Safety Check-Up
By Tommy Supak
Being relatively new to the hobby of driving a Model T, there are a few things I have found that have helped me prepare my car for touring. This is information I have gathered from seasoned mechanics and veteran Model T drivers. This list is by no means a complete list, but just some obvious areas of concern to help insure you of a safe trip and preventable breakdowns.
Our little guy to the right didn't heed this advice and look what happened to him. In fact, if you "hover" your mouse over him, he has a message for you.
WHEELS
- Tires are in good condition and do not show signs of excessive wear.
- Tires do not have dry rot.
- Tires are properly inflated.
- Wooden spokes on wheels are tight and sound and have no cracks.
- The wheel nut is tightened properly and the cotter pin is in place.
BRAKES
- Brakes are capable of stopping car and holding it on an incline.
- The hand brake holds in place.
- The brake handle holds in a locked position.
WHEEL BEARINGS
- Clean and grease the wheel bearings.
- Tighten the wheel bearings properly.
- Be sure not to over grease the rear wheel bearings.
FRONT END SUSPENSION
- Check the condition of the springs.
- Make sure there are no broken leaves.
- Check to make sure the spring shackles and bushings are in good condition.
- Check the condition of the radius rod ball.
- Check condition of the steering linkage.
ENGINE
- There should be no knocking sound.
- An excessive amount of oil should not be used.
- There should be good babbitt.
- The engine and chassis are lubricated properly.
GAS TANK AND FUEL SYSTEM
- There is no excessive amount of rust sediment in gas tank.
- There are no gasoline leaks.
- The cut off valve works.
MISC
- The transmission bands and drums are adjusted properly and show no signs of excessive wear.
- Universal joint is ok and properly greased.
- All bolts and nuts are properly tightened and secured with cotter pins.
- The radiator is capable of cooling the engine.
- The fan blade is in good condition and has no cracks.
These are just a few areas of attention that can help make your trip more enjoyable while not having to worry about any preventable incident.
Remember, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
Contact Texas Touring Ts