new Owner 1928 Roadster... questions...

B

Bill Wick

New member
Hi all, My 28 roadster hand brake does nto click and lock, where can I lookto begin to search out the problem?

tha other thing, Im not sure she is not getting too hot.
can any one tell me the avg operating temp? I used a digital thermometer and it seemed to be around 190 degrees....

thanks...Bill W.
 
another .. sorry.. but I know i have to double clutch to go thru the gears... can you down shift to slow her up? I tried, but am afraid of doing damage...
OH by the way, her name is Isabel....
 
Double clutch is what you should be doing...hey its a model a and there is no synchronization and that is part of the fun of the drive, yes you can downshift when you learn how to really drive it. 190 is fine to drive, mine drives at about 167 but 190 is no problem, good luck and as far is the break parts, easy find, you can find repop and original. good luck and let us know what else you need, Be sure to get the bibles by Les Andrews books and you will be good to go!
 
I don't do a lot of down shifting, but if you do, you'll find that you have to rev the engine more than you'd think while double clutching, or you'll be grinding gears.
 
Bill Wick said:
Hi all, My 28 roadster hand brake does nto click and lock, where can I lookto begin to search out the problem?

tha other thing, Im not sure she is not getting too hot.
can any one tell me the avg operating temp? I used a digital thermometer and it seemed to be around 190 degrees....

thanks...Bill W.
Click to expand...

I have found that my Model A's decelerate pretty quickly just stepping off of the gas in 3rd. I don't double clutch any shifts, but I don't rush them either. They don't seem to snag when I shift, so I figure it's OK. I can downshift from 3rd to 2nd, but only if I'm going about 10-15 mph.
I have a Motometer on my radiator and I never see it go up very much, even when it's 100+ outside, but I have no concept of the actual temperature.
There are various online resources for Model A parts. Brattons, Snyders, Piranios, and a few others I'm sure. You should be able to get whatever you need for your parking brake through one of them.
 
When down shifting, is it possible to double clutch to get it to synchronize or is it always going to grind gears? Maybe I am doing something wrong...?
 
Model A Fan said:
When down shifting, is it possible to double clutch to get it to synchronize or is it always going to grind gears? Maybe I am doing something wrong...?
Click to expand...

Let off the gas and let the engine pull the car down to about 15 to 20, then shift to neutral, let the clutch out, rev the engine (more than you'd think), then push the clutch in and quickly shift down to second. If you matched the engine speed to the second gear speed while revving in neutral, then quickly enough shifted to second, you'll not grind gears.

It takes a lot of practice, and I usually just let the engine brake the car to about 10 then use the brakes if I'm comming to a complete stop.
 
Welcome to the Family!!!

I would get the Les Andrews Vol 1 book, not perfect (but who is) but a wealth of information that will help.
 
To answer your first question, at the base of the hand brake lever is a pawl. The pawl engages a rack of teeth. The pawl is connect to the button or lever, depending on which style lever you have, via a rod. There is a spring which holds the pawl in engagment with the teeth, and the teeth are ramped to allow you to just pull back on the lever and they'll ratchet over the teeth, but not allow the pawl to go in the other direction. If you cannot hear the ratcheting, check at the bottom of the lever to see if you have the pawl, or to see if the spring is broken. One other possibility is there is some rust holding the pawl mechanism in the released position.
 
Hi Bill, Where do you live? Check with the national clubs for a local club and join up. You will have plenty of help with your car.
 
Sounds like I have some drive time to do before Ill learn to handle her.
I will look to the Pawl on the next warm day.
thanks to all
I am in Mechanicsville Va.
 
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