29 Chandler

Pretty rare car since they stopped production in 1929 🙃 Do you have a link you can post?

Long overdue on providing an update on this project. This week my new custom made sprockets and silent chains arrived from Ramsey Products in North Carolina. They shipped them to a local outlet that set the final price. Art at Discount Bearing Co. in Sun Valley CA was a pleasure to deal with. If any of you need help finding bearings, belts, chains, pulleys or sprockets I can highly recommend him for his customer service. Today I set the engine to TDC so I could confirm that the "prick punch marks" aligned on the cam and crank shaft sprockets as outlined in my parts guide. This will help the machine shop properly locate the keyway location when the bores are cut on the camshaft and crank sprockets. This was one step I did not ask Ramsey to do on the new sprockets. I'll work with a local shop to make sure this is done correctly. Overall I am very impressed with the quality of the new sprockets and chains. Ramsey did a very complete job of copying the old sprockets and machining the new ones to match. I installed the only sprockets I can do for now until the rest of the machine work is done. The new sprockets fit exactly as the originals did and will mesh correctly with the new chains. One question for the experts out there. The crankshaft has a key for each of the two sprockets that mount on the shaft. (See the two new sprockets on the right side of the picture.) There is no taper on the shaft, rather the outer sprocket was fixed to the crankshaft with a 1/4" steel dowel. I could not see this dowel when I was removing the sprocket with the puller. After a small amount of effort of the puller this dowel snapped into three neat pieces and then the sprocket easily cam off the shaft. On both ends the dowel was peened flush with the sprocket. Is this still the best method to secure the sprocket to the shaft? If so what type of metal should the dowel be made off?

Just to close out this topic my "new" Snap on compression gauge arrived this week, it even came with a bag of extra valves. I tested it on the chainsaw I am rebuilding on the workbench right now and saw 160 lbs on the gauge vs. 30 lbs from the gauge I purchased new as a teenager in the 80's. Thanks for steering me in the right direction.

Thanks guys. There is now one less Snap On Compression Gauge kit on eBay 🙂

Looking for some recommendations on a decent engine compression gauge kit. I work on cars from 1914 to 2008 and some times small engines. I have no faith in my cheap compression gauge that I bought 40 years ago as a teenager. Looking at Amazon I see so many brands that I don't recognize. Since I am servicing a wide range of engines looking for a kit that adapts to the different plug sizes as needed.

Bill not sure what type of chain you have in the Pontiac. I am in the process of replacing the sprockets and chains (3 of them) on our 1914 Chandler. I took my chains to EGGE and while they were not able to help they did suggest Ramsey Products which in the end who I ordered new custom machined sprockets from and new chains to match. They might be able to help: Ramsey

Chandler Book Most of what is known about Chandler and Cleveland cars is in this book that John put together for all of us to enjoy a few years back.

Update After talking with Ramsey about their quote they found another distributor local to me that will handle the sale and took less of a markup. I was extremely happy that Ramsey understood that I am just trying to get my car back on the road and were willing to reach out to some of their other customers to find one who would be more sympathetic to our cause. Deposit has been sent to have the sprockets made and chains cut to length. My original chains and sprockets arrived back home this week. This was a big relief as there are only three set of these sprockets known and I have not seen the others to know if Chandler did indeed use the same sets in these two cars. It's also possible that some Lozier cars used the same sprockets, time will tell. I have received copies of the digital drawings that Ramsey made to review and approve. I'll be reviewing all of the measurements from the drawings against my original parts before approving the build of new parts. As mentioned before the keyways on the two 1/2" sprockets that drive the cam will be cut locally to insure the engine stays in time with original specs. If all goes well new parts will be delivered at the end of June.

Ed not sure if I was clear on my last post. I would not be having Ramsey cut the key way on the 1/2” sprockets where the timing of the engine is a concern. I plan to have that done locally.

Yes seemed like a lot to me

Update We can have the sprockets made and the chains cut to fit and have them delivered this summer. Anything can be done with enough money and experience. For the full set we are looking at about $6k 😳 But without them the engine will not be happy. The one challenge I have is the sprockets for the crank and cam need to have their key way cut to maintain the correct alignment between the two. The chain manufacturer said they could do this but could only guarantee +\- 0.5”. I did not feel this was good enough and asked them to leave the bores blank. At this point I think we have a path forward but am open to your feedback before we approve the quote.

Thank you Gary!! Using your chart I was able to cross reference to a modern part number and find one in stock.

Thank you Hook just the information I needed.

I am trying to choose the correct grade of felt to replace the felt washer that is sandwiched in my timing chain cover. From what I see on McMaster Carr's website they offer sheets from grade F1 (hardest) to F7 (softest). The purpose of this particular seal is to ride around the crankshaft and keep the oil behind the timing chain cover. I am not familiar with the different grades of Felt. Anyone have any experience here and can provide some guidence? Right now I am leaning towards the F7 grade as it will need to absorb and retain oil to do its job. My 1914 Chandler will not be running at any high RPMs so I figure the softer grade will still do its job.

Drove up to Paso Robles yesterday to drop off our 1914 Chandler radiator to have the core replaced and fix properly at The Brassworks. Met with the owner Lee and he was very friendly and helpful, even coming in on the weekend so my wife and I could make a day trip out of it. From our brief tour of his shop I would say we did the right thing and have the radiator in very capable hands now. Hope to have it back to be repainted before the fall.

I agree, the offer the seller has does not take into account all of the work the new owner will go through to find all of the missing parts.

Unfortunately no because I can hear it when the car is not moving.

No rattle that I remember, just a bit of pounding under load. I did take a video when the car was still running but the sound is not very distinct

I would assume your second Chandler would use the same chains and sprockets. Have checked the condition of them? I’m sure the car you bought from Harold did d not have its chains replaced either.

Update All the sprockets are now off to be copied to match the new chains that Ramsey is going to make.

I finally caught a break. The large chain for the Cam is standard (60 degree) so at least I will not need to replace two of the sprockets.

Agreed Ed. I have expressed my desires to the factory that the original parts remain in a condition that they can go back on the car if needed.

Good that confirms it is a 1928 Model 31A. These days the Roadster Rumble Seat model is pretty rare, most surviving Chandler Cars are Touring cars or Sedans. That being said there are a lot of details missing from the car and will take a lot to restore it. Spare parts are few and far between. Which really means you should be able to negotiate a favorable price. Keep us posted.

Are you able to share the VIN number on the car if it still has one?

Heard back from Ramsey Chains this morning, unfortunately my chains are non-standard. Might be something unique to the chains on 1913-1915 Chandlers as the Whitney catalog lists the same chain from 1916-1922, which I was hoping was just a typo. So now I am in the process of removing all six sprockets so they can be sent off to Ramsey. They'll machine a set of their sprockets to match the hubs on mine and if there is anything else custom that might need to be done.