The Ford Barn

Geokop · 09-22-2023, 10:24 PM

Hello again, Everyone, Question, please...
If someone wants to drive a T slowly, say 5mph due to bumpy roads or whatever, does he or she have to keep pressing the clutch pedal in the whole way after starting the engine to keep the car in low gear the entire time? I've read posts here where the engine should be practically screaming before throwing it into high gear. What if you don't want to reach a screaming speed?
Thanks!

J Franklin · 09-23-2023, 12:11 AM

5 MPH Should be doable with the throttle closed and somewhat retarded spark. A quick increase in speed might be hard at that speed, and maybe shifting to low would be needed. In a parade I use the e-brake lever in neutral and just push and release the low/high pedal to creep.

Geokop · 09-23-2023, 12:38 PM

Thank you. So are you saying to put it in high gear and then close the throttle and retard the spark? OK, I'm a little dense...It would seem awfully uncomfortable having to keep the clutch pedal depressed the entire time.

Will N · 09-23-2023, 01:15 PM

Ergo the Ruckstall rear end. The Ruckstall is a two speed rear end with a direct 1:1 gear and an underdrive gear that you can select. So when you are in high gear in the tranny and underdrive in the Ruckstall, you have an intermediate final drive ratio that is between normal low and normal high. Good for climbing hills and low speed cruising without having to hold the clutch pedal down the whole time.

J Franklin · 09-23-2023, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geokop

I'm a little dense...It would seem awfully uncomfortable having to keep the clutch pedal depressed the entire time.

After you are in high gear you don't need to use the pedal, just increase the speed slowly.

Geokop · 09-23-2023, 04:00 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Will, and J Franklin, thanks for the added explanations.
I suppose the best way to understand the concept is to actually drive one!

Everything is appreciated.

Kelly mt · 09-23-2023, 11:05 PM

To add a little here, we just finished a tour in the mountains where we pulled steep grades that required low pedal for several miles. One grade was 6 miles in low pedal with the Warford in low also. The guys with Ruckstells were in low also. They were rough dirt roads. I kept the motor at around 1100 RPM on my tach.

Geokop · 09-24-2023, 12:39 AM

Kelly mt, wasn't your leg ready to fall off when you were finished?

Just how much pressure must be exerted to depress the clutch? Is there much spring back pressure?

Everyone, I'm really enjoying your current commentaries, and reading past posts as well. I don't even own one, but the workings of these cars are very interesting to learn about. And you all have been very helpful and welcoming.

Kelly mt · 09-24-2023, 01:11 AM

A big thing with long pulls in low pedal is you tend to let up a little which can cause the bands to slip and all the negative effects of that. After driving a while you'll have a feel for the required pressure. I don't think of low pedal as a clutch but as a clamp. And yes we all belong to the aching/burning leg society.

Geokop · 09-24-2023, 03:23 PM

I like the analogy of it being more of a clamp; from what I've seen, that's what it does.
My dad's riding mower has a foot pedal that must be pushed and held all the way down to make the mower move. When I cut his grass, my leg needs a break after a while!

J Franklin · 09-24-2023, 03:33 PM

Buy your dad a new mower! be a good son.

mercman from oz · 09-24-2023, 04:56 PM

Ford Model T Roadster - J Franklin

Geokop · 09-25-2023, 12:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J Franklin

Buy your dad a new mower! be a good son.

LOL...It's a Husqvarna, a really nice riding mower that he bought 2-3 years ago. I'm not getting any younger, and wouldn't mind inheriting it one day, especially if I move.

That's a beautiful Roadster, my close second favorite behind a Touring car. Anything with a convertible top. May I assume this one is yours? If so, my compliments.

J Franklin · 09-25-2023, 01:56 PM

My older Husqvarna does't make me hold any silly safety peddle.

The car I posted was not mine but here is a photo of mine.

Geokop · 09-25-2023, 10:34 PM

Sweet car! I'll bet it's a lot of fun. Thanks for sharing. For how long have you owned it? How did you find it?

09-22-2023, 10:24 PM	#1
Geokop Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2023 Posts: 24	Driving Slow in a T Hello again, Everyone, Question, please... If someone wants to drive a T slowly, say 5mph due to bumpy roads or whatever, does he or she have to keep pressing the clutch pedal in the whole way after starting the engine to keep the car in low gear the entire time? I've read posts here where the engine should be practically screaming before throwing it into high gear. What if you don't want to reach a screaming speed? Thanks!

09-23-2023, 12:11 AM	#2
J Franklin Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Oregon Posts: 5,964	Re: Driving Slow in a T 5 MPH Should be doable with the throttle closed and somewhat retarded spark. A quick increase in speed might be hard at that speed, and maybe shifting to low would be needed. In a parade I use the e-brake lever in neutral and just push and release the low/high pedal to creep.

09-23-2023, 12:38 PM	#3
Geokop Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2023 Posts: 24	Re: Driving Slow in a T Thank you. So are you saying to put it in high gear and then close the throttle and retard the spark? OK, I'm a little dense...It would seem awfully uncomfortable having to keep the clutch pedal depressed the entire time.

09-23-2023, 01:15 PM	#4
Will N Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,100	Re: Driving Slow in a T Ergo the Ruckstall rear end. The Ruckstall is a two speed rear end with a direct 1:1 gear and an underdrive gear that you can select. So when you are in high gear in the tranny and underdrive in the Ruckstall, you have an intermediate final drive ratio that is between normal low and normal high. Good for climbing hills and low speed cruising without having to hold the clutch pedal down the whole time.

09-23-2023, 04:00 PM	#6
Geokop Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2023 Posts: 24	Re: Driving Slow in a T Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Will, and J Franklin, thanks for the added explanations. I suppose the best way to understand the concept is to actually drive one! Everything is appreciated.

09-23-2023, 11:05 PM	#7
Kelly mt Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Noxon, MT Posts: 83	Re: Driving Slow in a T To add a little here, we just finished a tour in the mountains where we pulled steep grades that required low pedal for several miles. One grade was 6 miles in low pedal with the Warford in low also. The guys with Ruckstells were in low also. They were rough dirt roads. I kept the motor at around 1100 RPM on my tach.

09-24-2023, 12:39 AM	#8
Geokop Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2023 Posts: 24	Re: Driving Slow in a T Kelly mt, wasn't your leg ready to fall off when you were finished? Just how much pressure must be exerted to depress the clutch? Is there much spring back pressure? Everyone, I'm really enjoying your current commentaries, and reading past posts as well. I don't even own one, but the workings of these cars are very interesting to learn about. And you all have been very helpful and welcoming.

09-24-2023, 01:11 AM	#9
Kelly mt Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Noxon, MT Posts: 83	Re: Driving Slow in a T A big thing with long pulls in low pedal is you tend to let up a little which can cause the bands to slip and all the negative effects of that. After driving a while you'll have a feel for the required pressure. I don't think of low pedal as a clutch but as a clamp. And yes we all belong to the aching/burning leg society.

09-24-2023, 03:23 PM	#10
Geokop Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2023 Posts: 24	Re: Driving Slow in a T I like the analogy of it being more of a clamp; from what I've seen, that's what it does. My dad's riding mower has a foot pedal that must be pushed and held all the way down to make the mower move. When I cut his grass, my leg needs a break after a while!

09-24-2023, 03:33 PM	#11
J Franklin Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Oregon Posts: 5,964	Re: Driving Slow in a T Buy your dad a new mower! be a good son.

09-24-2023, 04:56 PM	#12
mercman from oz Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Queensland, Australia Posts: 10,376	Re: Driving Slow in a T Ford Model T Roadster - J Franklin

09-25-2023, 10:34 PM	#15
Geokop Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2023 Posts: 24	Re: Driving Slow in a T Sweet car! I'll bet it's a lot of fun. Thanks for sharing. For how long have you owned it? How did you find it?