ID transmission 39'?

[flat-v8]

This is the one that had 3 loose ball bearings in drain plug, you guys said open it up to look at gears, I think it is a good 1939 - 40' gear set but not sure what I have. It has double detent plugs with larger screws on shifter top, it has 3" fork, everything is tight and moves smoothly. The gears and synchronizer assembly are tight and slide smoothly, no springs or loose parts were found inside the case. I think this transmission is good to go but I dont know squat about them, so please look at the pics, tell me what exactly I have here, and settle my mind. Thanks!

 

[jerry grayson]

I think that for you to settle your mind about the transmission, you need to take it out and get educated by taking it apart. You can get several books about the removal and inspection and repair from recomendation on this site. JMO

 

[George/Maine]

The sliding sleeve is were they may have come from,see if you can feel any spring tension when sliding back and forth.From the looks its been painted and may have been worked on.The balls may have been there for some time.Try it and see if it works ok.

 

[David J]

everything is tight and moves smoothly. The gears and synchronizer assembly are tight and slide smoothly . I think this transmission is good to go but I dont know squat about them, so please look at the pics, tell me what exactly I have here, and settle my mind. Thanks!
[/QUOTE] In the center pic - bottom row it looks like the 2-3 syncro hub is halfway back ? { this is the part that the front fork engages } It should not do this without forcing it . This hub is not supposed to move freely It is supposed to have a very noticeable catch in the center . I'm not up on 39 stuff but 33-34 trannys have springs and balls inside the syncro assy that hold the hub centered and it should take some noticeable effort to move it off center . Check the 2-3 syncro hub to see if it does this . If it doesn't you know where your 3 balls came from . Someone already explained this in your earlier post on this so look at that

 

[rotorwrench]

I agree with George. You should just push the 2nd/3rd (front synchro sleeve) fore and aft the see if you feel the detent of the three ball bearings. If it moves real easy from high synchro ring & back to 2nd synchro ring with a loosey goosey feel to it , then the balls you found are from there. If you feel a positive catch when pushed fore & aft then there should be detent balls & springs in there. Now this is all contingent on this transmission having this type of synchronizer assembly. I have a 39 top loader that still has the original synchronizer set up that had the C-shaped spring rings and the slider plates with the indents pressed into them. This type was only used for a short time then was re-adopted in the late 40s for the Mercury and Ford overdrive & standard shift trannsmissions. If it has this type synchro assembly then the bearings came from somewhere else. The top shift tower only has two bearings in the detents and they are pretty big. There are only two big ball bearings in the transmission for another source. The main input has a ball bearing and the aft end of the main shaft has a ball bearing. They both have sturdy cages and I've not seen any come apart yet but that doesn't mean they can't. The bearing balls would have had to be pretty buggered up to come out of one of those two bearings.

Kerby

 

[gmc1941]

What size were the bearings? Can you post a photo of the bearings. This would give a better clue where they came from. Besides the other problems that could be a problem. Is the color I'm seeing rusty or is this the fluid?

 

[flat-v8]

The little balls were about 3\16 or 1\4 looked shiny and new not ruffed up any. by sliding the synchro part back just a little, it appears it has the three ball, spring, and steel wedge block type, there is no play or looseness and everything is in place. Thanks for your comments, I'm gonna put it all back together after refilling with gear oil, then when I get the brakes done, drive it down the road and see how it shifts. The case in the pictures was empty, it is kinda rusty looking, I'm sure moisture got inside it over the years sitting.

 

[rotorwrench]

Bearings that size most likely would have come from a synchronizer at some point in time. My guess is that the synchro got out of position when being assembled and someone rectified the problem but didn't fish the balls out. Only a guess but could be plausible.

Kerby

 

[flat-v8]

Thank You rotorwrench! I really believe that is the case, 25 years ago here in Houston, he was considered the best flathead mechanic\builder in town, actually he was closer to Beaumont area and about 70 then, everybody steered me to his shop, a super nice guy and honest, he sold me the motor & transmission, and rebuilt them both for $PEANUTS$ He said it was a 39' unit, from a passenger car. The ball bearings were probably just stuck in the drain plug, and he didn't look. Fingers still crossed.

 

[TerryOH]

are you sure you found ball bearings? The shifter rotates on a steel pin, if care is not used the pin can drop into the transmission when removing the shifter. The pin is 1/4" round and about 3/8" long. I have found these in the bottom of the transmission.

 

[19Fordy]

I am not a trans expert by any means, but isn't it also necessary to take it apart and measure some components so as to check for wear you can't see even though it may shift smoothly when out of the car? Aside from things braking, don't some just wear out over the years?