MTFCA Forum

I bought some Guinn wooden transmission bands to replace my worn out cotton bands. I've never changed the bands before, but I know that my 20' engine has the quick change bands. Do I really need to remove the hog's head, or can I replace the bands through the transmission inspection area?

Pretty certain that with wood bands, you'll need to remove the hog's head or risk damaging the bands.

remove the hogs head or you will splinter the bands. Good luck.

It's doable through the inspection cover on a starter hogshead..but be prepared for a bunch of cuss and spending the better part of a day.

The first 2 go in easy...that last only goes in but one way and it is a bit of a contortion act to keep it from wedging on the pedal boss. Actually, it will probably wedge on the boss until you find the 'just right' position...that's where the cussin' comes in because you really can't spring them at all which is good as they will be near round on the drums, but boy oh boy is it difficult to find that sweet spot.

As an example...Bob Jablonski and I converted the National Park Service Edison T to Jim Gunn bands as they tended to have rookie newbie drivers each and every season.

I lost 2.5 hours on that 3rd band with a 'no go' or 'just about there' before needing a pee break and thinking time to pull the hogshead when I went back. I came back Bob was on his side reaching over his shoulder doing the same thing I had done for the previous 2.5 hours, and then while 'doing' it and chatting with me...it just slid around to position! I asked Bob what he had done different, the answer was 'nothing'. Without luck...that hogshead was probably but 5 minutes from coming off!

It's not for the feint of heart...

It's a T thing...takes 5 times longer than you expect, and something never goes right! The next time I did a wood change was on one of my own since the Edison T had worked out smooth...I pulled the hogshead, but if that too is a first time for you...it comes with its' own nuances, all solvable (most notably clutch fork alignment on the reinstall)

A great step-by-step video for installing the wood band lining on the quick change bands by Jim Guinn https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2uhM4DPE0Fc
Lots of little tricks! Its so good and makes it look so easy it might make people use wood instead of cotton

...be prepared for a bunch of cuss and spending the better part of a day.

I'd call that a fast job. My first attempt was so exasperating I quit and came back to it the next day.

Hey George to me it's ironic that you would mention renewing the band liners on Edison's Model T, since I received a email from the head curator at the Edison site only yesterday, would you be in the area before March 1st to help spruce up the T for the annual St Patrick's Day parade in West Orange New Jersey.

Bob, PM sent

Oakie doakie

It is also possible that others have installed quick change Bands when the Engine / Transmission were out of the vehicle
and fitted the pre 1926 Hogs Head (Pigs Head in Australia)

Either way, the installation of the new Bands is the issue and previous posters offer great advice
Alan in Western Australia PS It’s 41 Deg c in Perth today. That’s about 107 in the old language that us old guys talk in

Thanks! I guess I can see what happens through the inspection door and if it doesn't work out just pull the hogshead.