Mitchell Overdrive - Shift Lever Knob - Ruckstell?

DougVieyra

DougVieyra

Well-known member
I have a Mitchell Overdrive with shift lever. For a visual connecting link to the past, I thought I might remove my existing knob on the shift lever, and replace it with the knob made for the Ruckstell shift lever. With Ruckstell being a highly recognized over-drive unit for the Model T, and with it's shift lever knob highlighted with the highly visible word "RUCKSTELL" across the top of the knob, I thought it might look more historically correct.

Snyder's sells the RUCKSTELL shift knob ($5) but I am wondering if the threaded female hole of the knob would screw right onto the Mitchell shift lever.
Has anyone who has a Mitchell O.D. tried this - or does anyone know if the RUCKSTELL knob would fit the Mitchell shift lever?

I know that if it does not, I can do all sorts of things to MAKE it work, but I was hoping to avoid any unnecessary hassle, by having it just screw on without any additional hassle.
 
1931 flamingo said:
For 5$ I'd just order it and worry after I got it. JMO
Paul in CT
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agreed for the price ya cant go wrong..., if it comes down to it make/buy/have made a threaded adapter out of aluminum or brass. wouldnt take a machine shop much time at all if you give them the length, and id/od threads.
 
SeaSlugs said:
agreed for the price ya cant go wrong..., if it comes down to it make/buy/have made a threaded adapter out of aluminum or brass. wouldnt take a machine shop much time at all if you give them the length, and id/od threads.
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The thread on the Mitchell stick is 5/8 X 24. I don't know about the Ruckstell knob.
I wouldn't be surprised if Doug has a suitable tap and die to do the job - only a few minutes on the lathe.
 
I thought I could give you the answer, went out to the garage and tried to remove the knob from my T Ford Ruckstell but it would not budge. (not sure if it's threaded or bonded).
As Paul and Seaslug have said just buy one and modify if it does not fit.
I would just drill out the incorrect size thread and JB weld an appropriate sized nut back in. The only tool required for the job is a drill.
 
RUNNERBUN said:
I thought I could give you the answer, went out to the garage and tried to remove the knob from my T Ford Ruckstell but it would not budge. (not sure if it's threaded or bonded).
As Paul and Seaslug have said just buy one and modify if it does not fit.
I would just drill out the incorrect size thread and JB weld an appropriate sized nut back in. The only tool required for the job is a drill.
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yea that works too- or if you want more engagement use a threaded rod coupler then cut off the excess(or lathe it off)

JB weld is magical stuff
 
I bought a Ruckstell knob and it screwed right on my Mitchell lever.

I have had many (non Model A) people comment on having a Ruckstell rear end in my car. I just smile and say thanks.:):):)

Chris W
 
CWPasadena, Post #7:
"I bought a Ruckstell knob and it screwed right on my Mitchell lever."
______________________________

THANK YOU ! ! !
C.W. - That is just the answer I was looking/hoping for. :):):)
 
IIRC, the thread on a Ruckstell knob is 3/8-24, if the thread on a Mitchell shift rod is 5/8 X 24 as Synchro909 said, it ain't gonna be a direct fit.
 
My Mitchell stick is 1/2 " rod and the end is turned down to 3/8" x 24 thread. All my friends' are the same size I don't think they were ever 5/8" thread.
 
Here is what I did to my Mitchell stick.

I took an old shifter stick and cut the hell out of it. About 9 inches worth. It threads onto a stub I made that goes into the cross shaft bracket that you get with the overdrive and is kept from turning by a set screw below the "bell"on the firewall side(front) so I can adjust the angle of the stick side to side for comfort. Only drawback is that it makes it kind of a pain to pop the floorboard...oh well,I didn't want to cut the floor mat. The things one does to get "the look"!

I seem to void the warranty immediately upon opening the box on just about everything I buy. I will post some photos of the overdrive, torque tube and linkages at a later date. I voided the warranty on all that stuff too.

Marc
 

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marc silva said:
Here is what I did to my Mitchell stick.

I seem to void the warranty immediately upon opening the box on just about everything I buy. I will post some photos of the overdrive, torque tube and linkages at a later date. I voided the warranty on all that stuff too.

Marc
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That is part of the fun of these cars. You can do things a little differently, sort of make your Model A the way you want it.

I changed several things on my car. If the next owner does not like how I did something, he can re do it to suite him.

Chris W.
 
That article refers to a refers to a Ruckstell transmission for a Model A not a Model T. The Model T Ruckstell is an under------REALLY
 
I put the AA knob on my shifter. The threads are bigger, so I inserted a helicoil that made it the correct size. This was on my regular ******, not on a Mitchell.
 
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