MTFCA Forum

bought a 1912 Torpedo roadster that was in parts. The gentlemen I bought it from collected 1912 parts over the years so it is not an original per se'.

I bought brass plated 1911 - 1912 timing and gas rods from a vendor but the rods are too short. (So is the steering shaft because I think the column is too long, as evident by the drag ling being raised too high and cannot be attached.)

The length of the steering column is 25 1/2 long in the torpedo and 23 1/2 long in my other T, a 1912 Touring.

Question: does anyone know the correct length of the 1912 Torpedo steering column?

I wonder if I have a 1911 torpedo column which I suspect is longer just by looking at the side of a 1911 body.

Thank you in advanced!

Bob

thanks Dan, but now I am more perplexed. The steering shaft length that you shared is 54 1/4" long and not 56".

The part I am referring to is in the picture. Of course now I wonder why my shaft is so short? (remember this is a family forum! No comments. lol) Deal with that next.

The column is 25 1/2" in the attached picture of the torpedo.Again the rods are too short making me think the column is too long? The gas rod touches the steering bracket but doe not go through.

Using the same standard to measure that you are there, my '11 Torpedo column tube is 29-1/2" and my 1912 column is 25-1/2". It seems that you have the correct column in your '12 Torpedo and an incorrect column in your '12 Touring.

Thank you Walter.

This is perplexing because the 12 touring column tube is 23 1/2 and if it was 25 1/2 like the 12 torpedo, the steering wheel would be pressing against my lap. As it is now the steering wheel is so close I have to spread my legs to advance the timing.

Maybe I will have to sell these levers and buy longer ones or look for a shorter column.

TBones12 wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 07, 2020 8:38 pm

This is perplexing because the 12 touring column tube is 23 1/2 and if it was 25 1/2 like the 12 torpedo, the steering wheel would be pressing against my lap. As it is now the steering wheel is so close I have to spread my legs to advance the timing.

As the column gets longer, would that not raise the height of the steering wheel above your legs while at the same time moving it toward your chest? Based on what you describe it sounds like a longer column would solve the interference issue with your touring.

That makes sense. Although ironically that problem is in the T that is painted and restored and I can live with the shorter column.

Now on to the 12 torpedo conundrum. Thank you Walter!