Shifting fork shaft is facing right way

[Barnwood]

I am reassembling my dad's transmission tower, but the shifting fork shafts don't look right.

In this George Bell video, the long grooves are both facing the camera (or down when the tower is installed).

George Bell video screenshot:


In mine, the long groove on the left dentent is facing away from the camera, or up when installed.

Mine:


In this photo from Synders, the long groove on mine is on the opposite side.
https://www.snydersantiqueauto.com/product.htm?pid=979032&cat=41609

Does this matter?

I've confirmed we have the evenly spaced detent on the right, like in George Bell's video. The uneven one is on the left.

 

[Brentwood Bob]

Upper shaft is 180 degrees out. In Bells picture upper shaft has the groove facing out.

 

[Brentwood Bob]

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FJyWAYCycMU
Here is a rebuild video I did.

 

[Barnwood]

Upper shaft is 180 degrees out. In Bells picture upper shaft has the groove facing out.

Thank you. Do you know the purpose of the groove?

 

[Brentwood Bob]

Guess it is lubrication, and ease of shifting.

 

[Dino's A]

Tom Endy has a great tutorial on this and will easily
guide you. My computer will not let me post the link
just yet.
https://www.santaanitaas.org/ Look under tech
articles by Tom Endy.

 

[Y-Blockhead]

Barnwood, are those repro shift forks? If so, check fitment in your gears. Last ones I used were too thick and transmission would not turn freely when the tower was installed. After a little "adjustment" they worked fine.

 

[Tom Endy]

The repo shift forks are known to not be compatible with the repo shift lever. Either the slot in the fork is too narrow or the ball on the end of the shifter is too large....or both.

Tom Endy

 

[Chuck Sea/Tac]

That works the other way as well. I had borg Warner gear that the shifting fork had to be ground down about 10 thou to fit the groove.

 

[Barnwood]

A separate issue we had was inserting the rivets. We used some vaseline on them which helped.

 

[Y-Blockhead]

The shift fork rivets are a PITA to install. I use the roll pins that Bert's sells. https://modelastore.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=3707

 

[CWPASADENA]

The shift fork rivets are a PITA to install. I use the roll pins that Bert's sells. https://modelastore.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=3707

I agree,

Roll pins are used in modern transmissions and also work very well in Model A transmissions.

 

[Brentwood Bob]

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FJyWAYCycMU
Barnwood, here is a reference to help with a shift tower rebuild. In order to install the tower on the transmission both the tower, and the transmission are in neutral.
I am responding to your asking for advice today.

 

[dave in australia]

The groove is for lubrication. The important thing is the detent grooves facing the centre and the spring pin being installed between the fork shafts. The difference of reverse first shaft and second top shaft is the spacing for the detent pin. Reverse first grooves are evenly spaced, and second top has the top gear groove closer to the middle neutral groove.