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1915 model T
Posted: Fri Jul 23, 2021 8:31 pm
by Edy
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
Re: 1915 model T
Posted: Fri Jul 23, 2021 9:03 pm
by ChrisB
Negative ground.
Make sure to clean all connections really good.
With all connections clean 6 volts will work well.
Chris
Re: 1915 model T
Posted: Fri Jul 23, 2021 9:54 pm
by RajoRacer
I have a good Model T friend in Eagle River - perhaps I can get you guys together ?
Re: 1915 model T
Posted: Fri Jul 23, 2021 10:00 pm
by speedytinc
Be sure battery cables are the large 6V type. 0 gauge. NOT the skinny 12V cables 6 gauge.
Re: 1915 model T
Posted: Fri Jul 23, 2021 10:03 pm
by Edy
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
Re: 1915 model T
Posted: Fri Jul 23, 2021 10:09 pm
by Edy
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
Re: 1915 model T
Posted: Fri Jul 23, 2021 10:11 pm
by Edy
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
Re: 1915 model T
Posted: Fri Jul 23, 2021 10:24 pm
by Wayne Sheldon
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.
Re: 1915 model T
Posted: Sat Jul 24, 2021 1:21 am
by Allan
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.
Re: 1915 model T
Posted: Sat Jul 24, 2021 5:07 pm
by Edy
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
Re: 1915 model T
Posted: Sat Jul 24, 2021 5:08 pm
by Edy
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
Re: 1915 model T
Posted: Sun Jul 25, 2021 11:22 am
by Original Smith
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.
Re: 1915 model T
Posted: Sun Jul 25, 2021 12:08 pm
by TWrenn
I agree with O.S. on my 15 touring I had one under the front seat and it worked fine.
Re: 1915 model T
Posted: Sun Jul 25, 2021 12:35 pm
by Steve Jelf
I think some may have missed the part about this being a 1919 engine with starter. 
Re: 1915 model T
Posted: Sun Jul 25, 2021 1:56 pm
by ewdysar
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
Re: 1915 model T
Posted: Sun Jul 25, 2021 2:06 pm
by Edy
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
Re: 1915 model T
Posted: Sun Jul 25, 2021 3:24 pm
by Norman Kling
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
Re: 1915 model T
Posted: Sun Jul 25, 2021 3:24 pm
by Norman Kling
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
Re: 1915 model T
Posted: Sun Jul 25, 2021 3:59 pm
by Edy
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
Re: 1915 model T
Posted: Sun Jul 25, 2021 4:43 pm
by TWrenn
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!!
or I could blame it on being out in the heat too much!
I DID see that and promptly forgot. Nothing new there.
Re: 1915 model T
Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2021 4:28 am
by Edy
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!!
or I could blame it on being out in the heat too much!
I DID see that and promptly forgot. Nothing new there.
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
Re: 1915 model T
Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2021 7:29 am
by TWrenn
Ralph....LMAO!!!
