Newbie with a new doodlebug
 

Hello Everybody!

I'm new to the forum but have been getting a wealth of knowledge from this forum for a while.

I just purchased a Model A/AA doodlebug from the creators grandson. He built and used it in the great depression for cutting firewood. Sometime in the 50s his father put a plow on it and used it for plowing snow around the neighborhood. I also got the buzz saw attachment and snowplow with it.

It has the worm gear rear end along with a 4 speed trans which leads me to believe its a AA but I am slowly familiarizing with the differences to determine for sure.

The motor was locked up on it but after 4 days of sitting with mixture of ATF/Kerosene/Mineral Spirits/and Acetone if freed up and now turns over smoothly. Now to sort out the electrical. It appears as if the coil and resistor have been robbed off it at some point. I'll hopefully be able to get something together by this weekend and see if it'll fire after a through cleaning of the fuel tank.

It should be a fun project for my two sons and I to enjoy for years to come.

Zach

Re: Newbie with a new doodlebug
 

Welcome! A 4 speed and a worm drive indicates a 28-early 30 AA was used. There is also AA forum for those parts you may need. Looks like you have a good start and planning on involving the kids is an awesome idea!

Mike

Re: Newbie with a new doodlebug
 

Re: Newbie with a new doodlebug
 

Looks like a fun project and it looks like you live in a nice area where such a thing can be enjoyed. With a 6 volt battery and 6 volt coil, you shouldn't need any resistor.

Re: Newbie with a new doodlebug
 

yup, find a local model A club and im sure someones got an old coil laying around.

Since its a doodlebug who knows what its previous lives were.

The worm drive rearend was 28-late 29, 4 speed showed up around the same time the bevel gear rearend showed up so late 29-31 for the trans.

your front axle is from what i can tell from a standard model A ( small lugnuts/rim)

AA's has 1 1/8" diameter lug nuts. rear wheels look like they are off a 50's dodge ton truck or military vehicle.(same pattern as AA)

model A frame is pretty small C channel by todays standards, AA's are large.

Post some more pics! looks like the perfect toy in your neck of the woods!

Re: Newbie with a new doodlebug
 

I have a new 6v coil from a tractor that I've been also working on so I'll give that a try.

I'm sure that when it was put together it was with whatever parts he had around. The guy that I got it from has some old pics with what sound like the original AA rims. He was going to look around and see if he still had them somewhere.

I'll take some more pics of it tonight and put them up tomorrow. It's beautiful up here this time of year. But when the leaves change it also means the snow is coming.

Re: Newbie with a new doodlebug
 

Hopefully I can be enjoying it this weekend. If not running at least I'll enjoy working on it in the garage.

Re: Newbie with a new doodlebug
 

Looks like a fun toy. The rear looks like it has six lug nuts so it's not Ford.

Bob

Re: Newbie with a new doodlebug
 

Zach, where in Upper Michigan are you? I'm north of Baraga on US 41.

Re: Newbie with a new doodlebug
 

I'm near Champion. We're pretty close!


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Re: Newbie with a new doodlebug
 

It is definitely 6 lug. Here's some pics of the rear end and others. It also has an attachment off of the trans. It has a small output shaft with a lever but the lever is cut off and doesn't go into the cab. Seems kinda out of place. Attachment 290030Attachment 290031Attachment 290032Attachment 290033Attachment 290034


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Re: Newbie with a new doodlebug
 

That is a power take off on the side of the transmission, maybe to run the
saw or plow.

Bob

Re: Newbie with a new doodlebug
 

That appears to be a Ford TT rear axle.

Bob

Re: Newbie with a new doodlebug
 

Zach, do yourself a favour. Before attempting to start it I suggest you pull the sump pan and clean out any sludge in the bottom. Failing to do so could very possibly ruin a very usable engine. Be sure to remove the dipper tray to get to the bottom of the sump. I suspect you will be surprised at how much muck you will find there.

Re: Newbie with a new doodlebug
 

good advice. that will keep the gunk out of the oil pump too. Might be a good idea to pop the valve cover and clean the sludge in there as well, being careful not to force any down the main bearing or cam bearing lube holes

Re: Newbie with a new doodlebug
 

Welcome A board I also started with a Doodle Bug. Love it to death Make sure you clean out the oil pan and side Valve cover. Mine had a bunch of Sludge in it!! Try and clean the Motor out good. I rebuilt my Oil pump good Insureance. Glad you are here ASK A LOT OF QUESTIONS< we were all Rookies at one Time!!!

Re: Newbie with a new doodlebug
 

When you clean out the oil pan be sure to check the screen on the oil pump. They usually have a lot of crud blocking the holes in the screen.

Re: Newbie with a new doodlebug
 

Thanks for all the tips guys. I will defiantly drop the pan and pull the valve cover and give them both a good cleaning. Made some space in the garage last night so now I have some room to work on it.

Any one have any recommendations on some books for working on these old fords?

Re: Newbie with a new doodlebug
 

Les Andrews Model A red book is a pretty good source - watch your torque values they give and use common sense as some are too high.

Your local model a club will be the absolute best source