MTFCA Forum

I took to carrying a 12 volt battery in my 1915 just for the convenience of using an electric compressor for tires. In case that might go awry, for a backup I carried this:

Can it get a tire up to 70 psi? You may have to stop and rest a time or two, but yes, it can.

With a habit of driving a lot of dirt/gravel country roads, it has been my custom for many years to run with an air filter in place of a pipe. Possibly because of where I've done that driving, the lack of a hot air pipe has never given me any trouble.

In the days when I had my sign business the Petit Jean swap meet in June was regular stop for me. I always enjoyed the park and its scenery, and this video visit to the area is a real treat. This is good work by a videographer who knows what he's doing, and pays attention. Well done.

From his youth in Glendale to his non-youth in San Diego County (Alpine?) Norm was always a good source of sensible information. He knew his stuff, and got the information across with no drama. The example he set on the forum is a good one to follow.

My aged and hazy memory says a brisk pull of the crank should produce about 6 or 7 volts from a well charged magneto. Maybe somebody less deteriorated will confirm or correct that.

After a century many of these cars have "incorrect" parts to varying degrees. Some have one or two parts of the wrong year, and some are parts salads made up of whatever fits well enough to be crammed in. Most are pure enough to allow a pretty good estimate of what year they are. This page partiall...

Scraps from a saddle shop will be cheap or free.

Russ Furstnow is the speedometer guru (He wrote the book.). If he doesn't see and answer this post, maybe you can contact him through the forum (or Google).

I believe there are two kinds of black clinchers — Blockley, and all the others. Those others are really all the same tire wearing various costumes (Wards, Firestone, Universal, etc.), with the same materials and manufacturing, made in the same factory. Is that true? Does it also apply to white cli...

Yes, that's the idea. Many thanks. This version s new to me. I don't know about making a reproduction. Would there be enough demand for it to pay the cost of production?

At one time a device for getting a car unstuck was an accessory drum that attached to one of the rear wheels. A rope attached to a solid object ahead, like a tree, would be wound around the drum as the wheel turned, pulling the vehicle out of its stuck position. Anybody know where I could find a pi...

#2 demonstrates that with correct pulling, a kickback is harmless. I broke a wrist by cranking a tractor the stupid way, and that was a serious reminder that correct cranking matters.

One old cheapskate's approach was to remove a couple of head bolts and bolt a short chain to those two holes. IMG_2488 copy 2.JPG Pulling the engine/transmission from my 1915, I found it helpful to raise the front of the body and set it on a pair of 2x4 blocks. No need to remove the firewall.

Part of human nature is the impulse to be a gullible sucker. That's why we elected...

Part of human nature is the inclination to be a gullible sucker. That's why we elected...

Your wheels are demountables, with steel felloes. That makes installing new spokes a good DIY project.

https://dauntlessgeezer.com/DG108.html

I don't care. When shopping for a part, I consider three elements. 1 Will it work (Will it improve something)? 2 How well will it survive normal use long term? 3 How much does it cost? Those numbers are irrelevant. I consider the three elements equally important, and any one of them can outweigh th...

I haven't searched YouTube, but I have seen a couple of videos there about Ford and the Model T. I would preview any of those with a skeptical eye and ear to note any baloney content that may have crept in. You may find mismatched words and pictures, and a random mix of film shots from the teens an...

Yes, you must remove the engine/transmission as a unit. Don't waste your time on mental gymnastics trying to figure some other way. If you're able to see what that takes simply by observation, go ahead. If you need directions, follow the shop manual. With the engine attached to a stand and the nose...

Kingston NH?

For most folks, changing clincher tires for the first time is quite a struggle. The challenge decreases with practice and some study, and eventually having to change a tire becomes no big deal. If I still had my 1915 together and running, I'd make a video.

Thus far nobody has mentioned this, so I will. After you get the axle off the car and the welds removed, you may find the perches absolutely stuck solid in the axle, as they often are. You can loosen a stuck perch by clamping it in a vise mounted on a heavy bench. After soaking the shaft with a goo...

Depends on what the owner wants to do with the car.

Not only in California, there are a lot of "made up" 1915 Fords. The quality of their assembly ranges from laughable to excellent. The best are undetectable, down to the nuts and bolts.

Today was it. Steve Behrendt brought his 1925 and we found that I can still pull a crank and start a car. IMG_0639.JPG Starting on BAT is still easy. I tried several pulls on MAG, and it was a no-go every time. I don't know if that was because of me, or a weak magneto. But the car ran on MAG with n...

I'm not a great fan of A.I. in general, but that's really neat.

My thousands of miles driving a 1915 runabout have been in the mostly near-flat center of the USA. East of Wheeling or west of Denver, would it have been different? Dunno. In all those years, my recored 1915 radiator never hinted that I should install a water pump. But in this case, where a pump is...

Second-best has been good enough for me. Mister Thrifty saw the cost of Blockley tubes and compared it to the cost of much less expensive rubber stem tubes. When you do a comparison of costs, you will find why I chose the latter. Are Blockleys best? That's what I've read online. When I buy Hartford...

...if you are going to reproduce something, why not do it correctly, just like the original. [/size] Correct in some cases. But in other cases, scale is prohibitive. The original was made in many thousands or millions, so each piece was relatively cheap. An identical piece made today in the dozens ...

"Wrong" bridge washers cost $12 each, new
Who here would pay $30 each for "Correct" washers?

$30 for a bridge washer is pretty scary. I'm glad I got into this game when you could still pick up tire hardware cheap at swap meets.

For most people, the first time is tough. That gives lots of us the impression that it's inherently unpleasant. If you're new to this game, don't be intimidated. With practice it becomes more familiar, and you learn some things to do and some things to avoid. The more you do it, the less you will d...

UPDATE: We've got it covered. I've received a call from a T owner who lives a couple of miles from me. We'll be getting together for a bit of starting practice.

Here's how fast you need to spin the engine for safe starting:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pv6HWWOGYA

15-16 is the end of the brass era, and 1917-1922 is very different. I expect you'll find differences of shapes and measurements.

Here I am in the old folks' home, without a T. I haven't hand-started an old car since September 7, 2023. I've been wondering if I'm now physically up to the task. Probably so, but it would be nice to give it a try and see if I can still crank-start. Does anybody on the forum have a running T near ...

With the rear wheels off, loosen the perch nuts enough to relax the shackles. You should be able to leave the loose perches in the backing plates. There should be no need for blocks or a spreader.

Daniel Boone's ax has had seven new handles and three new heads.

My technical advice is to send the job to a wheelwright. I've respoked my own demountable wheels, but wood felloes are another story. Is my life worth the cost of hiring an experienced pro? It is to me.

It turns out that the old folks' home has two addresses. The one you'll get with Google is for the front building where the worse-off inmates are housed. My apartment is at:
1320 Ann Street, Apt. 5, Winfield, KS 67156.
Mail will reach me either way, but the second address is more direct.

If you have rebuilt an axle, chances are that you used Glen's book.

Magneto-powered battery charger. I used one based on John Regan's forum posts. It worked for years and thousands of miles in my 1915.

https://dauntlessgeezer.com/DG102.html

Con artists flourish due to a common human inclination to be a gullible.

Somehow my old phone number has survived all the adventures since my wreck. You can reach me when I remember to have the phone with me.

(316) 772-7421

Dave, welcome back. Sometimes life interferes and keeps us away from the forum. You and I aren't the only ones. It's good to see you back, and to be back.

Use any solvent for oil-based residue in an axle tube or d.s. tube (kerosene, paint thinner, Stoddard solvent, etc.). Put a couple of gallons in a pail. Attach a toilet brush to a long handle. Scrub out the gunk.

Still kicking, sort of. When I get annoyed over something I can't do anymore, I think of what I see when I go in the dining room. Most of those codgers are in worse shape than I am. I can still walk, so it's OK. IMG_0627 copy.JPG I still have a TV and a desktop, so I can see what's going on in the ...

My first thought is pressure with a hydraulic jack, and a yardstick to check straightness. That will take three non-yielding holding anchors, one at each end of the bent arm and a solid backup for the jack, facing the bend. If you can take it to a shop that straightens frames, that may be less hass...

Don't get caught driving too fast.

Best to connect up to a person who's "been there done that" ...

Yes, it's best to have an experienced Model T guy go with you and check it out. Many times the person selling the car is clueless or nearly so.

Misled by the low price, I once tried E-85 in my Camry. The mileage was so bad that the actual cost was higher than E-10. Doesn't ethanol gas go bad? Not if you use it up and don't let it sit for months. Never a problem in my 1915 T.

Some don't like Blockleys because of the tread design, but it's period correct.

You don't have to drill any running board holes if you make clamp-on mounting brackets.

The abridged encyclopedia on this website can be helpful, but the complete version you can buy digitally is better. I call it the best fifty bucks you can spend n your Model T. It includes some other good references.

https://dauntlessgeezer.com/DG80.html

For the water outlet and inlet gasket try making your own: 1 On the head or block, apply a layer of Ultra Black 2 On the outlet or inlet, smear grease; 3 Tighten the bolts enough to flatten the Ultra Black; 4 Let it set up and cure; 5 Tighten the bolts. If you remove and reinstall those parts later...

...your cherished memories of childhood might differ from most of society by a few standard deviations.

That's more true than you can imagine. Folks born more recently than the forties can't know how much the world has changed.

I prefer a good New Day. I'm specifying good because some of the bad repops still turn up occasionally. A Google search should bring up previous discussions (with pictures) of good and bad New Day timers. No special tools are needed to set timing:
https://dauntlessgeezer.com/DG97.html

After a plug sealed with original Permatex fell out, I switched to Ultra Black. That proved quite adequate.

A cherished childhood memory from about 1950 is riding down the road from Mineral King in our 1941 Plymouth. Dad steered and worked the brakes while Mom sat beside him and held the gearshift in second so the car wouldn't pop out of gear. I imagine that road would be a good place to try a Ruckstell.

Millions were made, and many are probably still around. The trick will be in finding them. You can scour eBay and try some WTB ads, but it may take some time to find them. If you do find a source, it's probably a good idea to get a few extras.

I believe Ford did not produce depot hacks, but supplied chassis on which they were built by purchasers or aftermarket body builders. There are probably more of them today than there were at the end of production in 1927, because when Model T's became a hobby in the fifties and sixties it was easie...

The hinges on your touring body say 1925. I expect the engine serial number will indicate 1924 after August 1.

https://dauntlessgeezer.com/DG90.html

I suspect the T with Blockley tyres is George's runabout.

...it's much easier to remove and clincher tires with the wheels on the car. [/size] Correct. Using the weight of the vehicle to do some of the work is better than wrestling with a rim on the ground. Scott's comment on duct tape is also on the mark. When the stickum dries out and quits sticking, th...

This is good tonic for an old man who misses the West.

Did a new 1915 Ford come with flaps? Why not? If your rims are good enough...

I haven't been able to go shopping ar Hershey since 2022. I have no regrets about the years I went. I always came hoe with something good. I went to shop, not to sell, and it was wonderful.

Causes of wobbly front wheels: 1 A combination of worn and maladjusted parts adds up to "slop"; 2 Poor alignment/adjustment; 3 100-year-old wheels worn out or nearly so. Fixes: 1 Inspect/fix/replace worn parts; 2 Check & adjust alignment; 3 New wheels. A century of experience is well documented and...

Sometimes a loss of pressure is caused by a leaking valve (core). Before leaping to more extreme measures, try a new core.

The bottom tool (core wrench) is what you need to remove and install valve cores.

Make it.

https://dauntlessgeezer.com/DG112.html

https://dauntlessgeezer.com/DG103.html

All tubes sold with metal stems today have larger stems than what Ford used. While Fords were the most common cars of the time, the thicker stems used on other cars have survived in greater numbers. You can install your own stems of either size, along wih properly fitting dust covers and othet atta...

What Adam said. There are good originals still around. It should be pretty easy to find a few without spending a fortune. A WTB ad or two should do it.

We've been over this before, but I've found Hartford rubber stem tubes quite adequate when I install my own metal stems. Are they as good as Blockley? I doubt it. Do they save me enough dough to be worthwhile? You bet.

Obviously, some like it and some don't. I'll leave it to the rest of you to sort out the pros and cons. If you decide in favor, here's some guidance.

[/size]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKzJP6XJIVY

Let's not get too far ahead of ourselves. Recent OCF posts here and on Facebook have included comments that some old friends missed seeing me. Well, I've missed going and seeing them. Contemplating the situation, I had a couple of thoughts. One is that my days of driving to Michigan in a T are over...

I've piled up a lot of swell memories over the last 80 years, and driving my 1915 to OCF has been a great one.

...wonder how well this has worked from when it was done?

Worked OK for me, but it hasn't been 100 years yet.

The crank has a small hole near the first bend. The little bend at the front end of the spring fits into that hole like this.

Pretty scary, with everybody driving on the wrong side.

The unpaved road looks surprisingly smooth. Does the Go-Pro do that, or is it really smoother than most unpaved roads?

After my brief white tire fling in 2017 I decided they aren't worth the hassle. I found Blockley tyres easy to order and mount, and I believe Blockley sets higher standards for the factory to meet than Coker and Lucas do for theirs.Time will tell about that. Unfortunately the Trump regime has decid...

Be safe out there, no matter how vigilant you are, stuff can - and will - happen. [/size] Exactly right. I have no memory of my wreck, but I know the intersection. It happened to be in a medium-sized town, but it could have been a country road with little traffic or a city street in Chicago. You ca...

If Saturday twilight presents you with a choice between dinner and the headlight drive, stick around for the latter. You can eat later.

Click on their name.

Where? How can I find it if he's not online at the moment?

Get the MTFCA Axle Book, if you don't already have it, and dig in. Too much work? Nope. It won't be fixed in a couple of hours, but it ain't rocket surgery. You can read and follow directions.

https://dauntlessgeezer.com/DG79.html

Apparently my age and my TBI are making me helpless.
How can I send an email or a PM to a forum member?

What if you are a spectator and not a participant? [/size] Just pay at the gate and walk into the Village. My situation is a bit different from most. Traveling by 1915 runabout (no trailer) I was privileged to stay with friends in Wayne and drive to the day's events each morning. Unencumbered by a ...

The look of the wall, and trees inside, has me thinking a park or cemetery somewhere in the Dearborn area. I can't imagine the Village ever having a wall like that around it.

Ed is right about Piquette. If you can arrive a day early to allow plenty of time there, I think you will be glad you did.
Getting in and out of the village is pretty simple.

My memory is far from reliable, but I seem to remember that in a previous post the location was determined to be a street in Dearborn.

As the old saying goes, you ain't seen nothin' yet. The American people wanted this, and voted for it, and now they're going to get it. Good and hard.

Spot welding worked for me. No more cobbling the thing back together out on the road. I knew it would last for years, and if it eventually went bad another new one wouldn't break the bank. I would spot weld that one too. A man's gotta do what a man's gotta do.

This shows the correct wiring for your car. Follow it.

Any decent farm supply will have a proper 6 volt battery. If a kid working there tells you six volt batteries are not for cars, you can tell him it's for a tractor. :D Voltage is (or should be) irrelevant to starting. A Model T in good condition starts easily with 12 volts, 6 volts, or no battery a...

In the forties we took old 66 in the summer because we didn't know it was too hot. Somehow the whole family survived. Mom did nix breakfast in Kingman when she saw all the grub swimming in grease, but that was a different issue.

Watch for 5-Z-829 at swap meets. Much handier than the usual wrench.

The proper adjusting nut #3426 (09-27) has a groove across its face. The proper washer #3415 has a raised spot that keeps the nut from turning. Wrench #1917 is the official tool for this, but there's a ratchet version that's less tiresome. Screen Shot 2025-08-24 at 2.27.45 PM.png Screen Shot 2025-0...

Doesn't Glen Chaffin's Axle book show the easy way? I seem to remember seeing it in one of those MTFCA books. i should have shot a video when I did it.

Modern inline filters usually mean trouble in the Model T gravity-feed system. I fought trashy fuel for a long time until a loose baffle flopping around inside caused me to buy a new tank. The old tank took the trash with it and I never had the problem of trashy gas again because I was very careful...

A revolutionary concept: When in doubt, read the directions.

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