mattb73lt

My favorite style B, something is just right about the whole thing.

Nothing significant completed int the last few weeks as yard work has consumed some time. But, today was really significant. I moved the frame up in front of the barn so I can start in on it. It hasn't been there in at least 15 years. It was a good day.

I've parted a few trucks that had the small square offset boxes that are ratio adapters for errors on the speedometer when you change something like the rear end ratio, Freightrain posted a picture of one. I've had several problems over the years with the speedometer and the drive off the tail shaft. The pencil gears and spiral drive I posted mostly came from donors I've had. Those reside in the tail shaft housing Freightrain also posted and did a really nice electronic conversion to. The issue is determining where your problem lies and how you want to fix it. There are many solutions (GPS, electronic) that can cure these issues.

I have one now, too. I use it to check all my cars as one has no speedometer ( Model T) and 6V so it eats battery life while in use. Very useful for determining speedo accuracy.

That should help get us in the ballpark of the issue. Those gears I posted reside within the housing that Freightrain posted and the pencil gear is about 4" long. His modification is nice as there are no moving parts for the "drive" and will probably outlast all of us. The thin collar is against the bushing the cable connects to. On my B-42 there is a small plastic adapter that connects the replacement cable to the pencil gear. On the pencil gear there will be a small series if numbers for that gear. The mesh is important as you will wear out the gears quickly if there's a significant mismatch. As for the chart, I made one for mine for every gear using all the ratios/final drive/tire diameter (RPM=Gear#=MPH). Helped a lot as my speedo was inop when I first had it on the road.

Wow, that's awesome. Some really good info for the future if I need to go that way. The reluctor would be a challenge. Very similar to the RPM sensors that Bell Helicopter uses and calls Mono-pole Pick-ups, measuring the magnetic fields of gear teeth as they pass.

Now there's a fix. So that pick-up (sensor) needs to be 90 degrees from target? Did you do the machine work or send it out?

They do. There's a number on the shaft and I also count the teeth. Some of these pencil gears are trashed because of that. They can be slightly off, but the mesh is important. I believe that spiral gear I have was done in because of that, Along with the pencil gear.

It may be. If the cable, speedometer head and connections all check, then I would suspect the pencil gear or spiral drive. The pencil gear is really easy to pull and check.

If the cable checks Ok, sometimes there's an adapter to interface with the "pencil" gear drive. Check that and make sure that everything locks and drives together. If all that is good, I would suspect the pencil gear and the spiral drive on the tail shaft of the transmission. The pencil gear is pretty easy to get at. Back off the bushing where the speedometer cable attaches, the small shaft should lift out with a little effort. I've had those eaten up by the spiral drive. If it's the spiral drive, that's going to be a little tougher to get at if it's bad. I have several pencil gears and spiral drives I've collected up to fix issues I've had. If that pencil shaft is bad, the gear can be pressed off and put on a good shaft to keep the speedometer accurate or at least working. Let me know if you need one and I'll get it to you. I'll take some pics of them tonight.

I have the same set-up as Freightrain, 237 with a double over Triplex. Very happy with it, big improvement from the 673 I had, Also running 1500-2100 and skipping gears when needed. Only issue...I miss the bark of the 673, much quieter at cruise though.

Really nice job!! That's going to look great going down the road.

That guy is tiny!!

Yes, there is another piece that I had just removed on the passenger side.

Since I finished my three winter projects (engine, transmission & radiator) and there's still snow on the ground, I figured I'd continue assessing the cab. I was able to get some time in before work and remove the doors. This cab had some previous damage to the back panel and the repair work was horrible. The lower panel and rear window panel were factory replacements and were also barely attached. Once you open up the cab, it's pretty simple construction. before I remove anything else, I'll cross brace everything to prevent shifting.

Made my modifications to the actuator arm for the shutters, so now they work as advertised. Missed the minor difference in late vs. early style shutters, in that there's about 1 1/2" difference in height for the arm follower which caused the interference. Anyway, really happy with how the radiator turned out and can't wait to have in mounted up!! Into storage for now, though. Moved the cab out to reset the dolly under late yesterday and to assess it a bit. This, without a doubt, will be the biggest headache of this project. I have many donor parts from a L-cab fire truck a friend gave me years ago. I salvaged many good parts from it as it had no bottom frame work. From the cowl up was in good shape and I carefully removed the gutters, roof cap and sub frame and the windshield area. Planning on starting that this fall. Frame work is next, as soon as the snow melts and I can move the frame up to the front of the barn.

Radiator Monday. It's complete, just need to modify a bracket for the shutters. I'll tighten everything again before it goes in. I'll leak check it when the weather warms too.

Almost 20 years of gathering up the shop equipment!!

Plus I got a little done tonight after work. Back side complete, shutters tomorrow.

This is the heater installation.

I used one for a while, very noisy. Had to wear ear plugs or muffs to concentrate. Plus, it's hard to regulate the temp. This setup is great, turn it on set the temp, turn it off and walk away.

I now have a "Hot Dawg" heater mounted to the ceiling above my glass bead cabinet. Heats up the shop very quickly and pretty cheap to run. Even when it's frigid out it works well. Runs on propane. Started off with a wood stove that was there when I bought the place years ago. Too much mess and work with it, plus the hazard. Really like this heater, come home turn it on, go inside change go back out and it's warm enough to work.

I do it out of reflex, you leave a room, you turn off the lights. The nights I've come home to find every light in the house blazing away only to find one person home!!

Have to work this weekend, so barn time is limited. But got some hours in Friday night on the radiator. I forgot how complex this one is in terms of assembly. I took this apart quite some time ago for inspection and to get a new core for it. Had to send several pieces out for some repairs and welding. I swapped out all the hardware for stainless steel. When I opened the boxes I found a receipt from 2002!! Where the hell did that time go? Seems like a short time ago I ordered it. Any way, it's getting done now.

It's super high tech- a 20" box fan in the back window, sometimes a second one in the next window. Works OK, unless it's windy. Saturday the wind spun it backwards and the blew it out of the sill. Had to close it all up, so there was a little more mess in the shop. I've been using my smaller gun on these parts, my 1 qt. gun would put out a lot more overspray.