New member with "new" 1922 Model T

Hopefully last question before my manual will arrive.
How do you check motor oil?
I see fill hole in front of generator, but no dipstick?
I have small drip from front seal, what indicate oil in it.
 
There are 2 brass petcocks towards the rear of the crankcase on the carburetor side of the engine - oil level is midway between the 2 BUT it ALWAYS needs to come out of the bottom one ! Make sure they are both "clear" with a piece of wire.
 
stevests said:
There are 2 brass petcocks towards the rear of the crankcase on the carburetor side of the engine - oil level is midway between the 2 BUT it ALWAYS needs to come out of the bottom one ! Make sure they are both "clear" with a piece of wire.
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Thanks. Took me a while to look under the car to find them.
Looks like my model is upgraded as I have sight glass for quick check.
 
Don't trust the sight glass. Glass could break causing you to lose oil or tubing on sight glass could get plugged with band lint and give you false reading. I lost the front rod bearing once due to false reading on sight glass.
 
Nice car! Love to see those early ones. So weird that you found it on copart! Did you search for it or just come across it randomly?
 
ChuckGalaga said:
Nice car! Love to see those early ones. So weird that you found it on copart! Did you search for it or just come across it randomly?
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I bought boat at this copart yard and walking to the bathroom - the Ford was park in the garage.
I took a picture of it and went with my business, but kept an eye on it for about a month, when the auction after auction it did not sell.
Finally on last auction I was the highest bidder, still way low below reserve, but a day after we negotiated with the seller and he agreed to my offer.
 
Kajtek1 said:
I bought boat at this copart yard and walking to the bathroom - the Ford was park in the garage.
I took a picture of it and went with my business, but kept an eye on it for about a month, when the auction after auction it did not sell.
Finally on last auction I was the highest bidder, still way low below reserve, but a day after we negotiated with the seller and he agreed to my offer.
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One man’s passion is another man’s poison !
 
455689

What a great 1922 Ford Model T Roadster. You are one lucky man.
 
I like the looks of this 1922 roadster. It looks like mine except that it has a slanted windshield and mine is vertical. I think that this a later 1922 model. Also the previous owner painted mine red with black fenders and it has natural wooden wheels. I like all black better.

Robert
 
Black cars don't work well in Las Vegas.
I had to abound black Mercedes as it was unusable 6 months a year.
Touching door handle could give you burns and then moving gear shifter was another story, even I had cotton towel over vinyl seats.
So Ford T will be designated winter vehicle.
In the mean time my new battery got stuck in Colorado in winter storm, but it made last night to UT, so did my new floor matt in another shipment.
Hopefully will get them both tomorrow.
 
After long wait, the battery and floor mat arrived at the same time.
First blow back. I hook up the battery and it was sparking a bit, even I check the ignition and headlight switches were off.
So put the clamp on and few seconds later the floor mounted starter switch start smoking.
It is end of the day, so I put the battery on charger and left switch checking for tomorrow.
What is recommended tire pressure?
 
Thanks red.
I took old switch out and it looks like newer switch.
Evidently the insulator washers did not do good job and cable end touched the housing, what melted 1/2 of the switch.
I see new switch from modeltford would run me well over $30 and finding cheaper 6V relay, I am thinking about changing it to relay with dashboard mounted push switch.
Not matching the original, but updated system.
What you guys say? Shall I try to keep it original?
 
For now, I jumped the switch.
Drained about a cup of old gas from carburetor bowl, I noticed about a tablespoon of water in it, check oil level and crank it.
Ignition lever at 1/4 and throttle at 1/3 per manual I have.
Gave it total about 2 minutes of cranking and the engine will not fire. It seems to crank faster after a while, what I think indicate oil getting to upper part.
Pulled the spark plug and it shows black, but good otherwise.
Now I am recharging the battery for spark test.
Can I use ether for start? Looks like there in no air filter, just intake shrouds wrapped around the exhaust?
 
IT IS ALIVE
After testing the plug for nice spark, I start playing with timing lever and the engine fired up. Seems it runs the best with timing lever all the way down, what is inconvenient for driver.
Also gears operate differently than manual says.
When I let the hand brake go, nothing happens. When I push left pedal forward, it seems to get into high speed. Could that be 2nd gear?
The same with reverse, when I push the pedal it gets into pretty high speed, what with lack of mirrors can get scary.
I drove it on my yard only as with jump cable for starter it is not safe to take it to the street, but once I get the switch in order >>> LAS VEGAS HERE I COME.
 
Kajtek1 said:
I bought boat at this copart yard and walking to the bathroom - the Ford was park in the garage.
I took a picture of it and went with my business, but kept an eye on it for about a month, when the auction after auction it did not sell.
Finally on last auction I was the highest bidder, still way low below reserve, but a day after we negotiated with the seller and he agreed to my offer.
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Haha...that's a cool story. Glad someone who could appreciate it got it! Congrats on getting it running.
 
How you're describing the transmission and timing, don't kill anyone. While learning to drive it keep the handbrake lever in the neutral position until you learn the pedals. The handbrake lever filly forward and all pedals up is high gear.
 
When you release the hand brake, yes that is high. Yes it can get scary, in reverse if going to fast and real easy to loose control. Reverse should be with the engine at a slow speed, does not matter how many years you have been driving. That steering wheel can get pulled out of your hands real fast. That is the nature of a Model T steering geometry.

The timing on your T does not sound right. Starting on battery or hand cranking, the lever should be all the way up. I think it needs to be timed correctly. google "mtfca timing"
 
Took it for couple loops around the block and it drives good.
I think I have bend wheel as it was wobbling, but I don't plan to drive it on freeways.
Ignition switch has bad contact on magneto side.
Lights work, but when ammeter shows discharge with lights, it is not showing charge. In tool box I found old VR in box labeled "electronic VR" so looks like PO was dealing with it before.
Ceramic coat on paint and 303 on tires and softtop.
Sure turned few heads and had cameras flashing.
 
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