including the fan belt or crank pulley. Worn spots in the insulation can develop quickly and cause misfire, often at higher road speeds. It's worthwhile to check the timer wires very carefully...

Don't use resistor-type spark plugs on a Model T.

"Mr. Sheldon wrote, 'ALL brass era Ts are suspect for authenticity.....' "

The statement is operative.

Try warming the car up, then put it in "neutral" (brake handle all the way back) and raise the engine speed to about what it is when the car runs rough on the road, with the timing and carburetor at the same setting as when on the road. Does it still run rough?

Problems with motor vehicles are often what you're sure they're not.

The engine's demand for fuel is much higher at road speeds than at idle, and the voltage demand on the ignition system is much higher at higher engine loads than at idle. Valve clearance that is too tight may allow a good idle, but cause problems when the engine is running at higher speeds and loads.

There is no fixed, correct setting for the timing or the carburetor mixture. The proper setting is where the engine runs best at whatever speed and load it is running at. Float level setting is important, and in some cases, the float needle and seat assembly won't deliver enough fuel for running at ...

Weak valve springs could allow valves to float or bounce at certain speeds. Problems with the wiring between the coils and timer will cause problems. Poor contact between the coils and the coil box contacts is a common problem. Vibration at certain speeds can make it worse. Misalignment, a weak brus...

I think the fore door on the driver's side of the USA cars was to let the cat out.

Complete, factory-correct [1910] Model Ts were scarce by 1920, if not sooner.

The devil drives a Renault?

.... And "Youth Pills" are still a hot seller, along with goop that erases wrinkles and pills that incinerate that stubborn bellyfat.

The gentlemen were very disappointed when they found that the ladies had packed an extra gallon of gasoline...

Also: Test coil.

In Mexico City in 1983, I saw some of the fanciest buses I have ever seen... sleek and modern, with well-dressed people getting off and on at stops in La Zona Rosa. The very next bus to pull up at the stop might be a grimy, battered, and run- down 3rd class bus with open windows, loud, smokey exhaus...

I've seen old pictures of people riding running boards to get around the city in 1920s Los Angeles. Private car owners would give rides for a nickle or dime. The city clamped down...

The Ford service manual provides a procedure and specifications for adjusting coils when using a Ford HCCT, or hand-cranked coil tester, which is basically a Ford magneto fitted with a hand crank and a voltmeter and an ammeter. When using this method, each coil is adjusted to draw an indicated 1.3 a...

I think the Ford repair manual gives some direction on coil adjustment. It can be difficult to adjust coils without the right equipment. A coil with a bad capacitor or points in bad condition can't be adjusted correctly. I would clean, inspect, and lubricate the timer first. If you can locate someon...

Ford recommended lubricating the timer every 200 miles with a light oil.

A manifold heat device may improve performance if the bucking problem is moisture or frost forming in the intake, which can occur at well above freezing temperatures if ambient humidity is present. Another possibility is a leak at the manifold or carburetor gasket causing a lean mixture. Timer probl...

It looks like it's best to avoid using or being near arc welding equipment. I'd avoid or use extra caution when using jumper cables, bench-testing a starter or generator, or when attempting to recharge magnets. Using a plasma cutter might be a problem, also.

You could probably rig up a big capacitor to start a T. You'd need a high capacity capacitor with very low leakage and a source of low voltage DC to charge it.

They might be of some slight benefit to a car running on low gravity 1920's gasoline.

Pretty neat trick, given that there aren't any such controls or devices.

A winter storm warning has been issued for a couple of Montana counties today and tonight ... up to 12" of snow...

These so-called "correct restorations" with non-period gasoline and oil aren't fooling anyone!

The later cars with the coils in a box under the hood, a steel firewall, and much shorter high tension leads would radiate less RF energy than the earlier models.

I believe that the high tension side of the ignition system would be a more likely source of interference than the magneto would be. For one thing, the magneto is completely enclosed in a steel and cast iron enclosure, and the current produced by the magneto is very similar to that in household wiri...

Under good conditions, you might expect around 4 to 7 % tread wear at 1500 miles. Even wear at all 4 tires suggests that the vehicle is in good condition as far as alignment and weight balance. On my car, the rear tires wear faster than the front. I believe this is due to lack of front brakes and mo...

Driving conditions will have a lot to do with wear. A vehicle with compliant springs, double acting shocks, good weight balance, and good alignment will be comparatively easy on tires. Enthusiastic driving will dramatically accelerate tire wear. Some road surfaces are more aggressive than others, an...

Using a carburetor with an idle mixture adjustment might be sufficient to compensate for the additional air. With either the T or A carburetor, the idle speed adjustment would probably allow controlling idle speed if the throttle shaft was tight.

But.... are you in an EPA NAA?

A PCV system that is properly set up will provide several benefits on a T engine. Such a system will reduce the tendency to leak oil and reduce or eliminate oil mist escaping from the oil filler cap. Crankcase ventilation will be substantially improved, which helps remove moisture and fuel condensat...

Out here, out on the perimeter, it's still 1913.

Bad capacitors give bad performance.

Getting scarcer by the day....

Axle housings that are damaged beyond repair can be easily made into excellent jack stands.

The degree of leakage would affect how much effect the problem had on the other parts of the system. Both performance and durability of the system of system components such as points and timer is degraded by a leaky or off-spec capacitor. No leakage is ideal, and if any is present, the less the bett...

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