Speculation Timing Gear

[30ccpickup]

I am always impressed how Henry could save money without ruducing the quality of his product. My question is, is it possible that the fiber timing gear is designed to fail (like a shear pin) preventing further sevure damage to the engine when a problem accurs? Or, did Henry just save one two many Penney's and install a inferior product on his Model A? Looking at how easily it can be replaced (Even on the road), I would think there had to be engineering and production cost to make it replaceable that would outway the savings he made on using a fiber gear. Note: Just speculating, no real knowledge.

What are your thoughts?

Paul

[CarlG]

I'm not sure even Henry envisioned that these cars would be on the road 85 years later.

[1955cj5]

My 1951 Willys has a fiber gear..I think they are pretty common...

Don't know why they used them though...

[tbirdtbird]

"preventing further severe damage to the engine when a problem occurs?"

This topic has been covered before.
These old flatheads are not interference motors so there is nothing that can be damaged.

If you work on as many marques of vintage cars as some of us do, you quickly realize that fiber timing gears were all but universal. Bronze or aluminum were not envisioned, and it was known that steel against steel would be noisy as can be.

And I also believe Carl is onto something.

[mshmodela]

Originally Posted by 30ccpickup

I am always impressed how Henry could save money without ruducing the quality of his product. My question is, is it possible that the fiber timing gear is designed to fail (like a shear pin) preventing further sevure damage to the engine when a problem accurs? Or, did Henry just save one two many Penney's and install a inferior product on his Model A? Looking at how easily it can be replaced (Even on the road), I would think there had to be engineering and production cost to make it replaceable that would outway the savings he made on using a fiber gear. Note: Just speculating, no real knowledge.

What are your thoughts?

Paul

I think the idea of a shear gear is likely... Clearly he could have mated two metal gears but chose not to... Some argure it was cost savings... That theory might hold if more expensive cars of the same period used all metal gears...

[tbirdtbird]

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"steel against steel would be noisy as can be."

[700rpm]

Did Henry ALWAYS use fiber gears, right from the beginning of Ford production in the 19th c.?

[Kurt in NJ]

I have only been in a few T engines from what I remember they all had iron gear on the cam, the A/B fibre, the V8 started fiber, then both fibre and alum could be had

[emf]

The first gears in the Model T were straight cut steel gears, and yes, they are very noisy. After that, Ford went to a bevel cut steel gear which was a bit quieter, but not nearly as quiet as fiber...

Frank