ruckstell shifting

[Emeraude]

I have a 1921 touring with a ruckstell rear end. I will start driving it this spring(if spring ever come to north dakota). My question is, can i shift it into low ruckstell while stopped? Also would it hurt the rear end to leave it in low ruckstell while driving in town at 20 mph or less?

[Scott_Conger]

Because you are trying to get a sliding gear over/through its mating gear, the teeth may not line up at a dead stop...however a very gentle application of low pedal to JUST move the drive line while gently urging the shift lever, it will pop into or out of low range as you need, which is very nearly at a full stop.

No, your axle will not be injured by running around town in Ford hi and low range (Rucksell)...am I to assume it is because you have tall gearing in the car? While it doesn't hurt the axle, you are in fact using up life in the planetary system as you do this, though probably not enough to impact you in your lifetime if the axle is presently in good shape!

Welcome to the Forum!

[Ruxstel24]

My 24 has had a Ruckstell for as long as I can remember. My father and I both used Ruckstell (low axle) for driving until up to a speed of cruising. Many many miles like this...and yes it has 3:1 gears.
I generally get up to around 25-30mph and shift from low axle to high (direct). Shifting is a bit of a trick. You have to get the engine to "float", not pushing or pulling, to upshift, while clutch pedal is in neutral. I then back off the throttle and let the clutch out.
Downshifting is more difficult and takes practice.
You basically need to rev the engine up to the speed you will be at once in low axle with the clutch in neutral.
With 3:1 gears, Ford braking is definitely reduced (yeah worse than stock !), and the possibility to find a neutral in the Ruckstell when shifting is there. I have 26-27 brakes and can lock up the rear tires if absolutely necessary, but normally I just downshift and use the engine and foot brake.

Again, practice is the only thing that helps.

[CudaMan]

The MTFCA Ruckstell booklet has a section on shifting technique:

https://modeltstore.myshopify.com/colle ... ce-manuals

[MWalker]

George -- You need to think ahead and shift your Ruckstell into the low range just before you stop. The low range is perfect for driving around your neighborhood. I do that a lot. It won't hurt a thing.

[Original Smith]

You are either in Ruckstell, or you are not! Low Ruckstell would be Ruckstell and low pedal. You can shift that Ruckstell anytime you wish. They are tough, and nearly indestructible.

[Norman Kling]

Ruckstell is very good for parades. Just pull the parking lever into the neutral position and from time to time push either the low or brake. Low to move forward and brake to slow down or stop. The Ruckstell also multiplies the effect of the transmission brake so helps you to slow down or stop.

One work of caution, however, not related to parades, but to ordinary driving. When you approach a downgrade slow down as much as you can in Ford high and then give it a little gas as you shift into Ruckstell then back off the gas to descend the hill. You need to do this BEFORE you start down the steep grade because it is possible to miss the shift which would leave you in freewheeling and much harder to stop. That is the reason for auxiliary brakes and lined parking brakes if you have a Ruckstell.
Norm

[Susanne]

A side note about shifting a Ruckstell - Going from low low to high high, You shift the ruckstell for each shift.

Starting in Ruckstell low / Ford low (1st gear, good for parades, pulling hills, or a car with a lot of weight on it), the next shift (to second) would be Ruckstell High, Ford Low. The next upshift is Ruckstell Low/ Ford High, and of course, 4th is high/high. All Ruckstell shifts are made with the T in Neutral ("C" pedal 1/2 way down)... if you have a good neutral, the rear end shifts really easily - no "pop", no jump.

It's kind of like split shifting a truck with a "5 and 2"... and it works surprisingly well.

[Scott_Conger]

This is an excellent overview of the Ruckstell: https://modeltfordfix.com/tag/ruckstell ... el-t-ford/

Personally, I find that making it a 4 speed operation is far more effort than it's worth...with standard gearing, Ford high and Ruckstell to pull a hill, and if you have tall gearing (3:1), Ford low/ruckstell to start out and be kind on the bands, foot off clutch (Ford high), at 25MPH, ease it into direct and be done with it (3 gears). Working through every available combination has never appealed to me.

[Tom Hicks]

This is an excellent overview of the Ruckstell: https://modeltfordfix.com/tag/ruckstell ... el-t-ford/

Personally, I find that making it a 4 speed operation is far more effort than it's worth...with standard gearing, Ford high and Ruckstell to pull a hill, and if you have tall gearing (3:1), Ford low/ruckstell to start out and be kind on the bands, foot off clutch (Ford high), at 25MPH, ease it into direct and be done with it (3 gears). Working through every available combination has never appealed to me.

Agreed. I have 3:1 in my speedster. For best acceleration on the flat it is Ford low/Ruckstell, Ford high/Ruckstell, Ford high and direct. I leave a traffic light as fast as the average car.

[Dropacent]

If you can find a neutral or freewheeling while in Ruckstell, it is broken, worn out or worse, and needs to be taken out of service immediately. You CANNOT find yourself stuck between Ruckstell speeds. If you do, something is seriously wrong with your unit.

[Norman Kling]

I agree with Dropacent. However, sometimes a problem with the shift, like other T problems can come unexpectedly, so that is why I caution to downshift before you start a steep hill, not while going down the hill.
Norm

[Ruxstel24]

I found neutral one time...I totally screwed up and was on the foot brake when trying to downshift, I know/knew better, but...
Made a loud bang when I grabbed the hand brake and stalled. Started back up and no problem since. I went home and changed.

[Jeff Hood]

Like Norm says, shift into low before going down the hill. The shift into low while moving needs to be done while power and load are on, throttle down and climbing the hill. That's hard to achieve when you decide that you are going too fast down the hill already. Shifting down at that point could possibly be a violent and harsh shock to the engine, trans, driveshaft, rear end, axles, and wheels. Something could break making the rest of the downhill run quite an adventure if you even make it the rest of the way at all!