Cluster Gear Wear

Mike1291

Mike1291

Senior Member
I am inspecting my transmission components and found unusual pitting in a few teeth of the 1st gear part of the cluster gear set. Besides that, no other teeth have noticeable damage or pitting. I attached a few other pictures around the same gear.

I usually start out in 2nd gear anyways and was thinking that I could get away with not replacing the cluster. I suspect that this may have been the faint noise I hear when I am in 1st.

If I continue to use this gear set, do I risk breaking/severely damaging any of these teeth?
 

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When Model A transmission gears get that pitted, they start to sing. That's what you're hearing. Odd that only one side of the cluster gear has such damage, while the other side looks almost pristine. My guess is that the transmission sat outside for years with rainwater settling at the bottom of the case. Those pitted gears were submerged, which led to the pitting in that area only.
As long as you have the transmission apart, now would be the perfect time to change cluster gears, either a new one ($$$$$$$$) or a good used one WITHOUT pitting. Those pits represent missing metal in the gear teeth. It's just a matter of time before one or more teeth breaks off due to structural weakness caused by the pitting.
Marshall
 
Clusters are around. Ebay at any time probably has two available, and usually for less than $100.

New, of course, are there too - but you're almost better off to replace a used gear with a used gear. New gears against old can be quite noisy.

I agree. Time to replace and toss that old gear.

Joe K
 
send that gear to the nuisance grounds, its garbage.
i probably have 7 cluster gears here that could be usable but i have yet to find one that is perfect. the normal issue is the second gear teeth worn to a taper, some are pitted, or broken.
if the teeth are tapered it will jump out of second gear.(unless you physically hold the shifter up).
cluster gears are a bit of $ but if you don't want to take that ****** out again put a new one in.
 
It’s very hard to find used cluster gears in genuinely excellent condition. Attached are pics of two gears. First one is off eBay, list price $90, second one is my spare. Notice the wear on (I think) second gear - it’s almost like the side surface of the teeth has been pulled or scraped up, forming a lip on the top. This lip can be easily felt when you inspect the gear. However, the eBay gear is pitted and the “scraping” effect is much more pronounced than on my spare.

1c37cc49b5d0961e98384e976e69ed3d.jpg

31fe2a50334138e9eaa0b273885e06c2.jpg
 
Buy a new cluster and put the old one on EPay.

Starting out in second gear is tough on the car, don't be a lazy driver.
 
alexiskai said:
Seems unethical. The old one is either usable or not. If it’s not working for him why would it work for someone else?
Click to expand...

You can never tell what someone wants something for. Maybe art, a wall hanger, or fix the old doodlebug to get it going for the grandkids to tear up in the back forty.
 
alexiskai said:
It’s very hard to find used cluster gears in genuinely excellent condition. Attached are pics of two gears. First one is off eBay, list price $90, second one is my spare. Notice the wear on (I think) second gear - it’s almost like the side surface of the teeth has been pulled or scraped up, forming a lip on the top. This lip can be easily felt when you inspect the gear. However, the eBay gear is pitted and the “scraping” effect is much more pronounced than on my spare.

1c37cc49b5d0961e98384e976e69ed3d.jpg

31fe2a50334138e9eaa0b273885e06c2.jpg
Click to expand...

i would not use either of those gears.
the one is rusted teeth and on the other one the teeth are tapered from use, the service manual says from car owners neglecting to fully complete the shift and the gear does not fully mate when shifted.
anyway, both those gears are not good. and there will be some sort of issue with them.

and for the guy above who said put the old one on ebay, and steel someone's money, he should have a kick in the a**. are we that hard up for the $ and have no consciance?
 
old ugly said:
and for the guy above who said put the old one on ebay, and steel someone's money, he should have a kick in the a**. are we that hard up for the $ and have no consciance?
Click to expand...

Look at post #10, I did not advocate misleading anyone with an improper ad. Anyway my wife takes care of kicking my keister! She also thinks I like to argue, (HAH).
 
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If I replace the cluster gear (trying to see if my club members have any), I may replace the two sliding gears since my new cluster gears, as they wear in, will inherit the imperfections of my old sliding gears, even if they are in decent shape. I drive barely more than 500 miles a year, so this is not too concerning to me.

I do not plan on selling my old cluster set.
 

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my thoughts on those gears in that picture are. i would use those gears if all teeth look like that.
when you look for a used cluster, no pits, no excessive were on the face of the teeth, no taper on the teeth (it may slip out of gear if too much taper), no broken, cracked or chipped teeth, and make sure the inner bearing surface is good. I'm sure that there is a good one out there, its just i have never had success in finding one.
 
One of my club members reached out and offered me this cluster - I was thankful that he found it. The teeth are in good condition, very little rust damage and deformation. The inside is also clean as well
 

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