MTFCA Forum

I started sorting through a bucket of what were supposed to be Model T bolts, nuts and misc. hardware. Mostly trying to salvage any useable castle nuts, thick head bolts, square nuts, etc. Pretty rusty but the molasses is doing a great job so far. I can't identify the items in the pictures below. The 4 bolts are flat headed with a square shank and measure 3/8" x 1 coarse thread. The nuts appear to be plated and there may be remnants of plating on the heads. The large nut measures 2" across the flats, 2 1/4" across the points. Internal threads look like 1 1/4 fine thread. There is a 1/8" wide groove around the outside with 6 holes in it (for cotter pins?) The small gear measures about 2 1/4" od and about 1" high. There are 16 teeth on the perimeter and a spiral groove in the center. Probably a differential gear for something? The two brackets, which I am guessing are body brackets, each have a "d nut" pressed into one flange, a hole for a 3/16" (I think) rivet between the 2 oblong holes on the flat part and 2 more rivet holes (maybe) on the other flange. I look forward to hearing any ideas.

More pics

The hardware in the top photo are referred to as "plow" bolts.

RajoRacer. You're right. I had forgotten about that. I bought some a few years ago for the cutting edge on my dozer blade. They were a little bigger than these but same idea.

That gear is sized and same tooth count as Ford screw jack, could be from one of those?

Hey Dan. I think you are right. I will check tomorrow against one of the jacks that I have. Makes sense with the spiral groove in the center.

The brackets look similar to '26 - '27 front frame pieces.

RajoRacer. I'll check my 27 Touring again tomorrow. Do you know where they would be located?

Plough bolts are used to attach shares to the plough arms. They are countersunk so weeds do not catch and build up while working. The square under the head stops them turning when they are tightened.
They are also used to bolt down bed boards in wooden trays on trucks. The countersunk head leaves the floor flat so shovelling material is easier and heavier items do not catch. In this application, the square under the head pulls into the timber and stops the bolt turning, just as it does under the head of a coach bolt.

Allan from down under.

If the "bracket" is associated with the bolts I believe it is called a frog. For a plow.

You're right RajoRacer. The gear is a perfect match for the one on my jack. By the way the jack I have is from Auto Specialties and has the name CANUCK on it. Is it probably a Canadian only jack?

Auto Specialties are one of the providers of jacks for our Canadian sourced T's here in Australia.

Allan from down under.

I thought you would probably comment on this Allan. This jack was in our 27 Canadian Touring when we bought it but is not in very good condition. One of my future projects. The jack I keep in the car is what I think is a TT jack with the "flip top". I was surprised to see the CANUCK name on the car jack. I didn't know that this nickname for a Canadian dated back this far.

Alan, any idea the earliest model year for the Canuck jack was used?

Your answers are always informative
Barry

David, the ton truck jack is a heavier beast all over. While similar to the Auto Specialties car jack, it would be at least twice the weight and it has a guide/support as an integral part of the casting. This guide acts as a steady for the rising column. Many of these are broken off. The column of the jack has an inbuilt step for the front axle, and the full height of the jack suits the back axle.
The flip top is available on the car weight jacks, but going on the numbers I have ever encountered, there are far fewer of these.
I looked in the 1915 and 1919 Australian spare parts books, but neither shows the jack, so I have no handle on the dates of introduction/manufacture.
Re repairs to these cast jacks, if the base plate is bent, heat must be used when straightening it. Otherwise it will snap off. All the weight of the car is borne by the top of the column/turning gear. This needs to be built up/spaced to reset the gear mesh. If the square thread on the rising column or its drive gear is shot, the jack is probably no repairable.

Allan from down under.

Allan, thanks for your usual knowledge and insight. I took a closer look at both jacks today and it appears that the "flip-top" jack that I have is not the heavy version used for TTs. Both jacks are about the same weight and similar structure. The handles on both have "Auto Specialties Mfg. Co." on one side and "USA & Canada SJ11" on the other so both use the same handle. The main casting on the "flip top" is marked "RJ87" while the casting of the other jack is marked "SJ10" and "CANUCK". The top saddle on the regular jack is marked "SJ14". The base on the "flip-top" is bent so I will take your advice and heat it before straightening it. This jack has obviously seen some heavy use as the top portion is not level where it is peened onto the screw and I think would easily allow a car to slip off it if used. I will remove the top and attempt to repair the damage. Probably neither jack will see much use but would be neat items to display with the car at shows. I know that any reference material that I have shows the lighter pressed steel jack as stock for all Ts so these ones must be aftermarket/accessory items and may be universal for most makes of cars. Have you ever seen any indication that these were supplied with Model T's? Thanks again for your interest. By the way, I am still looking for one of the rim spreaders for the Canadian made Kelsey rims with the holes in them.

The big nut looks like the rear axle nut for an 8N ford tractor. Small bolts look like plow bolts.

Thanks Mike. Sure looks like it. Do you know the thread size for the 8n axle? My tractor experience is pretty much limited to a Farmall Cub and more recently with a John Deere 40c Crawler. Different animal altogether especially when it comes to final drives.

Looked it up on Steiner Antique Tractor Parts and you are right. It has the same size threads as the one I have .