MTFCA Forum

Should there be cotter pins in the engine oil pan bolts? The bolts on my 11 are installed from the bottom with the castle nut on top but there are no cotter pins installed. Thanks, Art

Art, as far as I know, your bolts are in correctly. They should be split pinned. I believe bit bits were bent the same way. Some time in the 20's, the split pins were deleted and spring washers were used. These were wider in cross section than most available today. Others will have more to say.

Allan from down under.

I think it was in late 1924 that Ford stopped using cotter pins in the pan bolts. If I am wrong I stand corrected.
From a mechanics point of view using lock washers is easier and a lot less hassle especially in tight places. I have 3 black era T’s and I used lock washers in most places where I could.

If I had a brass era T I probably would try to use the cotter pins as much as I could.

Yes, all are nuts up EXCEPT the bolt under the commutator - it's reversed to avoid contact with a timer terminal.

My ‘23 came with all the castle nuts fitted with cotter pins. Every single bolt on the damned thing. Took me forever to take the car apart for rebuilding.

Guess a lot depends on what gaskets are used because I seem to find some nuts and bolts for the pan and hogs head that need snugging up after the engine was run awhile even with lock washers. I would hate to go to all that work only to have to pull the cotter pins to check.

John may be correct with 1924 being the year the split pins were deleted for spring washers. My Canadian supplied 1925 barn fresh buckboard has spring washers on al the pan bolts. Even the hogshead still had all but one washer in place when I renewed the bands.

Allan from down under.

Back around 1974 at my dad's place in Lemoore Ca., where I kept my 1926 T 2 dr, I was talking about old cars with the next door farmer who was in his late 70's. The farmer said that in the fall of 1918 he sold his 1915 Harley MC and took money he had saved up and bought a new Model T Ford touring. The one thing he remembered the most about getting that new T was after a few miles the engine pan to block was leaking oil and he had to tighten all the nuts and add the carter pins that weren't installed at the factory. A war time economy by Ford to save money on carter pins, something missed on the engine assembly line, or something the Ford dealer was to do at first service, who knows.

I used to work with a man who called cotter pins carter pins.

Yes that is what the farmer called said pins, and he lived in Lemoore Ca. all his life. May be it was a Ca thing.

What about the small fine threaded bolts used on early cars to secure the engine and transmission pans to the frame? They have a 3/8's square head, and nut, and are fine thread. The also have a cotter pin hole.

Nope, it ain't a CA. thing. I have a friend here in NW MO.that calls them carter pins too, has done it for 55 + years that I know of. Dave