can't find second gear

freak

freak

Senior Member
Just bought my first A, a 1930 fordor. I know that you need to double clutch it to shift and I can do it fairly well sometimes :) . The problem is second gear. If I start out in first I almost always have trouble getting into second. It never even tries to get in. It's not grinding, I just can't get in. Then I end up moving the stick all over trying to get in and the car slows down to almost a standstill in the process. Could something be wrong with the ****** or is it likely me? I can almost always get from second to third with no problem.
 
Minerva had REAL "crisp" shift detents & from neutral into second, I had to "slap" the knob with an open palm to get it in gear. Second to high was the same. Shifting a Model A takes time & practice! Bill W.
 
BUT, he's had it in second, as he stated, "It goes O.K. from second to high"! Maybe he just hasn't mastered synchronizing the speeds of the gears yet. Bill W.
 
as Tom said, the shifter ball is probably worn down so much it fits loose in the shifter rails, pull tower, weld up ball or have it done, then grind it back round, the ball should fit in the shifter rail slot fairly close to the size of the rail slot
 
If it is a worn shift ball then you should be able to find the gears by holding the shift lever ball and moving it in a strictly H pattern. Don't just slide it from first to second.

I can remember on the shift column of my old Chevy, when the linkage got worn you had to move the shift handle in a strict H pattern or you'd lock into a gear and couldn't get it out until you went under the hood and moved the lever. Though this was usually caused by the rods being slightly out of adjustment, the stict H shift pattern could get a person by until it was fixed right.
 
First we gotta' diagnose if it's a car problem or an operator problem! We gotta' remember that at one time, we ALL had to learn old car shifting. Bill W.
 
Try shifting into second at a low speed, somewhere between 15 and 18 mph. Give a little pause before you push it forward.
 
You can get a good idea of shift ball wear by lighly moving the lever back and forth between reverse and first, then shift to second gear and move the lever lightly between second and third. This of course with the car standing still and the engine off. You're just feeling for the free movement before the shift rail starts to move out of it's detent. Let us know how much the shift lever moves forward and back with a light touch.
 
I'm not sure why but I find shifting into gear much easier when I wiggle the the leaver side to side before putting it into gear. So step on the clutch, move into neutral wiggle the leaver, ( while waiting for the gears to wind down) step on the clutch and ease her into second. Works for me but listening for the right time is key.
 
When I bought mine I had the same problem. I found that it just took some driving to find the spot where it would slip right in. Don't try to force it, just let it find the right spot.
 
I too am having the same problem and so far still attributing it to the learning curve. 2nd to 3rd is no problem; but still struggling a bit for that sweet spot between 1st and 2nd.
 
I'm certainly practicing. This winter I'll probably take a look inside. Thanks for all the tips on what to look for!!!
 
BTW, if the oil in the ****** is too thin you'll probably have more trouble shifting. The heavy 600W gear oil helps to slow the gears. I always put a small magnet in the pockets of the drain and fill plugs. You'll be surprised at how much fine grit it collects. This grit would otherside be running through the ball bearings and roller bearings.:eek:
 
You do NOT need to double clutch on the way up. Until you get used to it it is fine to double clutch on the way down, however that too will be unnecessary with practise. The trick is to shift EARLY. Do not wind the engine up too much, and then shift out of 1st, give it a couple seconds time in neutral, then shift into 2nd. Another thing, make SURE your idle speed is set low enough. If the engine does not idle down it will make shifting tough, especially between 1st and second. Go back to the original Ford Model A owner's manual and follow the directions they give. The only thing I do differently is shift slower than the manual says to do. Until you get the hang of it, you may lug the engine a bit, don't worry about it as long as you ease the throttle on carefully it won't hurt a thing. That is contrary to what a lot of people preach but it won't hurt a thing as long as you don't ask the engine to pull too hard at low RPMs. My grandpa grew up on Ts and As and his comment was that is is the high RPMs that ruin the babbit. You will soon learn the sound of the engine and how to ease the throttle. #1, shift early, #2 wait between gears, #3 keep your hand throttle idle speed LOW. #4 practice. The oil weight, as Tom says, does make a big difference as well. I originally had the 600W from Mac's in my ******, replaced it with Lucas oil stabilizer. There is no comparison. I worried about my transmission before as it was "harsh", now it is smooth as silk in comparison.
 
I too am having this problem shifting from 1st to 2nd - sometimes. I have been driving Model A's for a few years now (1928 pick-up) and it shifts well. I put my 1930 Cabriolet on the road this spring and it is the one I'm having probelms with. New shifter, new tower rails, detents and for that matter new gears in the transmission. Sometimes it works fine (most times when cold) and gives me more trouble after driving it for a while. To make it shift I have to wiggle the shifter and when doing this I sometimes hear a click then it goes right in so I'm thinking it's something to do with the shift rails or detents. At this point I'm just "dealing" with the problem but am planning to remove the tower at some point and see what I might have done incorrectly when rebuilding it. Probably will wait until it's put away for the winter.
 
I suggest letting another Model A owner who's got a lot of experience drive your car and go thru a few shifts. And you could drive their car. Another point of reference (both ways) might help tell if it's a "hardware" issue or a "technique" issue. But I agree with folks that probably shifter/fork wear is involved to some degree.
 
eagle said:
#1, shift early, #2 wait between gears, #3 keep your hand throttle idle speed LOW. #4 practice.
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This advice was spot on. The biggest difference for me was to shift earlier. I'm still practicing and expect to get better. Thank you very much! You made the driving experience much better!
 
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