Ruckstell Foot shifter

[Matt in California]

I added a Ruckstell, but haven’t added a shifter.

I heard of people who used Model AA shifter to shift a Ruckstell. The only thing I could find in the forum is this thread from 2010:
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/11 ... 1270097310

Today I got this from a friend:

I like the idea of a foot shifter rather than having one more lever in my way.

Anyone use one of these?

Matt

[Nv Bob]

Hi/lo pedal foe early 28 AA ford truck

[Kaiser]

Great idea, i wonder if the throw of the pedal is long enough to shift the Ruckstell.

[A Whiteman]

My hi/low AA truck gearbox was turned 180dgerees and fitted to my TT as an overdrive. I use a 'stick shift', but the interesting thing is the AA box is also a Ruckstell (well made by them anyway),. so my TT has two 'Ruckstells'.

[Matt in California]

I like the idea that I can use my hands for the throttle in my right foot on the shift. So I’m moving forward.

I understand the concern if there is enough movement. I measured less than an inch of movement on the Ruckstell shifter. The foot pedal seems to have twice that.


Here is the first progress photo:

[Wayne Sheldon]

I would be more concerned about the pressure required to make the shift? And the strength of the castings? It may be okay. But the AA auxiliary transmissions were easy sliding, whereas the Ruckstell takes a hard snap! Ever try to shift a Ruckstell without the five to one leverage purchase? The foot and leg has more power to push with. The question is whether or not the casting can take that much?
Just a thought?

[kmatt2]

To have a chance of a successful installation you are going to have to keep the shift rod as straight as possible. Does that mount the AA shifter in a good and easy location for you to use your toe and heal to shift the Ruckstell ? The left hand Ruckstell shifter does this ok but then the shifter has more leverage and comes up at hand brake opening. You may have to use your left foot to make the shift in order to keep your right foot free in case you need to use the brake, or It’s grab the hand brake lever for neutral or rear brakes.

[Matt in California]

Wayne,
You are correct this application requires more force and could be a issue with the casting.

Kieth,
You make some good points. No mater what a model T with Ruckstell can keep the arms and legs busy. I am locating this on the left side of the forth main. Your point about a straight rod is true. Unfortunately had to make some bends for battery box. Perhaps if I did it again I would have mounted to the other side of the fourth main.

Here are some progress photos:
Cutting with hand saw:

Breaking using chisel and bend:

[Matt in California]

Course filing:

Fine filing:

More cutting:

Test fit:

[Matt in California]

Finished Bracket.

All hack saw and file plus a weld.

[Matt in California]

Installed

[A Whiteman]

Nice job Matt, and thanks for the pictures

Happy shifting !

[RajoRacer]

Nice installation ! So - does it actually work ?

[Duey_C]

Using that Dual High pedal is neat!
Does it work OK?

[Kaiser]

Neat setup, keep us posted !

[Rich Eagle]

That is so great to see. Fabrication at it's best.
Thanks for posting it.
Rich

[JTT3]

Matt just curious, do you have auxiliary brakes?

[Matt in California]

I appreciate your comments.

I recently added the Ruckstell when I tore down the car last fall. I had it on the road for the last month with no shifter. This is my first experience with a Ruckstell. The pedal does work, but I am inexperienced in how to shift a Ruckstell. Some times I get the timing just right. Other times not at all.

One reality is that I live in a very flat location and don’t need the Ruckstel and will likely not use it much unless I travel out of the area.

John, I do not have auxiliary brakes. What brakes do you recommend?

Matt

Matt

[bobt]

Matt, I own two model T's and both have Ruckstells. I live in a flat area also but I always use high Ruckstell when driving for extended times between 15-25 mph. Remember that a Ruckstell is a mid-range gearing. Try shifting INTO Ruckstell while the engine is under load and "click" (stomp, for your system) it in with authority ( not like a madman but with a solid push of your foot. Try shifting OUT of Ruckstell when the engine is NOT under load and again with slight authority. I hope this helps, bobt

[JTT3]

Matt, you can probably get by with Rocky Mountain brakes. If possible the originals (they work much better in reverse than the reproductions) & if you can’t find originals then perhaps find some reproductions. With an auxiliary transmission or rear axle like the Ruckstell there is a distinct possibility that you can be caught in between engagement of the desired gear which leaves you free wheeling (no braking using the brake drum in the engine/transmission. I’m not sure how many folks have experienced this but it happens enough that some have also had the experience, my experience was coming now Petit Jean Mountain in a 27 Tudor sedan. For a few moments I was free wheeling and increasing in speed. It didn’t matter what I did in those moments that I was stuck between gears I could not brake, not with the pedal or engine braking. By grace somehow in the panic I was able to get the ruckstell engaged which then allowed me to brake using every pedal I could find. It felt like forever but probably only a few seconds actually went by. In my case it was pilot error I tried to shift into low on the decline and got stuck between the gears. The next day, with clean shorts, at the swap meet I fixed the problem by finding a complete repop set of auxiliary brakes and installed them at the swap meet site. Your mileage may very but I would highly recommend adding them. I was much younger then and couldn’t afford to spend the cash but it was a wise move to do it anyway. Now they have disc brakes available and those are a game changer especially with auxiliary transmissions / Ruckstells that are installed. Expensive even 16 years ago but worth the peace of mind to me.

[Mark Gregush]

Seeing it installed, thinking maybe, wondering if the pedals will be high enough where they stick out of the floor? By time you take up any play in the clevis ends, bowing in the rod between, both pulling and pushing, you might run out of needed travel by time you reach the floorboards. If you are going to have floormats, that will reduce the usable travel even more.
Don't take this as a criticism, I think it is a fantastic idea that may require a little more tweaking to make it fully workable.

[speedytinc]

Seeing it installed, thinking maybe, wondering if the pedals will be high enough where they stick out of the floor? By time you take up any play in the clevis ends, bowing in the rod between, both pulling and pushing, you might run out of needed travel by time you reach the floorboards. If you are going to have floormats, that will reduce the usable travel even more.
Don't take this as a criticism, I think it is a fantastic idea that may require a little more tweaking to make it fully workable.

The linkage rod needs a length adjustment. Pictures show the pedal faces almost the same height.
The rux should be in direct or rux, where by, one pedal face should be up all the way & the other down all the way. As shown, its in a near neutral position.

Neat idea & execution. Use will tell if the pedals are in the way of one's feet in operation, ingress, etc. Do let us know.
This idea adds another to the possibilities of better/safer shifting along with a left side shifter or foot throttle.

[kmatt2]

Matt, sense I last posted on the AA foot shifter for T Ruckstell question I remembered a picture I saw, some place, of this being done. In the picture the shifter stuck up higher by about two inches, with the straight part of the AA shifter above the floor mat. If you moved the shifter up some and added a extension at the bottom for more leverage and shift travel it should work ok. I haven’t been able to find a copy of that said picture. Nice work on that installation.

[Mark Gregush]

For us that drive in traffic, anything that will keep at least one hand on the wheel without trying to work the throttle with the left hand while trying to get in gear with the right and keeping eyes on the road, is great.

[A Whiteman]

A reminder that Ruckstell has two speeds: Ford, and Ruckstell - otherwise known as the standard Ford ratio, and the under-drive of Ruckstell.
The shifter is meant to help with heavy loads up hill for example, it isn't an overdrive.

[Mark Gregush]

Very true, but some like to use the Ruckstell to have that missing middle gear between Ford low and high.

[A Whiteman]

Me included

[Matt in California]

Seeing it installed, thinking maybe, wondering if the pedals will be high enough where they stick out of the floor? By time you take up any play in the clevis ends, bowing in the rod between, both pulling and pushing, you might run out of needed travel by time you reach the floorboards. If you are going to have floormats, that will reduce the usable travel even more.
Don't take this as a criticism, I think it is a fantastic idea that may require a little more tweaking to make it fully workable.

Thanks for everyone's comments!

Mark, yes you and others are very observant. After I took the photo I made final adjustments and when engaged the pedals come just above the running board in either the high or low positions. If you see the earlier photos of the finished bracket you will see two sets of smaller holes. I am currently using the lower ones and it seems to be working fine and not hitting anything. But if I added the a floor mat I would likely need to lift it. At this point, I don't even own a floor mat.

Robert, thanks for your helpful advice on shifting. I am starting to learn how to shift. Regarding driving in Ruckstell under drive for normal driving: I am doing it now to learn to shift, but would rather not wear it out. I can see why people enjoy running it to add the missing gear. I enjoy running a T as it was designed to be and plan to use the under drive only when needed.

I do want to make clear, as insinuated in the first post, this idea was not original to me. Actually, fellow member, Don Azevedo, showed me his 1914 Touring using the same concept. Don loves it and the car has had the set up many years because his dad installed it. I figured when I posted on here I would find others who have done the same, but evidently this solution was not common.

Matt

[Matt in California]

Here is the setup that Don’s dad built.

As you can see the pedals are higher and wider spaced.

You can see I connected it differently. The designer seemed to take in account the concerns that were brought up here with a bit more leverage. In the 1914 the fender bracket is not in the way like it is on my 1920

As far as a proof of concept Don really likes the set up.

Matt