MTFCA Forum

I'm new to Model T ownership and to the MTFCA. We bought a 1926 Tudor a few months ago and I've had some trouble learning how to operate it. Now that I finally have all that sorted out, I'm looking for someone who can evaluate the car mechanically for us. It ran good when I bought it, but I didn't try to drive it until I unloaded it off the trailer. It did not go well because I didn't know what I was doing. I also ended up flooding it pretty badly a few times and twice discovered the oil was thinned down. Now I think it may have a knock in the engine but I don't really remember what it used to sound like. I also had one coil not firing but I think I've got that fixed.

My second issue is, I feel like the transmission may need adjustment.

The final current issue is that it won't run on magneto. The seller told me to only drive it on battery because it runs better that way, so I'm not sure I ever saw it run on magneto. I've spoken to a couple other T owners who told me I should drive it on magneto, and I've also read that online several places.

I'm hoping to find someone in the central Illinois area who can look at it for us and let us know what problems we may have.

Thank you

When the magneto works, it's best to run it that way. However, if you have a bad magneto, there is no harm running on battery.

Find the nearest club and join. You need eyes on.

Join a club, feel free to use this forum, and obtain an owner's manual and service manual. These are available in reprint and also online, along with service letters and advertisements and more. It takes a little getting used to to drive a Model T as it should be driven, but it's not difficult to become proficient. It's best to practice away from traffic and obstacles until you get the feel of the car and its virtues and limitations. Having someone with experience on hand is a great help.

TXGOAT2 wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 15, 2025 3:12 pm

Join a club, feel free to use this forum, and obtain an owner's manual and service manual. These are available in reprint and also online, along with service letters and advertisements and more. It takes a little getting used to to drive a Model T as it should be driven, but it's not difficult to become proficient. It's best to practice away from traffic and obstacles until you get the feel of the car and its virtues and limitations. Having someone with experience on hand is a great help.

I'm pretty comfortable with the driving part now; I've had it out on the road a few times and there is another T owner in my little town who took me for a ride in his '23 and showed me the ropes. He gave me the name and number of the man who worked on his when he bought it, but he is not able to do anything right now. I just don't want to drive it anymore until I confirm that it's mechanically okay. Don't want to do any more damage than I already may have. I did buy the service manual first thing, but I'd prefer not to tear into it unsupervised if I can help it.

Buy the Model T Ford service manual and read and study it. It gives an owner lots of good information about repairing different aspects of a T.

Join a local T club as they can guide and help you.

Getting the T service manual is probably the best way ,to get you started. Other helps are the T suppliers parts catalogues. There is a wealth of pictures of the parts and it’s a good way to learn to learn to tell the difference’s between the model year parts. Lang’s, Snyder’s, Chaffins and others will send you a catalogue for the asking.

Always remember that your T is 100 year old technology and leaning about it isn’t that difficult. Good luck!

Here's your nearest chapter, I'd get in touch with Bill.

If you go to the chapters link https://www.mtfca.com/chapters/#il there is a link to his email address.

Prairie State Model T Ford Club
c/o Bill Clark
Decatur, IL 62521-3922