chain driven starter

J

jhawk

Member
I am going on 84 and I am getting tired of cranking my "15" , but don't want to give her up, so would someone out there direct me to some good info on chain driven starters??? PLEASE ! Again I thank ALL you guys with all your knowledge in advance, you are great!!!!!! Or if there is another answere to this please share it. Thanks again!! jim:o
 
You could have someone install a ring gear on your flywheel and use a later hogshead that will accept a starter. That way you could keep your original engine. Might be the easier and most cost effective way to go. John
 
Back in the day there was a Gray Davis (spelling) it was chain driven off the front of the motor. It also was a generator that would keep a battery charged.
I have one that I'm saving for the same reason.
I did put a stock Model T system on my Dads 1912 Touring when he was 82 and it let him drive his car until he was 95.
You do have to pull everything apart to do it, but it would be cheaper and easier to get parts for.
 
I was thinking ring gear and hogs head then I ran across a thread dated 12-3 2014 from "oldmotorsguy" ( "Adding a starter to a non-starter equipped T ") ,if you read that you may see why I want to check out other options, thank you all and please keep thethoughts coming ! jim
 
jim to Dodge.. Do you have any Info On this "Gary Davis " chain drive you could share? Hope you do!! jim
 
Jim, Here is a link to an instruction book for sale. There are several pages shown - it sure looks like a regular T starter would be easier to install & keep working. I did that on my 14 after I could not crank it any more. I used a later hogs head with the correct pedal pads welded on to the later levers. Painted aluminum color, it looked pretty original. A battery lasts a long time even without a generator.

https://www.amazon.com/Ford-Model-Starter-Lighting-Brochure/dp/B00QPSXCVU?tag=atomicindus08-20

Jack
 
jack, All you guys are the greatest!!!!! Thank you so very much for all your trouble, to get all the help you guys give and from such a wide area!! Here Im setting in a small town in Kansas,and have the only T here,it is almost unreal, and those turds in Washington DC ,with all their money and power cant figure out how to get things done , or even get along with each other!!! Thanks again guys!! Like I said your THE GREATEST! jim
 
My Father had one of these "aftermarket" chain drive starter/generators on a late teens touring car. He took it off because the chain and gears where pretty well worm out. I believe he still has it. I know I run across a thick wiring loom with many wires attached to the dash up in his attic a few weeks ago. It must have been some set-up. I would have loved seeing it working on a car.
 
I asked my father about the chain drive starter. He says he still has it, somewhere. I found only the wiring and the control panel that went inside the car. He thought it was a Jack and Heitz or something as such. He also stated the gears where good but the chain was wore out.
 
Hammer, I have no idea what these sell for, but should your Dad decide to let go of it please let me know the price he would accept for it plus shipping, Ihave no idea how far apart we are , my zip is 67420 I would like to have it if I can afford it. Hope to hear back from you. Thank you and your Dad for all your time and trouble I have caused You .Wish I could buy you and your Dad a cup of coffee and just sit and shoot the breeze for a while,I think that would be good. jim
 
I'll see if he or I can find it. I won't be home for a day or so. I'll try and post a picture of the controls. I'll look around for the rest of it also.
 
I found the brochure/instruction book. It must have gotten some water on it, but it is still readable. I am not good on scanning on the computer.
But if you want you can PM me with your address. I'll send it you can go thru it and send it back.
I may also think about selling my unit.

Dodge
 
Here is a photo of the dash control for the starter/generator Dad removed from one of his T's years ago. The unit is marked on the dial "Heinz and Springfield". I have not been able to come up with the rest of this unit. With Dad being 86 he has accumulated much. I'll keep you posted.
 

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Hey GuYs! Thank you for ALL your input, It all helped , it seems that the only people that have these "starters" have pulled them off of their cars ,there must be a reason they are pulled. I guess I will just keep on cranking till I cant any more. Like my wife of 63 years told me ,maybe my 'T" is telling me something I should already know. Anyway , thanks again guys! jim
 
Here i was considering making a chain starter because i can't get replacement factory ones.
Have seen one with a chain start, it doesn't look that hard to make one. Just the ratchet is difficult. The reason people replaced them for factory ones is 100 years later the availability of parts is in a different ratio, and the weight.
 
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