Thank you for this. While I've always had great pride in my well-practiced smooth shifting, I see that you are a master at it. I don't have a Model A but I plan to buy one, and I'm glad that watched your video here. I know how to double-clutch but I didn't know about getting the Model A into second gear so quickly, or waiting for the idle to come down for getting it into third. Many thanks sir.
Great video. Spent many a year on these old dog boxes, and the secret really is to be gentle but also smooth an direct. A slow shift will tend to grind more than a quick smooth one. Matching revs isn't really necessary when shifting up but when shifting down it's not critical to get it 100% correct if you get the movement down. Fast, hard shifts will just make the gears bounce off one-another. Again, great video!
My grandfather had a Model A for years. I have a picture of him with it from 1936 and I have seen pics of the car from after WWII. I know one of my uncles inherited it and he is maybe 70 years old so you are talking probably into the 1950's or so. I don't know what ever became of it (it was the four door sedan) but I don't see any of the new cars with that type of longevity. Now it is all you can do to get a modern car to give you ten years of service without any major headaches. Someday I would like a Model A pick up, I have a 74 F-100 right now and that thing is more reliable than anything made now I think. Simply get in and drive. But boy would I like to take that Model A for a spin. I learned stick shift when I was 12 and it was on trucks. I used to like watching my grandfather and his 64 Willys Jeep go through gears. Shifting that Model A reminds me of how you would shift a truck versus trying to speed shift like its a muscle car. Slow and easy without trying to ram the gear shift through the firewall.
I drove my first 1930 tudor from Flint Mic. to Green Bay Wisc. in 1972 and sometimes to work and back so I know a little about these cars. I drive them just like you do---there is a lot of low end torque in second gear. Thanks for showing the correct way instead of those who insist on the double clutch nonsense. It is not needed- not at all if you truly know how to drive a Model A.
I own a 1930 Model A Ford rumble seat coupe. I traded a motor scooter for it in 1964. It was my everyday driver while stationed at Vandenberg Air Force Base California. Two of my Air Force buddies also owned Model A Fords. We all were near our enlistment's end. We had the Lompoc High School Metal Shop make three sets of tow bars. We took the front bumper off one Model A Ford for the teacher to take measurements. We left Vandenberg Air Force Base March 6, 1966. We got on route 66 at Barstow California. The guys had me lead our wagon train. Because my 1948 Ford truck had a homemade camper built by me less than a month before we left. They could see the camper above traffic. Water cost more than gas going across the desert. I had two 5 gallon jerry water cans on my truck's running boards. Two more on my Model A's running boards. It was 112 + degrees. We gassed up. I remember a sign the said; 300 miles of desert ahead. Nothing, not a mail box. no one but us and the road. We did see on coming cars and trucks once and awhile. It was to hot for most people to be on the road. We were running low on water when we got to the Painted Desert Trading Post Arizona. They gave us all the water we needed free. :-) Because they dug a new well and were letting the water run until clear. They used a wind mill to generate power. The rest of the trip was easy after we got away from the deserts. I still have and drive my Model A Ford. I got new tires and a muffler in 1964. My tires look almost new. But I need a new muffler. It gave up the ghost after 56 years. The reason a Model A Ford has a foot rest; Because The Model A was Ford's first car that had a foot throttle. They didn't how stiff the return spring should be. Everyone's foot weight is different. The foot rocking idea did the trick. Thanks; Gary A. Strelow
I've always double clutched every shift with mine, up and down, but apparently it's not really necessary. I once read in a very old book about how to drive them, and it described shifting exactly like you do. Very nice video, makes me want to get mine running again!
I rode in a model a several times but never drove one. I didn't know it didn't have synchronizers. So you basicly shift it like I would a 18 wheeler by " floating" it into gear. That's what you do driving a big truck is slip into the next gear when the engine and trans get even together. Good info and thanks !
Nice video, nice car, excellent drive my friend! I'd love to own a car like this and drive smoothly as you do! I own a '66 "Seat 1500" (spanish version of the Fiat model), a rusty '65 Citroen AZU and my daily driving car a '79 Citroen Dyane, awesome cars for me, maybe they don't need to be so careful to drive as the model A needs, bud they also need to feel them to drive them properly, if i let someone drive them, they just drive them badly used to very new cars which nearly drive by themselves, i think that just isn't nice... Driving classic cars has something very special, i think that people that REALLY love to drive have to love all this tricks, the feeling of the engine, gearbox, clutch... That really is driving! Thank you so much for your video! Greetings from Catalonia!
Actually this technique works in every manual transmission car with a note that engines of today are not always happy with lots of gas at rpms close to idle. Double clutching will save your synchronizers if you downshift a lot.
One more thing I found in shifting my coupe. It's fine to pause in neutral while upshifting on level ground. But going up any kind of a hill, you need all the momentum you can get. If you pause in neutral, you may be back to second pretty quick, depending on the steepness of the hill. Also, it sounds like you should get rid of the rivetted brake linings.
Sounds a little noisy in second, just like mine but some good advice there on shifting to neutral before high. Never heard of that before. The downshifting is the tricky part. I never try it over 20 mph and even then it grinds a little. Best to do the double clutch trick and rev it in neutral first.
This was quite interesting. However, due to the transmission being not a synchronized one, I found that doing a double clutch between gears help. I did find this method very interesting though and will attempt it.
I have a friend that has a 1931 Model A Roadster Deluxe and it looks like oil is spraying from the dipstick area. Is the a rubber insert for the hole opening where the dipstick slides in?
hi jack...I'm new to the model A ....I just acquired a 31 model AA flat bed...the cab roof looks like someone put a make shift roof cover...my question to you is, originally didn't it come with a fabric stretched over wooden ribs???
Is it easier to get a smooth shift by rev matching or double clutching.....or both at same time? We have a 1927 Buick and I am going to drain the Trans this weekend and fill her w a heavier weight fluid to help slow those spinning gears down to help reduce grinding. Right now it’s very difficult to attempt a down shift as well.....
Do you have this car as a daily driver or is it a car you like to drive around when you want to enjoy the day? Like you said, it isn't made for people who are in a hurry.
I really like your video on shifting up through the gears. My mom bought a Model A about a year ago. I can get up through the gears just fine, but when I'm downshifting is when I do all the grinding. I think I'm just trying to do things too quickly, but do you have any suggestions? Thank you!
Jack: I really enjoyed your video, and would like to make a suggestion. Please note where the camera is pointed at time 2:30 and all can be seen when it is there. I believe that would be a great place for making all the video again. Thanks.
Jack, Love all the videos. Without a synchronizer, is there a trick to downshifting or is it just not done in a Model A. All I seem to do is grind the gears. It would be nice to be able to downshift on a grade. Thanks.
+Julie Laughlin Just go easy with the shift lever. No high forces. Don't horse on it. Shift with your fingers and be gentle. If the gears don't match in rotation, don't try to force it. Get a feel for it and it will become easy.
hey jack! I ve got a 1931 Ford A, right hand drive :) I ve got a couple of questions to see if its working right or not! Is it normal that gear grind sounds appear when puting first gear, and when changing from 2 to 3? What´s the use of the left lever in the steering wheel? The right one is for the accelerator... Regards
No, don't grind your gears. Learn to shift correctly. Just take your time. Pause between 2 and 3. It will go right in. Watch my video some more. The left control arm is for the spark control. Up retards the firing and down advances it. That's kind of basic stuff. How do you start your car without knowing that? Have fun with that car. jack
Jack Bahm thanks for the response. The car is my dad's, im just a 17 year old beginning to drive it, the spark control was just an existential question, I wanted to know exactly what it was as we usually put it down while driving, but never put it up when starting. And yes, it makes a small sound when puting first gear(not always) and when puting 3rd, even though we double clutch and take the time. Regards
i like these old cars but where do you get parts for it? where do you find a clean, roadworthy example. i do have toys but they well at least 1 of them is much newer, although still old by today's throwaway standards. i have a 1996 camaro Z28 with the LT1 5.7 V8. i also have a 1948 farmall cub with a 60" belly mower and blade. the strange thing is that if you know how to work on more modern cars, i think dealing with an old car might be a challenge. i know that my tractor is probably somewhat similar to an old car. it has points, condensor, 6V positive ground electrical system with a generator, its a flathead. doing things like re-adjusting valve lash with solid lifters is a dying art, if it isnt already just about gone. modern cars have hydraulic lifters.
You sound perfect for an A. Get one and have fun with it. There are almost 250,000 out there, they are cheap, $5,000-$15,000 will buy you a driver, and parts are cheap from several suppliers. There are two major national clubs, with local clubs all over the place. We have 3 or 4 in the Detroit area. They are very easy to work on and a lot of people to help you.
Great video. I just got a '28 roadster, and I can't get it into second at anything higher than a slow crawl, like barely moving, or it'll grind - I don't dare force it. I've watched all of the driving an A videos, and they are helpful, but all of those cars can get into 2nd at a normal speed. I wish I knew where to start looking.
Don't start taking things apart. Find someone who knows Model A's and let him drive it. If you can't do that, check the oil in it and see if it is all goop. It should be just clean heavy oil. If in doubt, drain it out and flush it with a little kerosene, and fill it with real 600wt oil. Get it from Snyder's or someone. Then, launch the car to a speed of 5 mph or less and simply push the clutch in and quickly put the car in second gear. Then quickly let the clutch out. If it won't do that, then there is something else going on. As far a double clutching; you have to understand it and practice it. Most people don't understand what they are trying to do.
Thanks for the reply, Jack. I got the 600w oil from AZ Model A, great bunch of people. To flush with kerosene - fill it to the fill hole, then rotate the trans around in 1-R and 2-3 (Engine off, clutch in, car stationary) to run it up the gears, then drain?
Matt Farah's Million Mile Lexus I don't see how you can do that. Just pour in a cup or two and let it drain out. If it was full of goop, then you have to do you said. However you think you can rotate it.
Just got the oil drained. It was a dark color, and only about 2/3 of a cup came out. Hope that was the problem, not enough oil to climb the gears. Soaking in diesel now, I'll drain/fill and drive tomorrow. Then we will find out if it's fixed!
Update: The oil didn't change much. Was considering a Mitchell trans, when a retired truck driver friend came by to help me with the rumble lid latch installation project. We went for a drive afterward, and I showed him what it was doing. He said, "You're doing it wrong." I offered to let him drive, so he took the wheel. It was the first time he ever drove a Model A in his life, and he flipped the shifter up and down without scratching a tooth like he owned it for 40 years. Even dropped it into first while moving with a big throttle blip. I was amazed. How did he do it? He started driving in the early '70s with B model Macks, which shift exactly the same way; they are also spur gear non-synchro transmissions. He gave me a few lessons, and I'm much better now. Not as good as he is, but getting better. So the car needed a driver upgrade.
You don’t want to slow the gears down for a down shift. You want to speed them up when you double clutch. I have a video on double clutching. Good luck and have fun with that Buick.
Jack is there a different switch to turn on the taillights because I have a 1929 model A and the headlights come on but the taillights don't any suggestions and I know this doesn't have any thing to do with the video
Not supposed to have a different switch, but maybe someone put one in. Follow the wiring and see where that wire goes from the light. IF IT GOES INTO THE MAIN BODY HARNESS, THEN IT PROBABLY DOES GO TO THE MAIN LIGHT SWITCH ON THE COLUMN. Sorry about the caps. Maybe the bulb is out, or there is a ground problem that happens a lot.
Get a long piece of wire. Connect one end to a hot wire and the other to a pin or needle pushed into the insulation of the wire going into the lamp. Two there. One for brake light and one for running light. With the pin touching the wire inside, the light should light. If it does not, either you have no ground or the bulb is bad. Just keep chasing it. let me know.
Your description of clutch use is backwards. Letting your foot off the clutch so it is engaged is "IN" and pushing the pedal to the floor is "OUT". Most people say it backwards, but you push the clutch out, and let it in after your shift.
I think $8,000 would buy you a decent driver. The main thing is to Not buy the first one you come across. Contact the closest Model A club to you and ask them. The open cars cost much more, roadsters. I would stick with a 1930, or '31. Just my preference. IIf you are close to a club, go to a meeting. They would love to have you there. jack
I am a 14 year old boy and that type of car is just so cool to me and I am looking up things about that type of car and how to drive do you still teach
I would love to teach you how to drive the roadster. Where are you located? The Model A is a very unique car. They built about 5,000,000, and about 150,000 to 200,000 are still running around. Many club all over and parts are low cost. Stay interested and get one when you can. They are not expensive. You have picked the perfect car to have fun with. Good luck.
I know. Oakleaf is in Michigan. We have a few out of state members who we may never see, but they belong got the info , contacts and help with their car.
If this description were true then General Motors would not have had to waste all that time and money on developing Synchromesh transmissions. Sure, just shift immediately to 2nd - really? What about going up a steep hill or trying to keep out of the way of modern cars? Not accurate, not helpful.
+Colin Knight Why would you not? That's how you are supposed to teach a human. Hell if we are forced to go to a classroom and learn all this crap we may or may never use I would at least think to start teaching a child in their early teens to drive is fine. Since no matter what they do in life at least you know they will be driving. That and it gives them time to get better.
+Colin Knight I learned to drive our old 1962 VW Bug when I was 13 or 14 *only* on our 6 acres of land. We had a hill in back that went up to the barn and I could drive the hay bales up for the horses. Of course, I couldn't drive on the town roads until I got my learner's permit at 16. 12 & 13 is a good age to start familiarizing a kid with *GOOD* driving habits. He or she will be ready to take that DMV test and probably breeze through it.
Haha! I learned from my brothers in a 390 big block station wagon when I was 12. Gettin' it sideways was easy...I guess now they call it drifting...we called it being able to corner fast.
Stop wasting your time with these crash boxes. The only way to run a Model A is to install the Mitchell synchro gearbox & overdrive. The car is now a joy to drive. Modern transmission for modern times..........end of the story!
My father taught me that learning to properly double-clutch was the best way to avoid tearing up the gears.
I for one am thankful for synchronizers and helical gears.
Thank you for this. While I've always had great pride in my well-practiced smooth shifting, I see that you are a master at it. I don't have a Model A but I plan to buy one, and I'm glad that watched your video here. I know how to double-clutch but I didn't know about getting the Model A into second gear so quickly, or waiting for the idle to come down for getting it into third. Many thanks sir.
Great video. Spent many a year on these old dog boxes, and the secret really is to be gentle but also smooth an direct. A slow shift will tend to grind more than a quick smooth one. Matching revs isn't really necessary when shifting up but when shifting down it's not critical to get it 100% correct if you get the movement down. Fast, hard shifts will just make the gears bounce off one-another.
Again, great video!
My grandfather had a Model A for years. I have a picture of him with it from 1936 and I have seen pics of the car from after WWII. I know one of my uncles inherited it and he is maybe 70 years old so you are talking probably into the 1950's or so. I don't know what ever became of it (it was the four door sedan) but I don't see any of the new cars with that type of longevity. Now it is all you can do to get a modern car to give you ten years of service without any major headaches. Someday I would like a Model A pick up, I have a 74 F-100 right now and that thing is more reliable than anything made now I think. Simply get in and drive. But boy would I like to take that Model A for a spin. I learned stick shift when I was 12 and it was on trucks. I used to like watching my grandfather and his 64 Willys Jeep go through gears. Shifting that Model A reminds me of how you would shift a truck versus trying to speed shift like its a muscle car. Slow and easy without trying to ram the gear shift through the firewall.
A naturally aspirated subaru or a toyota corolla maybe able to last as long as one of these
Many kind 1930 aa truck
Despite not having a synchronized transmission, the car shifts just fine. I would love to try a Model A out. I am sure that it would be a lot of fun.
I've always found it better to double clutch when shifting between gears!
I drove my first 1930 tudor from Flint Mic. to Green Bay Wisc. in 1972 and sometimes to work and back so I know a little about these cars. I drive them just like you do---there is a lot of low end torque in second gear. Thanks for showing the correct way instead of those who insist on the double clutch nonsense. It is not needed- not at all if you truly know how to drive a Model A.
Should read: double clutching is not needed if you truly know how to drive an A. Double clutching is nonsense.
I own a 1930 Model A Ford rumble seat coupe. I traded a motor scooter for it in 1964. It was my everyday driver while stationed at Vandenberg Air Force Base California. Two of my Air Force buddies also owned Model A Fords. We all were near our enlistment's end. We had the Lompoc High School Metal Shop make three sets of tow bars. We took the front bumper off one Model A Ford for the teacher to take measurements. We left Vandenberg Air Force Base March 6, 1966. We got on route 66 at Barstow California. The guys had me lead our wagon train. Because my 1948 Ford truck had a homemade camper built by me less than a month before we left. They could see the camper above traffic. Water cost more than gas going across the desert. I had two 5 gallon jerry water cans on my truck's running boards. Two more on my Model A's running boards. It was 112 + degrees. We gassed up. I remember a sign the said; 300 miles of desert ahead. Nothing, not a mail box. no one but us and the road. We did see on coming cars and trucks once and awhile. It was to hot for most people to be on the road. We were running low on water when we got to the Painted Desert Trading Post Arizona. They gave us all the water we needed free. :-) Because they dug a new well and were letting the water run until clear. They used a wind mill to generate power. The rest of the trip was easy after we got away from the deserts. I still have and drive my Model A Ford. I got new tires and a muffler in 1964. My tires look almost new. But I need a new muffler. It gave up the ghost after 56 years. The reason a Model A Ford has a foot rest; Because The Model A was Ford's first car that had a foot throttle. They didn't how stiff the return spring should be. Everyone's foot weight is different. The foot rocking idea did the trick. Thanks; Gary A. Strelow
Gary, what a nice note. You should write a book. Thanks, jack
I've always double clutched every shift with mine, up and down, but apparently it's not really necessary. I once read in a very old book about how to drive them, and it described shifting exactly like you do. Very nice video, makes me want to get mine running again!
You make the most awesome videos thank you so much
This helps me to know what to do and u are so good at explaining. I wondered why it was different to shift
I rode in a model a several times but never drove one. I didn't know it didn't have synchronizers. So you basicly shift it like I would a 18 wheeler by " floating" it into gear. That's what you do driving a big truck is slip into the next gear when the engine and trans get even together. Good info and thanks !
Nice video, nice car, excellent drive my friend! I'd love to own a car like this and drive smoothly as you do! I own a '66 "Seat 1500" (spanish version of the Fiat model), a rusty '65 Citroen AZU and my daily driving car a '79 Citroen Dyane, awesome cars for me, maybe they don't need to be so careful to drive as the model A needs, bud they also need to feel them to drive them properly, if i let someone drive them, they just drive them badly used to very new cars which nearly drive by themselves, i think that just isn't nice... Driving classic cars has something very special, i think that people that REALLY love to drive have to love all this tricks, the feeling of the engine, gearbox, clutch... That really is driving!
Thank you so much for your video! Greetings from Catalonia!
Actually this technique works in every manual transmission car with a note that engines of today are not always happy with lots of gas at rpms close to idle. Double clutching will save your synchronizers if you downshift a lot.
I already know how to drive a Model A. i just wanted a ride...and your car sounds great.
Thanks for the information 👍
This guy did a good job
One more thing I found in shifting my coupe. It's fine to pause in neutral while upshifting on level ground. But going up any kind of a hill, you need all the momentum you can get. If you pause in neutral, you may be back to second pretty quick, depending on the steepness of the hill.
Also, it sounds like you should get rid of the rivetted brake linings.
Sure, just wait for the gears spin down a bit. You can downshift to by spinning the gears up by double clutching. I have a video on that too.
Sounds a little noisy in second, just like mine but some good advice there on shifting to neutral before high. Never heard of that before. The downshifting is the tricky part. I never try it over 20 mph and even then it grinds a little. Best to do the double clutch trick and rev it in neutral first.
This was quite interesting. However, due to the transmission being not a synchronized one, I found that doing a double clutch between gears help. I did find this method very interesting though and will attempt it.
I don't have it yet, but I am planning on getting one and I was wondering on how you would get the car into neutral?
Great advise.
I wouldn't be surprised if the GPW had the same transmission as the Model-A.
I jjst watched a video on the model A. Its throttle was on the column..whts going on here? Thanks.
How do you make the parade sound?
Would be great to remake this video where you could actually see a what's happening.
I have a friend that has a 1931 Model A Roadster Deluxe and it looks like oil is spraying from the dipstick area. Is the a rubber insert for the hole opening where the dipstick slides in?
Thank you sir.
hi jack...I'm new to the model A ....I just acquired a 31 model AA flat bed...the cab roof looks like someone put a make shift roof cover...my question to you is, originally didn't it come with a fabric stretched over wooden ribs???
Is it easier to get a smooth shift by rev matching or double clutching.....or both at same time? We have a 1927 Buick and I am going to drain the Trans this weekend and fill her w a heavier weight fluid to help slow those spinning gears down to help reduce grinding. Right now it’s very difficult to attempt a down shift as well.....
Shake rattle and roll now I know rock and roll
Do you have this car as a daily driver or is it a car you like to drive around when you want to enjoy the day? Like you said, it isn't made for people who are in a hurry.
I really like your video on shifting up through the gears. My mom bought a Model A about a year ago. I can get up through the gears just fine, but when I'm downshifting is when I do all the grinding. I think I'm just trying to do things too quickly, but do you have any suggestions? Thank you!
jack bahm Thanks. I think I'm revving the engine too much and hesitating too long waiting for the engine to slow down.
Even with a synchronized manual, the first gear is usually not synchronized. Double clutching is needed when downshifting into first.
thanks jack
Jack: I really enjoyed your video, and would like to make a suggestion. Please note where the camera is pointed at time 2:30 and all can be seen when it is there. I believe that would be a great place for making all the video again. Thanks.
I've recently purchased my first car, a 1930 model a coupe. any tips? This car will be my daily driver all year round.
No it won't.
Lol how’s that holding up for you?
Se ve muy hermoso es joyita,disfrutalo mucho negro disfruta.
Is the what Double Clutching is referred too? Or is this a different way?
with double clutching you release the clutch while you are in neutral, rather than holding in like he showed.
Jack, Love all the videos. Without a synchronizer, is there a trick to downshifting or is it just not done in a Model A. All I seem to do is grind the gears. It would be nice to be able to downshift on a grade. Thanks.
+I found your other video on how to double clutch to downshift. I can't wait to try it.
+Julie Laughlin Just go easy with the shift lever. No high forces. Don't horse on it. Shift with your fingers and be gentle. If the gears don't match in rotation, don't try to force it. Get a feel for it and it will become easy.
+Jack Bahm was practicing the downshift in my 6 speed Accord. May try to go out in Nellie in a bit.
hey jack! I ve got a 1931 Ford A, right hand drive :)
I ve got a couple of questions to see if its working right or not!
Is it normal that gear grind sounds appear when puting first gear, and when changing from 2 to 3?
What´s the use of the left lever in the steering wheel? The right one is for the accelerator...
Regards
No, don't grind your gears. Learn to shift correctly. Just take your time. Pause between 2 and 3. It will go right in. Watch my video some more.
The left control arm is for the spark control. Up retards the firing and down advances it. That's kind of basic stuff. How do you start your car without knowing that? Have fun with that car. jack
Jack Bahm thanks for the response.
The car is my dad's, im just a 17 year old beginning to drive it, the spark control was just an existential question, I wanted to know exactly what it was as we usually put it down while driving, but never put it up when starting. And yes, it makes a small sound when puting first gear(not always) and when puting 3rd, even though we double clutch and take the time.
Regards
No sychro but you can shift from 1st to 2nd just by clutching once?
If you know what your doing you don’t even use the clutch except to start and stop. I shift mine with no clutch most of the time with no gear grind
i like these old cars but where do you get parts for it? where do you find a clean, roadworthy example. i do have toys but they well at least 1 of them is much newer, although still old by today's throwaway standards. i have a 1996 camaro Z28 with the LT1 5.7 V8. i also have a 1948 farmall cub with a 60" belly mower and blade.
the strange thing is that if you know how to work on more modern cars, i think dealing with an old car might be a challenge. i know that my tractor is probably somewhat similar to an old car. it has points, condensor, 6V positive ground electrical system with a generator, its a flathead. doing things like re-adjusting valve lash with solid lifters is a dying art, if it isnt already just about gone. modern cars have hydraulic lifters.
You sound perfect for an A. Get one and have fun with it. There are almost 250,000 out there, they are cheap, $5,000-$15,000 will buy you a driver, and parts are cheap from several suppliers. There are two major national clubs, with local clubs all over the place. We have 3 or 4 in the Detroit area. They are very easy to work on and a lot of people to help you.
Search TH-cam for jack bahm+how-to. And you should find my playlist of all my videos. Let me know if you can't find them.
Great video. I just got a '28 roadster, and I can't get it into second at anything higher than a slow crawl, like barely moving, or it'll grind - I don't dare force it. I've watched all of the driving an A videos, and they are helpful, but all of those cars can get into 2nd at a normal speed. I wish I knew where to start looking.
Don't start taking things apart. Find someone who knows Model A's and let him drive it. If you can't do that, check the oil in it and see if it is all goop. It should be just clean heavy oil. If in doubt, drain it out and flush it with a little kerosene, and fill it with real 600wt oil. Get it from Snyder's or someone. Then, launch the car to a speed of 5 mph or less and simply push the clutch in and quickly put the car in second gear. Then quickly let the clutch out. If it won't do that, then there is something else going on. As far a double clutching; you have to understand it and practice it. Most people don't understand what they are trying to do.
Thanks for the reply, Jack. I got the 600w oil from AZ Model A, great bunch of people. To flush with kerosene - fill it to the fill hole, then rotate the trans around in 1-R and 2-3 (Engine off, clutch in, car stationary) to run it up the gears, then drain?
Matt Farah's Million Mile Lexus I don't see how you can do that. Just pour in a cup or two and let it drain out. If it was full of goop, then you have to do you said. However you think you can rotate it.
Just got the oil drained. It was a dark color, and only about 2/3 of a cup came out. Hope that was the problem, not enough oil to climb the gears. Soaking in diesel now, I'll drain/fill and drive tomorrow. Then we will find out if it's fixed!
Update: The oil didn't change much. Was considering a Mitchell trans, when a retired truck driver friend came by to help me with the rumble lid latch installation project. We went for a drive afterward, and I showed him what it was doing. He said, "You're doing it wrong." I offered to let him drive, so he took the wheel. It was the first time he ever drove a Model A in his life, and he flipped the shifter up and down without scratching a tooth like he owned it for 40 years. Even dropped it into first while moving with a big throttle blip. I was amazed. How did he do it? He started driving in the early '70s with B model Macks, which shift exactly the same way; they are also spur gear non-synchro transmissions. He gave me a few lessons, and I'm much better now. Not as good as he is, but getting better. So the car needed a driver upgrade.
Teach this driver to double-clutch when shifting. Tricky but does cut down on the gear grinding noise.
You don’t want to slow the gears down for a down shift. You want to speed them up when you double clutch. I have a video on double clutching. Good luck and have fun with that Buick.
Bless you, old timer. For preserving history and passing down this priceless information for us youngens!
Jack is there a different switch to turn on the taillights because I have a 1929 model A and the headlights come on but the taillights don't any suggestions and I know this doesn't have any thing to do with the video
Not supposed to have a different switch, but maybe someone put one in. Follow the wiring and see where that wire goes from the light. IF IT GOES INTO THE MAIN BODY HARNESS, THEN IT PROBABLY DOES GO TO THE MAIN LIGHT SWITCH ON THE COLUMN. Sorry about the caps. Maybe the bulb is out, or there is a ground problem that happens a lot.
Jack Bahm I followed the wires and they do into the main harness . Do you how I can check the ground ? Thanks for the advice
I checked both bulbs and they are working fine and the brake lights work
Get a long piece of wire. Connect one end to a hot wire and the other to a pin or needle pushed into the insulation of the wire going into the lamp. Two there. One for brake light and one for running light. With the pin touching the wire inside, the light should light. If it does not, either you have no ground or the bulb is bad. Just keep chasing it. let me know.
Jack Bahm I've owned a model a dump truck since 1963 and it was also my first car and only car I still find amazing on how fun it is to drive and
They need to start holding people accountable for high speed driving.
Your description of clutch use is backwards. Letting your foot off the clutch so it is engaged is "IN" and pushing the pedal to the floor is "OUT". Most people say it backwards, but you push the clutch out, and let it in after your shift.
In and out refer to the pedal, not the clutch. You're right that the clutch is disengaged when the pedal is pressed in.
Me and my dad were wondering what a fair price for a good condition modal A car would be ?
I think $8,000 would buy you a decent driver. The main thing is to Not buy the first one you come across. Contact the closest Model A club to you and ask them. The open cars cost much more, roadsters. I would stick with a 1930, or '31. Just my preference. IIf you are close to a club, go to a meeting. They would love to have you there. jack
@@JackBahmlll thank you
Thank you sow much for the advice and thank you for the TH-cam videos and thank you for answering all of my question
Nice video but couldn't see where each gear position is 0
Great video. Do one on downshifting from 3rd into 2nd. That is always my challenge
I did already. It is shown at this site, along with all my other "How To" videos. jack
th-cam.com/play/PLhL36Rc6o5MI5gsZreCrIa0r_fFQcz4R0.html
It was duane hinkles video on utube..
Are these even street legal?
Very Good!... 129 🐄🦉🏴☠
I am a 14 year old boy and that type of car is just so cool to me and I am looking up things about that type of car and how to drive do you still teach
I would love to teach you how to drive the roadster. Where are you located? The Model A is a very unique car. They built about 5,000,000, and about 150,000 to 200,000 are still running around. Many club all over and parts are low cost. Stay interested and get one when you can. They are not expensive. You have picked the perfect car to have fun with. Good luck.
@@JackBahmlll thank you and i live in California the model A looks so cool to me and it would be fun to learn. It is just the coolest car to me
@@JackBahmlll i live in California
I know. Oakleaf is in Michigan. We have a few out of state members who we may never see, but they belong got the info , contacts and help with their car.
@@JackBahmlll maybe some day me and my dad can fly i have to ask but their is a big chance me and my dad can fly but there is a chance we can't
I assume you mean the horn sound. Get one and adjust it. jack
Sure. There are thousands of them running around. They say you are never more than a mile from one. I bet there is one close to you.
Sounds about right. There's a guy living near me who has one, anyhow. :}
Very good video, but the volume could have been better.
Also, one more point: where is the reverse gear located at on the gear shifter?
+Dario Witer In case you haven't found out, the pattern is
R 2
| |
------
| |
1 3
my grandson us only 6 and he knows how to drive
Sure, and when he won't fit on your lap and can reach the clutch, let him launch it for a few feet.
Can you add synchronizers to a Ford model a
Never heard of it. Some people put a Mitchel box in.
Model A is like every manual shift without synchronizers. Nothing special here. Model T is the one where you may need a tutorial.
Grindem till you findem!!!!
If you can't find it grind it
Not your fault but the sun's glare made it almost impossible to see.
Podia ser melhor a filmagem, ângulos de câmera e o sol atrapalharam muito.
Try learning how to aim a camera
Why are you stroking your knee. weird.
If this description were true then General Motors would not have had to waste all that time and money on developing Synchromesh transmissions. Sure, just shift immediately to 2nd - really? What about going up a steep hill or trying to keep out of the way of modern cars? Not accurate, not helpful.
Your'e full of shit.This guy knows what he's talking about.
Teaches 12& 13 year olds to drive???!!!! One way to keep the population down I suppose.
+Colin Knight Why would you not? That's how you are supposed to teach a human. Hell if we are forced to go to a classroom and learn all this crap we may or may never use I would at least think to start teaching a child in their early teens to drive is fine. Since no matter what they do in life at least you know they will be driving. That and it gives them time to get better.
+Colin Knight I wish we could teach kids to drive legally at 12-13yo.
+Colin Knight I learned to drive our old 1962 VW Bug when I was 13 or 14 *only* on our 6 acres of land. We had a hill in back that went up to the barn and I could drive the hay bales up for the horses. Of course, I couldn't drive on the town roads until I got my learner's permit at 16. 12 & 13 is a good age to start familiarizing a kid with *GOOD* driving habits. He or she will be ready to take that DMV test and probably breeze through it.
+GUNS4MIKE1234 Can't you? I believe it's only public roads that restrict underage drivers. That and your insurance might not like it, if they knew. ;)
Haha! I learned from my brothers in a 390 big block station wagon when I was 12. Gettin' it sideways was easy...I guess now they call it drifting...we called it being able to corner fast.
Stop wasting your time with these crash boxes. The only way to run a Model A is to install the Mitchell synchro gearbox & overdrive. The car is now a joy to drive. Modern transmission for modern times..........end of the story!
no one cares they r going to brake down anyway
I jjst watched a video on the model A. Its throttle was on the column..whts going on here? Thanks.
You sure it wasn't a Model T? Those had a hand throttle on one side and manual spark advance on the other.
@@roberts1677 so does the model a
It was duane hinkles video on utube..