Gauges??

L

LSJUNIPER

Senior Member
What are the three middle gauges for. Just brought the 1928 modal A home last week...so this is all new to me?? besides the miles on the car and the trip setting the rest is a mystery to me...see pic
Is the middle one a choke?

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The middle one (right beside the key) should be for your dash light. The 30-31's have them bolted under the dash rail but the 28-29's had them in the instrument cluster.

I think your is supposed to light up when turned or maybe pushed in? (I have a 31 so I'm not that familiar with the earlier ones)
 
The one in the middle is a dash light. Push it in and turn it for light. Choke is on a rod under the gas tank on the passenger side. Frank
 
LSJUNIPER said:
What are the three middle gauges for. Just brought the 1928 modal A home last week...so this is all new to me?? besides the miles on the car and the trip setting the rest is a mystery to me...see pic
Is the middle one a choke?

View attachment 192158
Click to expand...

I think you would enjoy purchasing a 'Instruction Book' (...basically the same as the owners manual you receive with the purchase of a new vehicle) from one of the many Model-A parts vendors. There is so much information in that booklet that you really need to know as a new owner.

BTW, welcome to the 'A' hobby!!
 
Welcome. My first advice to a new to Model A guy is, go slowly. Don't start replacing original stuff with repro stuff just because you want more glitter. Don't throw any original parts away. You need a cover for your dashlight. Contact Bert's in Denver for an original; the repros don't fit and don't work, either. Take some time to get acquainted with your car, and read a lot before you attempt to fix anything. Come back here with questions. We're here to help and there is a ton of free experience and assistance you can't even pay for anywhere else.
 
Looks to me that your dash light has the cover missing. The base appears to be there, but there should be a light bulb with a cover over it. Then your dash would appear to be complete. If I can figure out how to send a picture, I will do so.
 
If you are going to restore the car be sure to keep your original instrument panel and have it nickel plated. The repro panel is chrome which doesn't look right, and the bottom screw holes are in the wrong location.

I'd bet Bert's has an original cover for the light. 800-321-1931
 
Actually they have improved the instrument panel, making it to the Ford blueprints and offering it in nickel. Saw that at SEMA last year.
 
Couple of thoughts on the Instruction Manual. It is about 52 pages and a reproduction sells for probably less than $10 from any of the suppliers. The one for my modern car is about 600 pages of small print and I hate to think of what it sells for. The Instruction Manual for the Model A evolved as the car changed during production so try to get one close to the date of your car. There are ads for original ones in the "For Sale" section if you are interested.

Charlie Stephens
 
Also consider buying Les Andrews books. There are 3 . For Me they are the great for either repairs or showing how the Model A's work !!!
 
Also order catalogs from Bratton's and Snyder's. The Bratton catalog had diagrams of many of the Model A systems, that give you good information. The best part is that they are free of charge. There are a number of suppliers out there for the Model A and they're generally quite helpful. Enjoy your new acquisition.
 
New to Model A's

Very popular basic library of some mentioned above and as follows:

Instruction manual, Model A

Les Andrews mechanics books: Volume I and Volume II.
Les Andrews: Troubleshooting and Diagnostics

One of the several restoration guides is handy to not make purchase mistakes.

Join a local Model A Club.

Join a national Model A Club.

Of course this Ford-Barn is extremely valuable and the people are great.

The more you learn, the more you will appreciate Model A's and be hooked.

Original parts are usually what you want as some reproduction parts are sub standard quality or fit of which people find out fast. Research first. DD
 
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