1915 model T

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Edy
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* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1915 model t
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1915 model T

Post by Edy » Fri Jul 23, 2021 8:31 pm

New member here...just wanted to introduce myself and ask my first question...I recently bought my 1915 model T and I am ready to install the 6 volt battery and was wondering are the model T's positive ground or negative ground... I do have a 1919 engine in it with an electric starter but I just want to hook it up right so I don't mess anything up... thank you in advance as I have been doing a lot of reading here on the forum and really enjoy learning from what appears to be some very intelligent and knowledgeable people ... my T has been fully restored and has been sitting in a garage for the last 10 years and I can't hardly wait to here it finally running again...again thank you in advance...R E Burrow..Chugiak Alaska

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ChrisB
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Re: 1915 model T

Post by ChrisB » Fri Jul 23, 2021 9:03 pm

Negative ground.

Make sure to clean all connections really good.

With all connections clean 6 volts will work well.

Chris
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RajoRacer
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Re: 1915 model T

Post by RajoRacer » Fri Jul 23, 2021 9:54 pm

I have a good Model T friend in Eagle River - perhaps I can get you guys together ?


speedytinc
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Re: 1915 model T

Post by speedytinc » Fri Jul 23, 2021 10:00 pm

Be sure battery cables are the large 6V type. 0 gauge. NOT the skinny 12V cables 6 gauge.


Topic author
Edy
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Re: 1915 model T

Post by Edy » Fri Jul 23, 2021 10:03 pm

speedytinc wrote:
Fri Jul 23, 2021 10:00 pm
Be sure battery cables are the large 6V type. 0 gauge. NOT the skinny 12V cables 6 gauge.
RajoRacer wrote:
Fri Jul 23, 2021 9:54 pm
I have a good Model T friend in Eagle River - perhaps I can get you guys together ?
Thank you RajoRacer that would be awesome


Topic author
Edy
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Re: 1915 model T

Post by Edy » Fri Jul 23, 2021 10:09 pm

ChrisB wrote:
Fri Jul 23, 2021 9:03 pm
Negative ground.

Make sure to clean all connections really good.

With all connections clean 6 volts will work well.

Chris
Thank you ChrisB.... I was thinking that it was but the old battery that was in it was not connected but it was sitting with the positive post by the ground wire so that's why I wanted to ask and make sure


Topic author
Edy
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Re: 1915 model T

Post by Edy » Fri Jul 23, 2021 10:11 pm

speedytinc wrote:
Fri Jul 23, 2021 10:00 pm
Be sure battery cables are the large 6V type. 0 gauge. NOT the skinny 12V cables 6 gauge.
Yes that I had already checked and they are... thank you


Wayne Sheldon
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Re: 1915 model T

Post by Wayne Sheldon » Fri Jul 23, 2021 10:24 pm

A 1915 did not have a battery, box, or wiring for one originally. So anything would be something someone added. Often, people used the standard 1919 and later factory battery carrier. Sometimes they used era type after-market battery or tool boxes on a running board. Other people would scavenge up heaven-only-knows what themselves. Sometimes under a seat, or in a runabout's turtle deck. Almost anything is possible. Negative ground is preferred, but some people did wire model Ts backwards. There is a silly (read as stupid?) reason for that.


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Re: 1915 model T

Post by Allan » Sat Jul 24, 2021 1:21 am

An Optima 6 volt battery can be laid on its side under the back seat. It just needs to be held down and have its terminals isolated from any other 'stuff' you might carry there. Otherwise the suggestions Wayne made are valid, but these involve drilling holes in the frame/splash panels which some would frown upon, me included. I did mount the battery in a tin box on the running board of my wide body D and F roadster, but that was how it was done originally on that car, so i was not fussed about drilling holes in the splash shield.

Allan from down under.


Topic author
Edy
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Re: 1915 model T

Post by Edy » Sat Jul 24, 2021 5:07 pm

Wayne Sheldon wrote:
Fri Jul 23, 2021 10:24 pm
A 1915 did not have a battery, box, or wiring for one originally. So anything would be something someone added. Often, people used the standard 1919 and later factory battery carrier. Sometimes they used era type after-market battery or tool boxes on a running board. Other people would scavenge up heaven-only-knows what themselves. Sometimes under a seat, or in a runabout's turtle deck. Almost anything is possible. Negative ground is preferred, but some people did wire model Ts backwards. There is a silly (read as stupid?) reason for that.
Yes my engine is from a 1919 and the battery carrier


Topic author
Edy
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Re: 1915 model T

Post by Edy » Sat Jul 24, 2021 5:08 pm

Allan wrote:
Sat Jul 24, 2021 1:21 am
An Optima 6 volt battery can be laid on its side under the back seat. It just needs to be held down and have its terminals isolated from any other 'stuff' you might carry there. Otherwise the suggestions Wayne made are valid, but these involve drilling holes in the frame/splash panels which some would frown upon, me included. I did mount the battery in a tin box on the running board of my wide body D and F roadster, but that was how it was done originally on that car, so i was not fussed about drilling holes in the splash shield.

Allan from down under.
Thank you Allan


Original Smith
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Re: 1915 model T

Post by Original Smith » Sun Jul 25, 2021 11:22 am

If your car is a real 1915, you don't need any of that stuff listed above! Buy yourself a small 12 volt battery, about the size of a Model T coil. All you need is some 18 gauge wire for the positive and negative connections. That's it.

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TWrenn
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Re: 1915 model T

Post by TWrenn » Sun Jul 25, 2021 12:08 pm

I agree with O.S. on my 15 touring I had one under the front seat and it worked fine.

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Steve Jelf
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Re: 1915 model T

Post by Steve Jelf » Sun Jul 25, 2021 12:35 pm

I think some may have missed the part about this being a 1919 engine with starter. :)
The inevitable often happens.
1915 Runabout
1923 Touring

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ewdysar
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Re: 1915 model T

Post by ewdysar » Sun Jul 25, 2021 1:56 pm

Original Smith wrote:
Sun Jul 25, 2021 11:22 am
If your car is a real 1915, you don't need any of that stuff listed above! Buy yourself a small 12 volt battery, about the size of a Model T coil. All you need is some 18 gauge wire for the positive and negative connections. That's it.
When I recovered my Father’s very-not-original “16” touring after 25+ years of storage, it still had his 6v dry cell lantern battery (the square one with the coiled spring terminals) sitting under the driver’s seat at the end of the gas tank, wired up to the battery side of the coil box. Used only for starting, he said that it would last for years and 1000’s of touring miles. Replacements were available at any drug store or supermarket. Apparently, this was a pretty common solution for the active Model T Club members with non-starter cars in the early 1960’s (before the MTFCA was formed).

Keep crankin’
Eric


Topic author
Edy
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Re: 1915 model T

Post by Edy » Sun Jul 25, 2021 2:06 pm

Steve Jelf wrote:
Sun Jul 25, 2021 12:35 pm
I think some may have missed the part about this being a 1919 engine with starter. :)
Thank you Steve


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Re: 1915 model T

Post by Norman Kling » Sun Jul 25, 2021 3:24 pm

One other thing to check. The polarity of the cutout on the generator. A Model A is wired with a positive ground and the cutout looks just like a T cutout. If the cutout is backward you will burn out the generator. The cutout should only allow the current to flow from the generator to the battery, but not from the battery to the generator, so if your cutout is correct with the engine not running, you should have voltage on the side of the cutout where the wire is connected, but no voltage on the side that is connected to the generator, then when the engine is running, you will have voltage on both sides. You can check this with a light bulb between the contact and ground. On the side toward the battery the light will light up but on the side toward the generator it will not light until the engine is running.
Norm


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Re: 1915 model T

Post by Norman Kling » Sun Jul 25, 2021 3:24 pm

One other thing to check. The polarity of the cutout on the generator. A Model A is wired with a positive ground and the cutout looks just like a T cutout. If the cutout is backward you will burn out the generator. The cutout should only allow the current to flow from the generator to the battery, but not from the battery to the generator, so if your cutout is correct with the engine not running, you should have voltage on the side of the cutout where the wire is connected, but no voltage on the side that is connected to the generator, then when the engine is running, you will have voltage on both sides. You can check this with a light bulb between the contact and ground. On the side toward the battery the light will light up but on the side toward the generator it will not light until the engine is running.
Norm


Topic author
Edy
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Joined: Tue Jul 13, 2021 9:18 pm
First Name: Ralph
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* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1915 model t
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Re: 1915 model T

Post by Edy » Sun Jul 25, 2021 3:59 pm

Norman Kling wrote:
Sun Jul 25, 2021 3:24 pm
One other thing to check. The polarity of the cutout on the generator. A Model A is wired with a positive ground and the cutout looks just like a T cutout. If the cutout is backward you will burn out the generator. The cutout should only allow the current to flow from the generator to the battery, but not from the battery to the generator, so if your cutout is correct with the engine not running, you should have voltage on the side of the cutout where the wire is connected, but no voltage on the side that is connected to the generator, then when the engine is running, you will have voltage on both sides. You can check this with a light bulb between the contact and ground. On the side toward the battery the light will light up but on the side toward the generator it will not light until the engine is running.
Norm
Thank you Norm I will definitely check that

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TWrenn
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Re: 1915 model T

Post by TWrenn » Sun Jul 25, 2021 4:43 pm

Steve Jelf wrote:
Sun Jul 25, 2021 12:35 pm
I think some may have missed the part about this being a 1919 engine with starter. :)
Ha ha! Brain flatulence again!! :lol: or I could blame it on being out in the heat too much!
I DID see that and promptly forgot. Nothing new there. :lol: :roll:


Topic author
Edy
Posts: 27
Joined: Tue Jul 13, 2021 9:18 pm
First Name: Ralph
Last Name: Burrow
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1915 model t
Location: Chugiak ak
Board Member Since: 2021

Re: 1915 model T

Post by Edy » Mon Jul 26, 2021 4:28 am

TWrenn wrote:
Sun Jul 25, 2021 4:43 pm
Steve Jelf wrote:
Sun Jul 25, 2021 12:35 pm
I think some may have missed the part about this being a 1919 engine with starter. :)
Ha ha! Brain flatulence again!! :lol: or I could blame it on being out in the heat too much!
I DID see that and promptly forgot. Nothing new there. :lol: :roll:
You mean I'm not the only one that has that brain flatulence problem???? Believe me it's not the heat.... 43 years in Alaska 😂

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TWrenn
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Re: 1915 model T

Post by TWrenn » Mon Jul 26, 2021 7:29 am

Ralph....LMAO!!! :lol: :lol:

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