How do you get the oil petcocks to face out?

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
User avatar

Topic author
Dan B
Posts: 235
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 1:53 pm
First Name: Dan
Last Name: Blaydon
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1923 Touring
Location: PA

How do you get the oil petcocks to face out?

Post by Dan B » Sat Apr 13, 2019 12:42 pm

The oil pan petcocks on my car do not get tight until they are turned so that the handle is facing inward towards the pan. This makes it very difficult to open the petcocks to check the oil level. If I stop turning them so that they’re facing out, they are only snug, and I worry that they’ll come out while I’m driving or leak.

Is this normal or am I overlooking something obvious?
Attachments
4B40ADE2-9FEC-47C4-87DF-99D7B420856E.jpeg
1923 Touring

User avatar

Topic author
Dan B
Posts: 235
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 1:53 pm
First Name: Dan
Last Name: Blaydon
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1923 Touring
Location: PA

Re: How do you get the oil petcocks to face out?

Post by Dan B » Sat Apr 13, 2019 12:44 pm

Picture right side up.
Attachments
446847EF-AC3F-4BF8-824F-F89B39F53913.jpeg
1923 Touring

User avatar

HalSched
Posts: 180
Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2019 8:13 pm
First Name: Hal
Last Name: Schedler
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 24 Speedster, 23 RA, 25 Fordor
Location: Sacramento
MTFCA Number: 16688
MTFCI Number: 19356
Board Member Since: 2005

Re: How do you get the oil petcocks to face out?

Post by HalSched » Sat Apr 13, 2019 12:49 pm

Try wrapping the threads with several layers yellow teflon tape.


Jerry VanOoteghem
Posts: 2952
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 4:06 pm
First Name: Jerry
Last Name: Van
Location: S.E. Michigan
MTFCA Number: 24868

Re: How do you get the oil petcocks to face out?

Post by Jerry VanOoteghem » Sat Apr 13, 2019 6:02 pm

You could buy a pipe die, (1/8-27 I believe), and run it up on the petcock to cut the threads a tad further back. That would allow them to screw in further. I would resist the urge to put a tap in the hogshead threads for fear of getting them oversize.


Scott_Conger
Posts: 6431
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 11:18 am
First Name: Scott
Last Name: Conger
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: '13, '15, '19, '23
Location: Clark, WY
Board Member Since: 2005

Re: How do you get the oil petcocks to face out?

Post by Scott_Conger » Sat Apr 13, 2019 7:48 pm

I am a fan of teflon tape for this situation (here and on the radiator petcock, but no other places on a "T"). Three wraps of the stuff and screw it in until it is where you want if...just use your hands and don't overtighten. It will line up where you want and will not leak.
Scott Conger

Tyranny under the guise of law is still Tyranny

NH Full Flow Float Valves
Obsolete carburetor parts manufactured


Allan
Posts: 5205
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 7:21 pm
First Name: Allan
Last Name: Bennett
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1912 van, 1917 shooting brake, 1929 roadster buckboard, 1924 tourer, 1925 barn find buckboard, 1925 D &F wide body roadster, 1927LHD Tudor sedan.
Location: Gawler, Australia

Re: How do you get the oil petcocks to face out?

Post by Allan » Sun Apr 14, 2019 12:56 am

Dan. if you have any spares, you may get the desired result just by swapping them out. Even switching them in the holes may be of benefit. All the petcocks are a little bit different.

Allan from down under.


John kuehn
Posts: 3907
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 8:00 pm
First Name: John
Last Name: Kuehn
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 19 Roadster, 21 Touring, 24 Coupe
Location: Texas
MTFCA Number: 28924

Re: How do you get the oil petcocks to face out?

Post by John kuehn » Sun Apr 14, 2019 8:45 am

I never thought about it till now but I used some Teflon tape on the ones I couldn’t get a tight fit facing outwards. I have found a twisted off peacock in an oil pan or two in the past.
The Teflon tape worked for me to allow the petcock to get tight.

User avatar

Topic author
Dan B
Posts: 235
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 1:53 pm
First Name: Dan
Last Name: Blaydon
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1923 Touring
Location: PA

Re: How do you get the oil petcocks to face out?

Post by Dan B » Sun Apr 14, 2019 9:10 pm

Thanks all for the suggestions. I’ll try the Teflon tape trick and if I’m not satisfied with that, will root around the spare parts bins for a couple other ones to try.
1923 Touring


Loftfield
Posts: 223
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 1:26 pm
First Name: Thomas
Last Name: Loftfield
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1912 Touring, 1912 Express Pick-up
Location: Brevard, NC, USA
MTFCA Number: 49876
MTFCI Number: 24725

Re: How do you get the oil petcocks to face out?

Post by Loftfield » Mon Apr 15, 2019 7:14 am

Be sure to use YELLOW teflon tape. It is sold for use on natural and lp gas lines. It is thicker than the white plumbing tape and doesn't degrade in petroleum products.

Tom Loftfield
Brevard, N.C.


Original Smith
Posts: 3284
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 Number: 121
MTFCA Life Member: YES
MTFCI Number: 16310

Re: How do you get the oil petcocks to face out?

Post by Original Smith » Mon Apr 15, 2019 12:33 pm

Since the threads are tapered, there shouldn't be a problem, unless someone forced them in too tight.


D Stroud
Posts: 1015
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 10:45 am
First Name: David
Last Name: Stroud
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1925 Coupe
Location: Mound City, MO 64470
Board Member Since: 2011

Re: How do you get the oil petcocks to face out?

Post by D Stroud » Tue Apr 16, 2019 6:12 am

Larry, just because the threads are tapered doesn't make any difference. There are many different tapered thread depths, both male and female, there is always a plus or minus in the specs., just ask any pipe fitter. Just a little bit of difference one way or another can make a lot of difference where the fittings end up. Using Teflon tape is a very good solution. JMHO Dave
1925 mostly original coupe.


Altair
Posts: 365
Joined: Thu Jan 17, 2019 11:52 am
First Name: David
Last Name: Menzies
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926 Touring and 1915 Touring both Canadian models
Location: British Columbia
MTFCA Number: 27825
Board Member Since: 2012

Re: How do you get the oil petcocks to face out?

Post by Altair » Tue Apr 16, 2019 6:18 pm

If you are handy with solder, you could run a dot of solder on the threads, have the threads super clean with a drop of flux and it will run around the threads. This works to hold a nut tight or for stripped threads.

Post Reply Previous topicNext topic