The Ford Barn

alexiskai · 08-31-2022, 04:35 PM

Anyone have success fabricating replacements for OEM control rods (spark and throttle linkage rods)? I've been looking at options for buying ball joint linkages, plus rods, and then cutting/tapping the rods to thread the linkages onto. The problem so far is I can't find anyone who makes ball joint sockets for balls as tiny as the ones on the Model A.

alexiskai · 08-31-2022, 04:40 PM

I realize I already asked about this last year, but I'm asking again because all the proposed solutions involved buying rods for other applications that are too long, and then cutting/welding them to the right length. That's one way but I'm still interested in the possibility of fabricating them without welding.

marc silva · 08-31-2022, 10:05 PM

Can’t you buy new ones and take them apart and shorten them? I am assuming here that you need shorter not longer. Just wondering as I have never had to mess with control rods but they put them together so I would think that I could figure out how to take them apart and make my own. Marc

rotorwrench · 09-01-2022, 04:54 PM

The new ones I've seen use aluminum for the ball shroud where the old one were steel. I've had to open the hole up a bit more to get the new ones to fit on the ball. I've welded a few old ones but it is a PITA. Brass bushings with set screws are available so a person can cut them and the put the shortened rod pieces in the bushing and then tighten the set screws.

I've seen some pretty creative farmer fixes on these where folks bend a long one into a pretzel to get it to work for a shorter application.

For those interested here in a link to the sleeve:
https://www.snydersantiqueauto.com/p...9546&cat=41663

alexiskai · 09-01-2022, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rotorwrench

Brass bushings with set screws are available so a person can cut them and the put the shortened rod pieces in the bushing and then tighten the set screws.

Link?

Oldgearz · 09-01-2022, 05:27 PM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by alexiskai

Link?

Google "rigid set screw couplers" and look on amazon.

alexiskai · 09-01-2022, 05:30 PM

Ah, right, I mistakenly read this as a solution for the ball sockets. OK, so we still do not have a way to do those sockets as an end-user.

08-31-2022, 04:35 PM	#1
alexiskai Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: Mebane NC Posts: 2,355	Fabricating control rods? Anyone have success fabricating replacements for OEM control rods (spark and throttle linkage rods)? I've been looking at options for buying ball joint linkages, plus rods, and then cutting/tapping the rods to thread the linkages onto. The problem so far is I can't find anyone who makes ball joint sockets for balls as tiny as the ones on the Model A.

08-31-2022, 04:40 PM	#2
alexiskai Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: Mebane NC Posts: 2,355	Re: Fabricating control rods? I realize I already asked about this last year, but I'm asking again because all the proposed solutions involved buying rods for other applications that are too long, and then cutting/welding them to the right length. That's one way but I'm still interested in the possibility of fabricating them without welding.

08-31-2022, 10:05 PM	#3
marc silva Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: santa rosa ca Posts: 257	Re: Fabricating control rods? Can’t you buy new ones and take them apart and shorten them? I am assuming here that you need shorter not longer. Just wondering as I have never had to mess with control rods but they put them together so I would think that I could figure out how to take them apart and make my own. Marc

09-01-2022, 04:54 PM	#4
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 16,436	Re: Fabricating control rods? The new ones I've seen use aluminum for the ball shroud where the old one were steel. I've had to open the hole up a bit more to get the new ones to fit on the ball. I've welded a few old ones but it is a PITA. Brass bushings with set screws are available so a person can cut them and the put the shortened rod pieces in the bushing and then tighten the set screws. I've seen some pretty creative farmer fixes on these where folks bend a long one into a pretzel to get it to work for a shorter application. For those interested here in a link to the sleeve: https://www.snydersantiqueauto.com/p...9546&cat=41663 Last edited by rotorwrench; 09-02-2022 at 09:43 AM.

09-01-2022, 05:30 PM	#7
alexiskai Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: Mebane NC Posts: 2,355	Re: Fabricating control rods? Ah, right, I mistakenly read this as a solution for the ball sockets. OK, so we still do not have a way to do those sockets as an end-user.