Radius Rod Socket

As long as we're drawing up a "Wish List" for things we would like the Model A to have incorporated, let's add a hinged or bolted trap door on the bottom of the flywheel housing to retrieve broken starter drive bolts. With one there and one under the bellhousing, think how much easier and less frustrating chasing after broken bolts would have been for millions of owners and restorers in the last 85 years! :)
Marshall
 
I'm glad you started this thread Robert. I've learned from your anguish. Today I did just the job you described (i.e. replacement radius ball kit install) and took special pains to avoid losing the old bolts. I used long tie wraps to grab the head/shoulder of the old bolts (as in a "closed noose") and a magnet stick to maneuver them out without dropping them into the bowels of the housing. Then I used safety wire to create an "open noose" under the shoulder of the new bolts so that I could get them in without losing them in the same fashion. It worked like a charm. Glad you were able to sort your situation out. Cheers!
 
Well yesterday I finally got everything buttoned up and took the car for a spin on one of those damaged roads. I haven't rechecked the caster yet or adjusted the toe-in which is at 1/4 inch (hope to do both next weekend). I'm really happy now, the improvement was quite noticeable and well worth the effort. That old radius rod kit was really poorly made, thinner metal, slightly smaller diameter metric bolts and much lighter springs.
Thanks again to all of you, Robert
 
Several months ago I posted a fail safe method of removing bolts from the bottom of the bell housing. Remove the starter, attach a rubber hose to a portable vacumn cleaner , insert the rubber hose into the housing and switch on the vacumn cleaner. Tha bolt will be sucked up into the cleaner.Works a treat. I posted a video on you tube.
 
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