H. L. Chauvin
Well-known member
FWIW:
A. Never heard of anyone on Forums having a K. R. Wilson shock absorbing adjusting tool made for Ford in 1931, & never saw this tool offered by vendors. Appears it would take the guess work out of "balancing" shock absorber resistance from left to right & front to back on the four (4) Model A corners.
B. In any case in thinking of making a tool like this to adjust original shocks, I thought about recording the following information as shown below.
C. Any & all corrections to information below is most certainly welcomed.
1. In the book, "Model A Ford Service Bulletins, Complete", on the February 1931 Bulletin page 538, (book page 263), Figures 1099 & 1100 show photographs of a K.R. Wilson Tool, used to test Model A Front & Rear shock absorber strengths & adjustments for winter & summer temperatures.
2. Instructions include to install the shock tool, raise shock arm as high as it will go, & allow the tool to fall downward as low as the shock arm will descend & record the number of seconds it takes to fall from the high to the low shock arm position.
3. For both Front & Rear shocks, indicated shock times indicated are 15-1/2 seconds for summer temperatures & 58 seconds for winter temperatures with approximately 23 degrees of travel.
4. Made enlarged copies of both Figures & estimated scaled dimensions of this photographed tool as compared to the known diameter of the indicated front brake drum. All lengths estimated below are taken from centerlines of the tools individual arms at different linear angles.
5. In looking at Figure 1099, (Front Shock), from Point A centerline of the round Front Shock moving towards the front bumper, to a Point B centerline of first joint measures approximately 7-5/8" & this first bend is at approximately 120 degrees forward & downward.
6. From said Point B to the subsequent Point C centerline of the second joint measures approximately 10-3/4" & this second bend is at approximately 124 degrees; hence, it points 4 degrees more downward than the near horizontal tool part attached to the shock arm.
7. From Point C to the center far end of the indicated metal weight measures approximately 11-7/8".
8. The side elevation of the weight measures approximately 3" x 3", & judging from the foreshortened perspective of the thickness of the weight when compared to the foreshortened perspective of the "width" of the brake drum perimeter, this weight appears to be approximately 1" thick.
9. If this weight is 1" thick, is 3" x 3", & has a volume of (9) cubic inches, which if made of steel it should weigh approximately (2-1/2) pounds using a nominal steel density of approximately 480 lbs./cu. ft.
10. Appears that this tool would not be too difficult to make & it could be attached to & become an integral part of an old shock arm.
P.S.:
(I) In a straight line from the center of shock, Point A, to the center of the approximately 3" x 3" metal weight, this dimension scales approximately 24-7/16"; & again in a straight line, from Point A to the center far forward end of the 3' x 3" weight beyond the front bumper, this dimensions scales approximately 27".
(II) With such a wide range of time specified in seconds between winter & summer temperatures, appears as a minimum, a tool like this could at least better "balance" the transverse & diagonal Model A bounce effect on our less maintained "Farm to Market Roads", especially with the side to side rocking front & rear Model A spring arrangement.
A. Never heard of anyone on Forums having a K. R. Wilson shock absorbing adjusting tool made for Ford in 1931, & never saw this tool offered by vendors. Appears it would take the guess work out of "balancing" shock absorber resistance from left to right & front to back on the four (4) Model A corners.
B. In any case in thinking of making a tool like this to adjust original shocks, I thought about recording the following information as shown below.
C. Any & all corrections to information below is most certainly welcomed.
1. In the book, "Model A Ford Service Bulletins, Complete", on the February 1931 Bulletin page 538, (book page 263), Figures 1099 & 1100 show photographs of a K.R. Wilson Tool, used to test Model A Front & Rear shock absorber strengths & adjustments for winter & summer temperatures.
2. Instructions include to install the shock tool, raise shock arm as high as it will go, & allow the tool to fall downward as low as the shock arm will descend & record the number of seconds it takes to fall from the high to the low shock arm position.
3. For both Front & Rear shocks, indicated shock times indicated are 15-1/2 seconds for summer temperatures & 58 seconds for winter temperatures with approximately 23 degrees of travel.
4. Made enlarged copies of both Figures & estimated scaled dimensions of this photographed tool as compared to the known diameter of the indicated front brake drum. All lengths estimated below are taken from centerlines of the tools individual arms at different linear angles.
5. In looking at Figure 1099, (Front Shock), from Point A centerline of the round Front Shock moving towards the front bumper, to a Point B centerline of first joint measures approximately 7-5/8" & this first bend is at approximately 120 degrees forward & downward.
6. From said Point B to the subsequent Point C centerline of the second joint measures approximately 10-3/4" & this second bend is at approximately 124 degrees; hence, it points 4 degrees more downward than the near horizontal tool part attached to the shock arm.
7. From Point C to the center far end of the indicated metal weight measures approximately 11-7/8".
8. The side elevation of the weight measures approximately 3" x 3", & judging from the foreshortened perspective of the thickness of the weight when compared to the foreshortened perspective of the "width" of the brake drum perimeter, this weight appears to be approximately 1" thick.
9. If this weight is 1" thick, is 3" x 3", & has a volume of (9) cubic inches, which if made of steel it should weigh approximately (2-1/2) pounds using a nominal steel density of approximately 480 lbs./cu. ft.
10. Appears that this tool would not be too difficult to make & it could be attached to & become an integral part of an old shock arm.
P.S.:
(I) In a straight line from the center of shock, Point A, to the center of the approximately 3" x 3" metal weight, this dimension scales approximately 24-7/16"; & again in a straight line, from Point A to the center far forward end of the 3' x 3" weight beyond the front bumper, this dimensions scales approximately 27".
(II) With such a wide range of time specified in seconds between winter & summer temperatures, appears as a minimum, a tool like this could at least better "balance" the transverse & diagonal Model A bounce effect on our less maintained "Farm to Market Roads", especially with the side to side rocking front & rear Model A spring arrangement.
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