ford model a won't go into 2nd gear

norway

norway

Member
i got my gearbox, and engine back from overhaul this summer, engine had worn main bearing, and transmission had very worn bearing. today it was my first test run. it leaked oil, (but perhaps it finds its Level). and gearbox won't go into 2nd gir. sometimes i can og into 2nd gear, but that is rare.
engine is fresh overhauled With New babbit bearing, and much more, every worn part is swapped to one New. same With gearbox.
but gearbox shift Tower look like before, no New parts there. except that, everything is New in gearbox. everything is done by the same overhauler.


I only mounted the gearbox on the engine before I put it in the car.
before, 2nd gear worked ok.
thanks for help.
 
If it s not going into 2nd and it's not grinding (seems locked) the problem is the shifter top is not disengaging first gear completely. If you shift from first to revearse and then to 2nd does it work?
 
first gear, and Third gear is working very nicely, and clutch Works good.
i have one spare gearbox, and it is shifting very smooth, i will try that shift Tower. but first, i will compare both shift Tower. to see if my shift Tower is worn.

i have 2 ford model a. one I have never had any big problems With, (ford model a fordor 1930). and the other one, (ford pickup 1929), I have had MANY problems With it.
 
Ensure that the shifter forks are set into the collars on the gears when assembling.
 
The shift lever has a tendency to wear 'square' when it should have a nice round ball [ if I remember correctly it should be 1/2" round]
 
When the shifter ball and the slot in the fork is worn it is possible to have the lever go into the 2-3 side before the 1-rev side is out of first position ---in the beginning this will happen when pushing the lever from first toward second ----by moving the lever from first to neutral--then across the "H",then into second you might be able to work around the wear
 
"Maybe" the new gears, etc, just need a little limbering up? Minerva had "CRISP" detents & I had to "slap" her into second, with the open palm of my hand, just pushing it in didn't "CUT IT"
Bill W.
 
I'm having the same issue. It's like something is blocking second gear. I can shift over to the 2nd 3rd side but not up into 2nd gear. This doesn't happen all of the time. However, it is becoming more frequent. I pulled the tower and have noticed the ball on the shift lever is worn flat. I am getting a tower on loan to try this week.
 
See #7. IMO The tower needs to be reconditioned as mentioned above. I have welded the ball on the shift lever with my mig, and filed the ball round. Piece of cake.
The spring for the detent on the side of the top needs to be functioning and the forks need to be minimally worn. If the transmission has been gone thru a through rebuild should include the tower. The car is telling you to fix the rest of the transmission.
Bob
 
The transmission needs to be fully disengaged from first gear before you can engage second. A worn out shifter may not allow full first gear disengagement
 
I had that problem ..turns out it was a prior owner/idiot who bent gear lever to clear after market gauge panel below dash,shift into low OK into high OK but 2nd gear about half the time it would go..removed the 6 bolts pulled tower off threw it in the ditch put on one I had laying around ..shifted like an automatic and problem solved .. PS just got back from Chatsworth swap meet did OK there and met some folks two hundred mile trip for me.
 
i have removed one shift Tower from my spare gearbox today, i will compare both shift Tower, and see who is most worn. but this is how my spare shift Tower look like, tha ball is very worn, it is very square, but is the forks very worn? or is it ok. Thanks for all your help. Oil leak stopped today, So now the engine has find its oil Level.
 
Sometimes, even if the ball & the knotches in the forks are worn, IF you shift in a PRONOUNCED "H" pattern, they may work OK for YEARS. You have to learn to 'OUT FOX" the Model A's IDIOSYNCHROCIES.
Bill W.
 
Last edited:
I'd put a small powerful magnet in the drain and fill plugs. Those shifting forks show evidence of metal grit, or being run dry.
 
Wear in the forks themselves is usually not a problem as there is a lot of clearance where the forks go into the slots in the two slider gears. The area of concern is in the slots in the forks where the round ball on the end of the shift lever engages. Welding up the ball and the fork slots and filing to fit in most cases will restore a shift tower.

If the forks become bent by someone man handling the shift lever there is usually not a problem until you remove the tower. The forks will then jump out of alignment and you will not be able to reinstall the tower because the forks will not line up with the slots in the slider gears.

Tom Endy
 
Tom Endy said:
Wear in the forks themselves is usually not a problem as there is a lot of clearance where the forks go into the slots in the two slider gears. The area of concern is in the slots in the forks where the round ball on the end of the shift lever engages. Welding up the ball and the fork slots and filing to fit in most cases will restore a shift tower.

If the forks become bent by someone man handling the shift lever there is usually not a problem until you remove the tower. The forks will then jump out of alignment and you will not be able to reinstall the tower because the forks will not line up with the slots in the slider gears.

Tom Endy
Click to expand...

i changed my shift Tower today, to one that was on my rusty spare gearbox, now it shift into all gears, it Works good! but it is worn in the Place you describe, (ball and Space araund the ball). i will overhaul the one shift Tower that did not work, but do you have to use special Tools to overhaul one shift Tower?

thanks for all your help
 
I believe the biggest problem is the spring that must be removed. Both Vince and Mitch have posted pictures and procedures on how to make a tool and use it also.
Try doing a search or someone may post a link.
Paul in CT
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top