Grinding 1st gear

scott554

scott554

Junior Member
I just bought a 50 ford custom, the flat head was rebuilt but not sure about the clutch and 3 speed. The question I have is when I am stopped I can some times shift into first with ease and when in second it will do the same when almost stopped and try to go into first, but most of the times going into first it grinds as though the clutch is out part way, is there any adjustments or am I missing something. I am not new to cars just new to something this old and not sure how was desgined to work.
 
Mine was doing that real bad until I discovered that my clutch pedal had way too much play in it. It wasn't even moving the clutch until almost to the floor. I adjusted it up where it should be and no more grinding.
 
First gear has no synchronizers so you cannot go into first gear except when completely stopped. Try putting the trans in second gear (when stopped) before shifting to first and see if that helps. If not, then your clutch need adjustment.
 
flathead4rd said:
First gear has no synchronizers so you cannot go into first gear except when completely stopped. Try putting the trans in second gear (when stopped) before shifting to first and see if that helps. If not, then your clutch need adjustment.
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Agreed, quickly cycle your shifter to second then first. You also need to be at nearly a complete stop to get into first. Sometimes you can get away with a little rolling, but if I do a rolling stop at a stopsign, I usually launch from second gear. These flatheads have plenty of torque to pull in second from a near stop, especially the overdrive ones with the low rear end gears.
 
Put engine in neutral push clutch in and wait a few seconds and try to put transmission in first, if it grinds there is too much free play, If free play is about one inch and it grinds there is a problem with the pressure plate or a warped flywheel.
to check the flywheel you can use the back of a hacksaw blade,if there is clearance on the inside of the flywheel it will need to be surfaced. John
 
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