MTFCA Forum

Some years ago, Glenn Chaffin posted some information on a cure for a Ruckstell shifting problem that was cured by grinding one part just a little smaller.

A friend has been driving a 1926 Model T for three or four years since he bought it with that problem.

I keep telling him it would probably be an easy fix if, I could find those details, but I cannot find them.

The problem is not major as the Ruckstell is locked in high speed.

Does anyone have the details?

The later Ruckstell shift lever was mounted in the same place as the earlier one, but the spring was mounted under it in a cylinder shaped tube about 4 or 5 inches long. Inside was first the lever which shifts the sliding spline inside and then a long spring with an adjustable screw plug at the outside end which would be toward the front of the car. That screw plug can be adjusted and then a cotter pin in the slot holds it in place. First thing is the tube around the spring must be packed with grease and then the spring adjusted so that it slips into gear with a bit of effort. If it is almost impossible to shift and the plug is out so far you can't get the cotter pin in place, then grind off a bit from the end of the spring. Be sure it will shift with the plug moved out as far as you can get it even if you can't get the pin in place, to be sure the spring tension is actual cause of the problem. You don't want to grind off too much. There must be some resistance to the shift so the spring will hold it in gear, except when shifting.
Norm

Thank you!

That is exactly what I was looking for and could not find!

Glenn's son also read the problem here and called me with the same explanation.

He still had my phone number because he has been very helpful over the years with some of my other problems.

It is kind of what you call a rust weld for lack of lubrication.

I do recall a fix on the plunger (Late shifter). On the end of the plunger is a roller. There must be adequate clearance in the plunger where the roller is pinned. The roller boss was ground to give a better clearance for the roller to interact with the fork.
The plunger will get hard to move if not lubricated. A design flaw? - it needs manual greasing. Some add a zerk to get the grease in.
Or periodic removal of the big spring set screw to lubricate the internals.

Next question please!

Where does the grease fitting go?

Here, according to Stan Howe.

Cant have enough grease??????
Image ripped off from an earlier post.