Throttle lever slipping

Discuss all things Model T related.
Forum rules
If you need help logging in, or have question about how something works, use the Support forum located here Support Forum
Complete set of Forum Rules Forum Rules

Topic author
acereske
Posts: 10
Joined: Tue Nov 10, 2020 9:35 am
First Name: Al
Last Name: Cereske
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: ‘26 coupe
Location: Saginaw MI
Board Member Since: 2021

Throttle lever slipping

Post by acereske » Sat Aug 21, 2021 8:43 am

On my 1926 Ford Model T coupe the throttle lever slips down making an unwanted acceleration especially if I have hit a bump. The notches where the lever is supposed to click in are almost worn smooth. How do I fix it?


MWalker
Posts: 475
Joined: Fri Jan 04, 2019 9:49 am
First Name: Mike
Last Name: Walker
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1916 Roadster Pickup
Location: NW Arkansas
MTFCA Life Member: YES

Re: Throttle lever slipping

Post by MWalker » Sat Aug 21, 2021 9:01 am

Bend the quadrant up so it's tighter against the lever. The real fix, of course, is to replace the quadrant with one which has notches. That's a lot of work.


TXGOAT2
Posts: 7391
Joined: Sun Feb 14, 2021 10:08 pm
First Name: Pat
Last Name: McNallen
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926-7 roadster
Location: Graham, Texas
Board Member Since: 2021

Re: Throttle lever slipping

Post by TXGOAT2 » Sat Aug 21, 2021 9:15 am

I believe one or more of the vendors sells a device consisting of two wooden blocks which clamp around the steering rod and lever rods below the firewall. The blocks can then be adjusted to give proper friction on the rods and prevent rattles.


JRSpada4
Posts: 98
Joined: Sun Jan 20, 2019 12:39 pm
First Name: Jim
Last Name: Spadafore
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1925 Touring
Location: Fairmont,WV
Board Member Since: 2016

Re: Throttle lever slipping

Post by JRSpada4 » Sat Aug 21, 2021 9:20 am

In addition to bending the quadrant up like Mike said, the grooves in the quadrant are probably worn almost smooth. You can dress them with a triangular needle file. The springs on the other side of the column mounting plate are probably worn out too, but will require you to partially disassemble your column to do it. The temporary fix for that is the wooden clamp already mentioned.


TXGOAT2
Posts: 7391
Joined: Sun Feb 14, 2021 10:08 pm
First Name: Pat
Last Name: McNallen
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926-7 roadster
Location: Graham, Texas
Board Member Since: 2021

Re: Throttle lever slipping

Post by TXGOAT2 » Sat Aug 21, 2021 9:33 am

Glueing some kind of rubber material to the quadrant might help.

User avatar

Mark Gregush
Posts: 5370
Joined: Sat Jan 05, 2019 1:57 pm
First Name: Mark
Last Name: Gregush
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1925 cutdown PU, 1948 F2 Ford flat head 6 pickup 3 speed
Location: Portland Or
Board Member Since: 1999

Re: Throttle lever slipping

Post by Mark Gregush » Sat Aug 21, 2021 10:13 am

Another fix, which I have done, is to wrap a few turns of good stout cord tightly around the rods.
I know the voices aren't real but damn they have some good ideas! :shock:

1925 Cut down pickup
1948 Ford F2 pickup


Scott_Conger
Posts: 6523
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 11:18 am
First Name: Scott
Last Name: Conger
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1919
Location: not near anywhere, WY
Board Member Since: 2005

Re: Throttle lever slipping

Post by Scott_Conger » Sat Aug 21, 2021 10:49 am

Scott Conger

Tyranny under the guise of law is still Tyranny

NH Full Flow Float Valves™
Obsolete carburetor parts manufactured

User avatar

TRDxB2
Posts: 6260
Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2019 4:56 pm
First Name: Frank
Last Name: Brandi
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: Speedsters (1919 w 1926 upgrades), 1926 (Ricardo Head)
Location: Moline IL
Board Member Since: 2018

Re: Throttle lever slipping

Post by TRDxB2 » Sat Aug 21, 2021 11:24 am

Pillory for you steering column. Whats old is new again :lol:
Attachments
pillory.png
pillory.png (340.78 KiB) Viewed 3671 times
The past is a great place and I don't want to erase it or to regret it, but I don't want to be its prisoner either.
Mick Jagger

User avatar

Humblej
Posts: 1957
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 12:23 pm
First Name: Jeff
Last Name: Humble
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926 Canadian coupe, 1924 TT C-cab, 1924 runabout
Location: Charlevoix, Mi
Board Member Since: 2006

Re: Throttle lever slipping

Post by Humblej » Sat Aug 21, 2021 11:46 am

Your throttle lever may be bent and or worn where it contacts the quadrant, the quadrant may be bent or worn, the spring on the throttle rod may be broken or rusted or somehow damaged, or a combination of the above. What you describe is not normal, and the wood block recommended by some may be a good bandaid fix but is not the final solution.

User avatar

Steve Jelf
Posts: 7237
Joined: Fri Jan 04, 2019 9:37 pm
First Name: Steve
Last Name: Jelf
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1923 touring and a few projects
Location: Parkerfield, Kansas
Board Member Since: 2007
Contact:

Re: Throttle lever slipping

Post by Steve Jelf » Sat Aug 21, 2021 2:04 pm

Titus told somebody on Facebook what year that Model T really was. :)
The inevitable often happens.
1915 Runabout
1923 Touring

User avatar

joe.wal
Posts: 76
Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2019 1:33 pm
First Name: Joerg
Last Name: Walther
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1916 Touring
Location: FarFarAway (Germany)
Board Member Since: 2014

Re: Throttle lever slipping

Post by joe.wal » Sun Aug 22, 2021 7:23 am

I do have the same issue with a slipping lever since I thought I should oil the connection at the carburetor - now gravity is doing it's work on the system and I have to hold the lever up when I want to decelerate.
Is not the quadrant a cast iron so it might break when bending ?
I did not dare to put stress on it until now.
1916 Touring

User avatar

Mark Nunn
Posts: 1241
Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2019 8:01 am
First Name: Mark
Last Name: Nunn
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926 Runabout
Location: Bennington, NE
Board Member Since: 2017

Re: Throttle lever slipping

Post by Mark Nunn » Sun Aug 22, 2021 9:58 am

joe.wal wrote:
Sun Aug 22, 2021 7:23 am
I do have the same issue with a slipping lever since I thought I should oil the connection at the carburetor - now gravity is doing it's work on the system and I have to hold the lever up when I want to decelerate.
Is not the quadrant a cast iron so it might break when bending ?
I did not dare to put stress on it until now.
The quadrants are drawn steel. There is a description of the manufacturing process in "The Ford Shops".


tiredfarmer
Posts: 129
Joined: Thu Apr 09, 2020 11:29 am
First Name: leonard
Last Name: simunek
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926 touring. 1931 model a pickup, 1947 willys cj2a
Location: waukomis, ok

Re: Throttle lever slipping

Post by tiredfarmer » Sun Aug 22, 2021 5:48 pm

To bad that the steel quadrants are not being reproduced, I could use one on my 26 Touring.


DHort
Posts: 2826
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 1:30 pm
First Name: Dave
Last Name: Hjortnaes
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 24 Speedster, 20 touring
Location: Men Falls, WI

Re: Throttle lever slipping

Post by DHort » Sun Aug 22, 2021 10:49 pm

Do not forget to throw some rotten tomatoes, apples, or cabbages after you fix the quadrant. Personally I would throw them away from the car.


Original Smith
Posts: 3699
Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2019 10:43 am
First Name: Larry
Last Name: Smith
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 13 Touring, 13 Roadster, 17 Coupelet, 25 Roadster P/U
Location: Lomita, California
MTFCA Life Member: YES

Re: Throttle lever slipping

Post by Original Smith » Mon Aug 23, 2021 11:26 pm

One thing I learned years ago, is to lift up on the spark and throttle levers when changing position. This saves wear on the quadrant.

User avatar

Rich Eagle
Posts: 6895
Joined: Fri Jan 04, 2019 10:51 am
First Name: Richard
Last Name: Eagle
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1909 TR 1914 TR 1915 Rd 1920 Spdstr 1922 Coupe 1925 Tudor
Location: Idaho Falls, ID

Re: Throttle lever slipping

Post by Rich Eagle » Thu Aug 26, 2021 1:06 pm

Thanks MWalker for the tip on bending the quadrant down. It worked great for me this morning. I had been putting off disassembly and adding heavier springs. This was much easier.
Rich
When did I do that?

Post Reply Previous topicNext topic