Go Back   The Ford Barn > General Discussion > Model A (1928-31)

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 10-12-2016, 01:32 PM   #1
Zach96
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Upper Michigan
Posts: 8
Default 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
Attached Images
File Type: jpg IMG_4011.JPG (128.7 KB, 242 views)
Zach96 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-12-2016, 01:40 PM   #2
1930artdeco
Senior Member
 
1930artdeco's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Lynden, Wa
Posts: 3,548
Default 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
__________________
1930 TownSedan (Briggs)
1957 Country Sedan
1930artdeco is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Old 10-12-2016, 02:08 PM   #3
C26Pinelake
BANNED
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Michigan / Ontario border, Sarnia, Ontario. 50 miles from Detroit and 150 from Toronto.
Posts: 5,800
Default Re: Newbie with a new doodlebug

Welcome to the Barn. Have fun while you and your two sons build memories together. Wayne
C26Pinelake is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-12-2016, 02:26 PM   #4
Tom Wesenberg
Senior Member
 
Tom Wesenberg's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Mpls, MN
Posts: 27,582
Default 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.
Tom Wesenberg is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-12-2016, 02:31 PM   #5
SeaSlugs
Senior Member
 
SeaSlugs's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Central, IL
Posts: 3,968
Default Re: Newbie with a new doodlebug

Quote:
Originally Posted by Tom Wesenberg View Post
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.
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!
__________________
1929 Model AA - Need long splash aprons!
SeaSlugs is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-12-2016, 03:11 PM   #6
Zach96
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Upper Michigan
Posts: 8
Default Re: Newbie with a new doodlebug

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Quote:
Originally Posted by SeaSlugs View Post
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!
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.
Zach96 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-12-2016, 03:12 PM   #7
Zach96
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Upper Michigan
Posts: 8
Default Re: Newbie with a new doodlebug

Quote:
Originally Posted by Tom Wesenberg View Post
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.
Hopefully I can be enjoying it this weekend. If not running at least I'll enjoy working on it in the garage.
Zach96 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-12-2016, 03:27 PM   #8
Bob C
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: So Cal
Posts: 8,713
Default 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
Bob C is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-12-2016, 03:33 PM   #9
mantta
Senior Member
 
mantta's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Keweenaw Bay, MI (Michigan's Upper Peninsula)
Posts: 218
Default Re: Newbie with a new doodlebug

Zach, where in Upper Michigan are you? I'm north of Baraga on US 41.
mantta is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-12-2016, 06:01 PM   #10
Zach96
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Upper Michigan
Posts: 8
Default Re: Newbie with a new doodlebug

Quote:
Originally Posted by mantta View Post
Zach, where in Upper Michigan are you? I'm north of Baraga on US 41.


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


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Zach96 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-12-2016, 06:05 PM   #11
Zach96
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Upper Michigan
Posts: 8
Default Re: Newbie with a new doodlebug

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob C View Post
Looks like a fun toy. The rear looks like it has six lug nuts so it's not Ford.

Bob


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. IMG_4041.jpgIMG_4030.jpgIMG_4049.jpgIMG_4042.jpgIMG_4044.jpg


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Zach96 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-12-2016, 07:23 PM   #12
Bob C
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: So Cal
Posts: 8,713
Default 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
Bob C is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-12-2016, 08:03 PM   #13
Bob C
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: So Cal
Posts: 8,713
Default Re: Newbie with a new doodlebug

That appears to be a Ford TT rear axle.

Bob
Attached Images
File Type: jpg [email protected] (79.2 KB, 56 views)
Bob C is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-12-2016, 09:08 PM   #14
RUNNERBUN
Senior Member
 
RUNNERBUN's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Queensland Australia
Posts: 640
Default 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.
__________________
Adjust your points with gentle blows of a 2 pound hammer
RUNNERBUN is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-12-2016, 09:41 PM   #15
tbirdtbird
BANNED
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: inside your RAM
Posts: 3,134
Default 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
__________________
'31 180A
tbirdtbird is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-13-2016, 05:49 PM   #16
Indiana A. Lover
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Brook, Indiana
Posts: 214
Send a message via Yahoo to Indiana A. Lover
Default 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!!!
Indiana A. Lover is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-13-2016, 08:50 PM   #17
Tom Wesenberg
Senior Member
 
Tom Wesenberg's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Mpls, MN
Posts: 27,582
Default 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.
Tom Wesenberg is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-14-2016, 10:32 AM   #18
Zach96
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Upper Michigan
Posts: 8
Default 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?
Zach96 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-14-2016, 10:54 AM   #19
SeaSlugs
Senior Member
 
SeaSlugs's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Central, IL
Posts: 3,968
Default 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
__________________
1929 Model AA - Need long splash aprons!
SeaSlugs is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:40 PM.