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Left Side Ruckstell shifter
Posted: Fri Jul 02, 2021 4:23 pm
by speedytinc
- Lever in back, direct position.
[attachment=0]Rux lt shift.jpeg[/attachment<img src="blob:chrome-untrusted://media-app/18238401-7687-4448-9eaa-4672803c2b0a" alt="Rux left shifter"/>
O my God. I finally got some pix to load.
A ways back, I mentioned building left side rux shifters in a discussion. Pix were requested.
Why a left side shift? To shift a rux, you have to be able to use your throttle. With a center shift, one must go thru a bunch of unsafe contortions, unless there is a foot throttle. Left lever takes no room from the driver. Easy to hold steering wheel & use the throttle with the right hand & shift the lever with the left hand.
It is made from a second parking brake/ clutch unit. Mounts directly behind the original. (4 holes)
Pawl, & lever are removed, holes welded up & handle shank reshaped. Brake actuating levers bobbed.1/4"x1"x 3.5' plate with a few 5/16' clevis holes welded on as shown for shift rod.
Makes for a really clean set up. Lever is bent out board of parking brake lever. Its handy & out of the way.
Shift rod is made from 1/2" thin wall conduit. Rux end has 5/16" clevis welded in the end. Front end has a 5/8"x 3/4" cold roll steel piece threaded 5/16-24 welded in the end. A short piece of 5/16-24 all thread into another clevis for fine tuning hand lever angle. There is a slight bend @ the sediment bowl to clear.
If anybody asks, you tell them its a 2 lever 3 pedal T.
Only down side is having to drill 4 new holes.
For my 14, I wouldnt drill new holes. I mounted 2 short pieces of 4" x 1 1/2" U channel To the bottom of existing brake lever mount holes & mounted the 2nd brake lever unit on top. Lever is inside(right of) & inline with the original lever. It is shortened to match the brake lever height. This configuration does take away from compartment room. & lever cutout needs to be widened, instead of lengthened.
Re: Left Side Rux shifter
Posted: Sat Jul 03, 2021 11:38 am
by KWTownsend
Nice work, John.
I'm glad you didn't drill and extra holes!
: ^ )
Re: Left Side Rux shifter
Posted: Sat Jul 03, 2021 11:42 am
by RajoRacer
Tom Carnegie from Spokane made up a similar left-hand shifter utilizing the same holes holding the original cross shaft with the addition of a steel plate - completely "bolt-on" pretty slick !
Re: Left Side Rux shifter
Posted: Sat Jul 03, 2021 12:22 pm
by Sean Butler
Well done, John!
Re: Left Side Rux shifter
Posted: Sat Jul 03, 2021 4:29 pm
by TWrenn
After buying my first T with a Ruckstell, with left shifter, I have to say with what few times, twice, that I've used it, I can definitely see the advantage to having it on the left side. And of course it doesn't take up room in an already tight area anyway.
Re: Left Side Rux shifter
Posted: Sat Mar 30, 2024 6:52 pm
by speedytinc
speedytinc wrote: ↑Fri Jul 02, 2021 4:23 pm
Downloads.jpg[attachment=0]Rux lt shift.jpeg[/attachment<img src="blob:chrome-untrusted://media-app/18238401-7687-4448-9eaa-4672803c2b0a" alt="Rux left shifter"/>
O my God. I finally got some pix to load.
A ways back, I mentioned building left side rux shifters in a discussion. Pix were requested.
Why a left side shift? To shift a rux, you have to be able to use your throttle. With a center shift, one must go thru a bunch of unsafe contortions, unless there is a foot throttle. Left lever takes no room from the driver. Easy to hold steering wheel & use the throttle with the right hand & shift the lever with the left hand.
It is made from a second parking brake/ clutch unit. Mounts directly behind the original. (4 holes)
Pawl, & lever are removed, holes welded up & handle shank reshaped. Brake actuating levers bobbed.1/4"x1"x 3.5' plate with a few 5/16' clevis holes welded on as shown for shift rod.
Makes for a really clean set up. Lever is bent out board of parking brake lever. Its handy & out of the way.
Shift rod is made from 1/2" thin wall conduit. Rux end has 5/16" clevis welded in the end. Front end has a 5/8"x 3/4" cold roll steel piece threaded 5/16-24 welded in the end. A short piece of 5/16-24 all thread into another clevis for fine tuning hand lever angle. There is a slight bend @ the sediment bowl to clear.
If anybody asks, you tell them its a 2 lever 3 pedal T.
Only down side is having to drill 4 new holes.
For my 14, I wouldnt drill new holes. I mounted 2 short pieces of 4" x 1 1/2" U channel To the bottom of existing brake lever mount holes & mounted the 2nd brake lever unit on top. Lever is inside(right of) & inline with the original lever. It is shortened to match the brake lever height. This configuration does take away from compartment room. & lever cutout needs to be widened, instead of lengthened.
BTT......................
Re: Left Side Rux shifter
Posted: Sat Mar 30, 2024 6:54 pm
by speedytinc
For Oldavator.
Past post on the subject with pictures.
The e brake slot gets lengthened back about an inch.
Re: Left Side Rux shifter
Posted: Sat Mar 30, 2024 8:08 pm
by 600wt
I have 5 T's with Ruckstell axles. 3 have LH shifters, 2 have RH shifters. I'll have to admit that the LH is easier to manipulate than the RH units. But both are easy and well worth the expense.
Re: Left Side Rux shifter
Posted: Tue Apr 02, 2024 12:11 am
by Art Wilson
A discarded Model A shift lever is a good candidate for making the Ruckstell shift lever. It is tapered, gives a more factory like appearance and is easily threaded for a shift knob.