The Ford Barn

mike37cdn · 02-21-2012, 07:45 PM

is the ruckstell rear end an overdrive or a lower gear or can it be made to be an overdrive

gz · 02-21-2012, 08:12 PM

When the Ruckstell is in "high" gear, it is direct drive-meaning it is locked as a unit. When the Ruckstell is in "low" it is an underdrive. Many people install high speed (3:1 or 3.25:1) ring and pinion gears in the Ruckstell. This really splits the gearing options well giving you a taller direct drive and a more usefull underdrive range.
There were other period overdrives made for the Model T such as Warford, Muncie, etc. They are additional transmissions and mount behind the standard T transmission-and require shortening the driveshaft and radius rods.

yachtsmanbill · 02-21-2012, 08:13 PM

Underdrive and direct... Want overdrive you need an auxillary transmission. ws

Layden B · 02-23-2012, 12:27 PM

Some of the original advertisements for the Ruckstell implied an overdrive with faster speed, in reality it was an underdrive axle unit as stated above with a new 3 to 1 set of pinion and ring gears. I suspect many original owners never understood it!

mike37cdn · 02-23-2012, 12:40 PM

thanks for the info

John Otis · 02-25-2012, 08:42 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Make sure you put in some better brakes no matter what if using a Ruckstell. Even a set of lined shoes might save your ass.

02-21-2012, 07:45 PM	#1
mike37cdn Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: ontario canada Posts: 128	ruckstell rear end is the ruckstell rear end an overdrive or a lower gear or can it be made to be an overdrive

02-21-2012, 08:12 PM	#2
gz Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 1,666	Re: ruckstell rear end When the Ruckstell is in "high" gear, it is direct drive-meaning it is locked as a unit. When the Ruckstell is in "low" it is an underdrive. Many people install high speed (3:1 or 3.25:1) ring and pinion gears in the Ruckstell. This really splits the gearing options well giving you a taller direct drive and a more usefull underdrive range. There were other period overdrives made for the Model T such as Warford, Muncie, etc. They are additional transmissions and mount behind the standard T transmission-and require shortening the driveshaft and radius rods.

02-21-2012, 08:13 PM	#3
yachtsmanbill Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Two Rivers, Wi. Posts: 1,406	Re: ruckstell rear end Underdrive and direct... Want overdrive you need an auxillary transmission. ws

02-23-2012, 12:27 PM	#4
Layden B Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 300	Re: ruckstell rear end Some of the original advertisements for the Ruckstell implied an overdrive with faster speed, in reality it was an underdrive axle unit as stated above with a new 3 to 1 set of pinion and ring gears. I suspect many original owners never understood it!

02-23-2012, 12:40 PM	#5
mike37cdn Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: ontario canada Posts: 128	Re: ruckstell rear end thanks for the info

02-25-2012, 08:42 PM	#6
John Otis Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Vermont and Florida Posts: 188	Re: ruckstell rear end Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Make sure you put in some better brakes no matter what if using a Ruckstell. Even a set of lined shoes might save your ass.