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09-13-2016, 10:57 AM | #1 |
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How many opening/closing cycles is a Model-A hood good for??
I posted a recent picture of a Fordbarn member's car where the owner had
laid the hood over onto a soft cotton towel (see pix below) which another Fordbarner discreetly shared some concern with me privately how he felt this was "...a big NO NO.". He shared with me how he had been mentored by another hobbyist that the only proper way(s) to prop the hood open was to either rest the hood side into the clip mounted on the radiator, -or rest the hood side onto the cowl lacing. This concerned person shared this would damage the hood seam (loops). My thoughts on the matter countered his, but as an experiment I decided to walk around a couple of Model-As that I have in the shop just to see what happens. On one car that is here for brake work, the hood loops were actually bending as I was lifting the hood. Upon further inspection I could see the hood rod was very rusty which was causing the hood to bind as the loops were trying to rotate around that rusty rod. On a pick-up that is here, I watched the hood actually 're-form' itself as it was latched. I also have seen hood sides that will bend slightly when they are latched. Then, when you prop the hood onto the cowl lacing, it distorts the upper hood top some which is likely adding some stress to those hood loops. So, here we go, --those hood loops also are constantly pulling against each other when the hood is in the closed position, and the hood loop stresses are not being equally pulled on when the hood side is propped upon the cowl lacing, and supposedly they are stressed when the hood is laid over, ....so if all of the scenarios are adding undue stress on the hood loops and the sheetmetal itself, just how many cycles of opening & closing a Model-A hood can we expect before damage will occur?? . |
09-13-2016, 11:04 AM | #2 |
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Re: How many opening/closing cycles is a Model-A hood good for??
Good question and one I don't have an answer for. I'd say from your observation that the answer will be directly proportionate to how well the hinges are lubed. I can't recall ever seeing a hinge that had worn through. I have seen wind catch them when propped open on the catch or lacing and do damage. Laying it over would seem safer at that point.
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09-13-2016, 11:09 AM | #3 |
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Re: How many opening/closing cycles is a Model-A hood good for??
Whatever the answer given, it won't be accurate! Every vehicle will be different. Wayne
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09-13-2016, 11:12 AM | #4 |
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Re: How many opening/closing cycles is a Model-A hood good for??
I guess I can't say. I'm a cowl lace propper [ is that a real word] and the paint chips on the ends of the loops. Whether thats the reason why, I don't know, I didn't think so, but,,,,.
But, I just wanted to comment on what a beautiful phaeton that is. I'd be afraid/concerned of where I parked it, its so nice. |
09-13-2016, 11:20 AM | #5 |
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Re: How many opening/closing cycles is a Model-A hood good for??
Not that it is relevant, but I suspect the designers of the Model A might be surprised at how many are still around after 80 years.
The hood on my Town sedan is worn through the bead at the bottom of the hood where it meets the fenders and the hood hooks go. The paint is cracked near the hinge, but seems okay otherwise. |
09-13-2016, 11:25 AM | #6 |
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Re: How many opening/closing cycles is a Model-A hood good for??
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As far as the original question lots of variables, but I found if everything is free / lubed and aligned / no distortion it can fold any direction and not do harm... I already laid the side on a towel as shown in the pic above... I found the towel slips out easily... Last edited by Mitch//pa; 09-13-2016 at 03:22 PM. |
09-13-2016, 12:16 PM | #7 |
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Re: How many opening/closing cycles is a Model-A hood good for??
It depends on how well it is maintained.
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09-13-2016, 12:22 PM | #8 |
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Re: How many opening/closing cycles is a Model-A hood good for??
Oh Good God! As if global climate change and the current election cycle are not enough to keep me awake at night!
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09-13-2016, 12:30 PM | #9 | |
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Re: How many opening/closing cycles is a Model-A hood good for??
Quote:
PS: I'm a hinge/hood layover damage deny'er... Also number of door stams before said door falls off deny'er....
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09-13-2016, 12:36 PM | #10 |
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Re: How many opening/closing cycles is a Model-A hood good for??
33,967 cycles ? .......
Is there a prize for the correct answer ? |
09-13-2016, 12:42 PM | #11 |
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Re: How many opening/closing cycles is a Model-A hood good for??
At least the towel is green to match the paint.
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09-13-2016, 12:43 PM | #12 | |
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Re: How many opening/closing cycles is a Model-A hood good for??
Quote:
"Different" Dad
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09-13-2016, 01:37 PM | #13 |
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Re: How many opening/closing cycles is a Model-A hood good for??
FWIW, I had several now-deceased old timers tell me the same thing. These guys grew up with Model As from day 1. I have seen loops that were 'torn' about half-way, and many that were opened up quite a bit making them quite loose, and several loops that were torn right off.
your mileage may vary.
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09-13-2016, 01:48 PM | #14 |
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Re: How many opening/closing cycles is a Model-A hood good for??
I have been opening and laying my car's hood right on top of the hinge area, without clips, brackets, braces, etc. for over 50 years now. Never have there been any issues. Of course, as has been said, the hinge must be adequately lubricated for all to work well.
Knowing that this can be a sensitive issue with others, whenever I open some else's hood, I always take extra care and use what ever device that presents itself - often resting the hood-side bottom on the top of the cowl. |
09-13-2016, 02:38 PM | #15 |
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Re: How many opening/closing cycles is a Model-A hood good for??
My indented firewall car sees so much hood action. The paint is cracking a little around the hinge. It's annoying, but driving and enjoying the car is worth it.
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09-13-2016, 02:39 PM | #16 |
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Re: How many opening/closing cycles is a Model-A hood good for??
Henry tested the hoods durability with his robotic hood opener / closer
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09-13-2016, 02:40 PM | #17 |
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Re: How many opening/closing cycles is a Model-A hood good for??
I suppose there will be too wide of a variation in the interpretation of 'good' for a hard, quantitative answer. One extreme clearly would be 'lack of deduction in any fine-judging points,' (preservation of 'Category 1' restoration), and at the other would be 'continuity of hood-function' (i.e. 'does it stay closed?'). I open & close my hood at every fuel stop and for various engine maintenance. That's for 20k miles of driving; with a typical 8 gallons of fuel added per stop, 18 mpg, thus coming to ~140 cycles. Adding another ~30 cycles for maintenance, I'll guess 170 cycles on my hood, with just bit of paint chipping the result.
Were I to lubricate the hinge more often than I do (being uh, never...), be more careful with my hood-handling, and be more diligent in paint-blemish repair, it's hard for me to see why near-perfection wouldn't be achieved within that cycle count. I do have a hood-prop-kit installed, and use it maybe 50% of the time. Keep in mind I am sometimes opening the hood when it's dark, cold, I am late, and there is an impatient family seated in the car. |
09-13-2016, 04:48 PM | #18 |
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Re: How many opening/closing cycles is a Model-A hood good for??
Likewise I too have a hood prop bracket (the long fold-out arms) on my '31 Dlx Coupe, but use it only about 10% of the time. For the most part it is a pain in the butt.
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09-13-2016, 05:30 PM | #19 |
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Re: How many opening/closing cycles is a Model-A hood good for??
I had the hood bracket on but removed it. When the hood stands on the lacing you have a little more room to work. And as had been said many times - lube it - remove it - clean it and keep it lubed.
Al |
09-13-2016, 05:45 PM | #20 |
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Re: How many opening/closing cycles is a Model-A hood good for??
I wrote an article for our club's newsletter about neglected lube points on a Model A.
In it, I included many other locations besides the three hood hinges. Things such as the hood latches, bushings at the top of the steering column where the spark and throttle shafts are, clevis pins on the brake rods, trunk/rumble hinges, throttle and spark rod ends, etc. Many of these are not in the lube chart. Each body style is a little different. Think about all the moving joints on your car. . . . Dick |
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