JOE MAKES SENSE !!

Posted by Tim Wildey on May 05, 1998 at 08:38:46

In Reply to: Re: Replacing grease fittings and other modifications
posted by Joe on May 04, 1998 at 08:21:21

Joe,

YOUR SURE HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD !!

I TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOUR STATEMENT.

TIM


:: See my discussion thread of zerk versus alemite fittings on or around April 9 on this board.Also some comments from Carla as well for methods to use to "unstopper" grease fittings that have gotten "stopped up".

: The zerk type fittings are definitely a technical improvement over the alemite fittings.For those cases on the Model A where you have existing threads or meat enough to tap in a new zerk fitting, they will definitely work better than the original alemite grease fittings.

: However, in those grease locations where there is currently a "press in alemite fitting", the "press in type zerk" will probably not work too well for reasons I cover on April 9.

: Carla covers some "enthusiastic" methods for getting grease into reluctant alemite and/or zerk fittings.I have no doubt her method will work but I might try something a little less extreme first.

: I might suggest instead that some selective disassembly of your lubricated part might be in order before you modify your car or take a gun to it.If, as you say, you're having problems getting grease into certain lubricated fitting, you may want to inspect the bearing(s) since they have likely not been lubricated properly for some time.

: As to modifying your car to take threaded fittings at certain locations.I might advise against it for several reasons.

: While I'm not a purist, as an occasional weekend driver of the Model A Ford, I have learned that some of the many "inconveniences" of the Model A are what lend the automobile it's charm.I love to pull into a "Full Service" Gasoline Station and ask the teen-aged attendent to fill her up.After his initial confusion as to where to put the gas, I then complete the thrill by showing him where the gas tank is located and how it is filled.

: If we turn around and engineer or eliminate these differences away in the interest of "driveability" or "convenience" then we may as well just purchase a modern reproduction of the same car that looks externally like a Model A.The Shay "A" was marketed to this crowd.It was made for those who wanted a "unique" car without the "problems" associated with it.

: Now each of us confronts the same question: how much tinkering with the original car and it's engineering do we want to do.Each of us comes up with our own answer.

: Charlie Yapp and his "Secrets of Speed" bunch have one answer.While I enjoy seeing descriptions of their projects and admire from a distance their efforts at "pushing the Model A technical envelope" I would never do to my car what they do to theirs.But I appreciate it nevertheless.

: I myself have previously modified certain grease fittings and then kicked myself afterwards because once modified, they don't lend themselves to be restored easily back to original.Along these lines I also relented to installing those hydraulic brakes I had been working on for the same reason.
:
: This goes to my current personal objective: to restore the car to as nearly as original as possible within the constraints of my budget and available parts resources.Your objective may be different.Hopefully, your objective won't change in mid stream as mine did.

: Also, while considering a decision to modify the car, don't forget that future generations will most likely want to undo what you have done.We have something of a responsibility to keep the car as it was passed along to us.The current politically correct statement "We don't inherit the world from our fathers, we are guardians of the world for our children" applies to the Model A as well.

: Enough soap box.Just give your modifications some serious thought first...

: Best regards,
: Joe




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