MTFCA Forum

How do I shift a non running Model TT with the Ruckstal rear end in to neutral so I can roll it on and off a trailer?

Place the hand brake 1/3 to 1/2 forward. The only "neutral" you have is in the transmission, but a model t neutral is not a true neutral like a conventional manual shift car. A Model TT transmission is the same as the Model T car transmission. A ruxtell should not have a neutral.

Jeff is telling you how to engage neutral in the usual way. If you are unfamiliar with T model idiosyncrasies I suggest you lift the floorboards. When you pull back on the handbrake lever as Jeff suggests, you will see a cam on the handbrake cross shaft engage on a linkage to the first gear pedal. As soon as this happens, you will have the best neutral available, but it may not function at all well. A car that has sat for a while may well have a dragging clutch due to cold oil and sticking plates. When you try to push the car it will appear to still be in gear. It may help to pull the spark plugs to allow the motor to turn over when pushing the vehicle, so you are not fighting engine compression.

Hope this helps.
Allan from down under.

All, this is a TT. Pushing it with a worm drive rear will be difficult whether the transmission is in "neutral" or not. It may be better to get the rear wheels on a dolly for loading and unloading.

I remember fighting my TT when I was trying to push it when I first got it. It is not easy. The suggestion to put it on a dolly sounds like a good solution.

The worm drive doesn't matter. My TT has a Muncie transmission and when it is in neutral I can push the truck with one hand.

Also, make sure the ruckstell shifter is fully forward in the direct drive position otherwise you will fighting against the additional gear reduction of the ruckstell under drive gearing.

Stephen