Go Back   The Ford Barn > General Discussion > Model A (1928-31)

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 12-10-2020, 11:07 AM   #1
GPierce
Senior Member
 
GPierce's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Germantown,TN
Posts: 513
Default Spark control lever detents worn

Is there a fix for worn spark and throttle control lever detents short of replacing the steering column?
Mine are worn almost smooth.
GPierce is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-10-2020, 11:23 AM   #2
nkaminar
Senior Member
 
nkaminar's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Western North Carolina
Posts: 3,812
Default Re: Spark control lever detents worn

What I have done is put a small length of plastic or rubber tubing over the control lever. It keeps the lever from wandering and keeps the detents from wearing further.
__________________
A is for apple, green as the sky.
Step on the gas, for tomorrow I die.
Forget the brakes, they really don't work.
The clutch always sticks, and starts with a jerk.
My car grows red hair, and flies through the air.
Driving's a blast, a blast from the past.
nkaminar is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Old 12-10-2020, 11:44 AM   #3
alexiskai
Senior Member
 
alexiskai's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Mebane NC
Posts: 2,329
Default Re: Spark control lever detents worn

In previous threads, various fixes have been proposed. I recall someone suggested chiseling new detents in. Someone else suggested increasing the spring pressure on the levers so the worn detents would hold better. I like the non-destructive approach of the flexible tubing idea, but you wouldn't regain the click-click-click nature of the original detents.
alexiskai is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-10-2020, 12:04 PM   #4
oponui1
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Summerland
Posts: 176
Default Re: Spark control lever detents worn

With a hacksaw, just follow the grooves and cut new ones . Works great
oponui1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-10-2020, 12:27 PM   #5
Bob from Northport
Senior Member
 
Bob from Northport's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: 215 E. 6th Street Northport, Michigan 49670
Posts: 933
Default Re: Spark control lever detents worn

Use a small thin three sided file and carefully file each groove on each side. Works fine
__________________
Bob from Northport
Northport, Michigan
Bob from Northport is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-10-2020, 12:36 PM   #6
McMimmcs
Senior Member
 
McMimmcs's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Fort Gratiot, Michigan
Posts: 2,296
Default Re: Spark control lever detents worn

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob from Northport View Post
Use a small thin three sided file and carefully file each groove on each side. Works fine
This is what my mechanic did and it worked very well. Just like new.
McMimmcs is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-10-2020, 05:05 PM   #7
Patrick L.
Senior Member
 
Patrick L.'s Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Largo Florida
Posts: 7,225
Default Re: Spark control lever detents worn

I've filed them and it works, but, Tom W came up with the idea of using a chisel so no material is removed. I like that idea.
Patrick L. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-10-2020, 06:02 PM   #8
Ernie Vitucci
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Scottsdale, Arizona
Posts: 611
Default Re: Spark control lever detents worn

Good afternoon...on a few Model 'A's...where the spark lever plate has been worn smooth, we have just used a medium hammer and bent the plate up just a little bit until there is friction between the plate and the lever...maybe not good for show...but does work for go! Ernie in Arizona
Ernie Vitucci is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-10-2020, 07:16 PM   #9
d.
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 510
Default Re: Spark control lever detents worn

I remember a post from the 80's where the owner soldered a BB to the bottom of the control lever...said it worked great, including the "click".
d. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-10-2020, 09:40 PM   #10
abachman3
Senior Member
 
abachman3's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Western Springs, IL
Posts: 323
Default Re: Spark control lever detents worn

I have welded up the rods and filed them back to a slight point. Worked quite well... but yes, you need to remove the rods to do this fix.
abachman3 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-10-2020, 09:53 PM   #11
David R.
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: West Virginia
Posts: 430
Default Re: Spark control lever detents worn

When I rebuilt my steering gear I re-cut all the detents with a three corner file and welded up the worn bottom of spark and throttle rods and filed them back to a slightly V shape so they click in the notches nicely now. I also replaced the tension springs and brazed up and re-shaped worn ball ends on the levers.
David R. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-11-2020, 01:54 AM   #12
redmodelt
Senior Member
 
redmodelt's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Portland OR
Posts: 6,339
Default Re: Spark control lever detents worn

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob from Northport View Post
Use a small thin three sided file and carefully file each groove on each side. Works fine
T, A or other cars do the same thing.
__________________
I know the voices aren't real but damn they have some good ideas!
redmodelt is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-11-2020, 09:15 AM   #13
big job
Senior Member
 
big job's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Dighton, Mass
Posts: 1,225
Default Re: Spark control lever detents worn

A dremel and cut off wheel and a steady hand nice and clean and fast . That was the
fix on Ford tractors....
big job is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-11-2020, 06:56 PM   #14
GPierce
Senior Member
 
GPierce's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Germantown,TN
Posts: 513
Default Re: Spark control lever detents worn

Thanks to all of you responders. Now I have good idea how to proceed.
GPierce is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:52 AM.