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Hi! I'd like to use this column to chat about Model
"T" mechanical topics.
There are lots of areas, to discuss... Some may be a little controversial
and you may not agree with my ideas. That's ok! I'd really like to hear YOUR
opinion about anything we talk about here. Let me
know if you think it's helpful OR let me know if you absolutely think I'm
running on an empty gas tank. I'll be happy to include your comments,
agreeing or disagreeing, in later articles.
Some areas I thought might be interesting are
modern band materials, coils versus distributors, 12 volt batteries versus 6
volt batteries and how to change to 12 volts if we decide we want to use
one. Modern lubricants in our T's,. There are lots of areas we can talk
about! If there's one you would like discussed, just let me know and we'll
try and dig up something on it.
Let's get started by talking about those @$%*&#$ bands we all have
buried under that aluminum or cast iron "hogs head". Changing the
bands is NOT a job that
anyone looks forward to doing! So, when we do replace them, we'd like to use
something that will last as long as possible!
When Henry's pride and joy was regular transportation, the bands were woven
cotton with wooden bands becoming available in the twenties. Some folks
managed to get 5000 miles out of a set of cotton bands while others could
bum them up in one trip to town! The secret was all in how you used the
pedals. Even with the modem materials now available, that's still true.
We'll talk more about that but first let's see what's available for our cars
now.
In recent years, folks have tried the molded band
material from modem automatic transmissions but most found that, while they
lasted well, they were not smooth and had a tendency to grab. Bands that
grab are hard on the drive train and our driving enjoyment!
Recently, I've seen ads for wooden bands again. Wooden Bands?? Yep. And they
apparently work surprisingly well. They give pretty good service and after
they wear in, they are reasonably smooth. They are a little more difficult
to install then woven bands because they are not as flexible. They should be
soaked in oil before installation and it's best to remove the transmission
cover to install them so you don't deform the steel band. They should be
adjusted VERY loosely until run a hundred miles or so and then re-adjusted
where you like them. They will then hold that adjustment pretty well.
The newest development in band material is the
KEVLAR band. That's right! The same thing they use to make bullet proof
vests! Kevlar bands are offered by several companies. I've used several sets
made by the folks in Colorado and have been very pleased with them. They
install just like the cotton bands. I suggest installing loosely and running
for a few miles to let them settle in. Then adjust them as you like them and
get ready for a pleasant surprise! They're smooth AND they will run a LOT of
miles before they need adjusting again. I have a set on my 1912 T that have
been used through the Glidden tour and a week long tour in the Blue Ridge
mountains. They have about 4000 miles on them and they still look new and
have not needed adjusting!
Regardless of the band material, you determine how
long they will last by how you use those pedals! Reverse is not usually a
problem since it gets very little use. In fact, we can use reverse to help
make the brake last longer. The enemy is HEAT and we want to let cool oil
get to the bands to cool them! When you use the brake, don't hold it down
like a modem car. Press for a few seconds then release a second or two. The
press again continuing the pumping action. Or, better still... alternate
between the brake and the reverse pedal to allow the bands to cool. Even
with modem materials, we still control how long our bands will last. A
little "foot work" pays off
See you down the road...
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