MTFCA Forum

I haven't found a reference explaining the different lengths of the bends, but I assume they're for different years.


Both rods have the later forged ends. References disagree about the year those began. Both rods are 54¼" long.

Have you ever tried reading the latest Judging Guidelines?

All I could find. and then there are user adjustments , different suppliers maybe.
There is a notable difference mentioned in the encyclopedic for the clevis of 1909-10 and 1911-20. However Lang's is suggesting some other differences

Great guide. Thanks for post the image.

Have you ever tried reading the latest Judging Guidelines?

Many times. I have the Seventh Edition, which does not specify the length of the bent sections, which is what I asked about (see photo). Updates on the MTFCI website do not give that information either.

I do not know of any reason why any standard model T would need or want the longer offset? There could be reasons surrounding some sort of auxiliary braking or transmission shifting system, or other special requirement needing a longer offset. Maybe to clear a power take-off shaft? Someone may have altered a standard one? Or a factory mistake on a replacement?
The improved (1926 and 1927) brake rods had no offsets, and were almost two inches shorter.
I have never seen one like that, and if it were mine? I would re-bend it to match the regular one.

I have never seen one like that, and if it were mine? I would re-bend it to match the regular one.

The long-offset rod was one of two on my 1915. I never noticed that the offset was longer than normal, and when I did notice I thought it must be a difference in years. I suspect it may be what broke my left rod support. I've installed a rod with the shorter offset, and a new rod support. Now that I know that the long offset is wrong, I'll put a short-offset rod on the right side too. Interestingly, one of the rods in my parts room has no offset at all. It's early, not 26-27, as it's the same length as the others and has a cast fork. I'd tell you what years it's for, but the Judging Guidelines don't mention what year the offset began. Maybe not Ford?

While there is a lot of documentation on suppliers, blueprints etc... I doubt if every variation of some parts were documented and if they were if that information has been found. If there is no specification for the length or angle of a bend then relying on physical examples might be an alternative. But how many examples would be needed and how many of them would be known to be unaltered. If two more long variations are found, then what?