Rebuilt the transmission for my '29 Tudor - gears and shift ball good. Except for a slight drag when going from 1st to 2nd it moves nicely through all gears with the engine off. When running there is short grind (less than a second) when shifting - makes no difference which gear. Transmission has 600W oil, clutch pedal has 1" of free play, and using a V8 pressure plate. Appreciate any ideas on how to fix the grind.
Transmission grinds
- Thread starter miken7132
- Start date
Mike V. Florida
Well-known member
Are you double clutching?
Patrick L.
Well-known member
Is there anything different than before the rebuild? From the sound of your post it appears that it didn't grind before the rebuild.. Or, If you're not used to driving a ModelA then its probably just a matter of getting used to this monster..
Don't wind it out in every gear... read the original manual, it says to shift from first to second at 5-7 mph and into third at 12-15 mph (if my memory is correct). Also take a little time between gears and let the shifter sort of fall on its own into the next gear without forcing it. You'll get the hang of it. Downshifting is a skill learned... one has to match the motor and ****** speed to do it quietly.
Jim Brierley
Well-known member
If it grinds excessively when putting it into gear. like at a stop sign or in your driveway, it is the clutch. The key word is excessively. Try taking most of the free-play out of the clutch (adjustment) and if that helps, it is the clutch. The A trans is not synchronized, so anything other than the above is likely the driver, and it will get better with practice. If it is the clutch it might get better as the high spots wear down.
As was earlier posted,
it would be a good idea to take most of the free play out of the clutch-that should help with the 'foot feel' as things begin moving. OK-TIME TO ROLL--shift into 1st (low) gear and get the car rolling to MAYBE, I repeat MAYBE 10mph?!?! Don't "THRASH" the engine.My definition of "THRASHING": The intentional or uninformed act of holding one's Model 'A' in 1st or 2nd gear longer than is neccessary while at the same time running the engine up to and holding said engine at a higher RPM than is generally accepted as safe practice by experienced members of the Model 'A' world. "THRASHING" is easily recognized by the excessive noise and vibration produced by the engine. On rare occasions, engine fluids, some flammable,some not,can be regurgitated. Be advised that the expulsion of engine oil will most likely soil the engine compartment AND the undercarriage. The lose of coolant can often soil the entire car. Also, the lose of coolant can soil your entire wife. Worse yet, it sometimes it soils BOTH. If one's wife is 'compromised' in any of these ways and said wife is even remotely familiar with the definition and/or the consequences of "THRASHING",the vehicle's operator/husband may at his discretion sit in an electric chair for a time of not more than 15 minutes nor less than 10 minutes at least twice daily (these times to be determined by the wife) OR he can produce a check drawn on a bank which is known to both he and his wife. Said check must be made payable either to CASH or at the wife's discretion, made payable jointly or singularly to the wife and/or mother-in-law.The check's amount must be left blank. The husband must sign the check and warrant that valid funds are available for any amount that is presented. He must then present said instrument of financial servitude to the wife along with as much fanfare as he can muster along with a blood oath to become a better husband. The car then must molder in its own 'stew' for a length of time which will be determined by the wife. This length of time will begin not before the husband's forced fashion show viewing is over.As you can see, DON'T "THRASH" YOUR ENGINE. The extra speed that might be gained from "thrashing" is negligible. However, the practice of "thrashing" WILL do a pretty good job of vibrating your mirrors, windwings, luggage rack hardware,etc. loose! ALSO,I almost forgot, REPEATED "thrashing" is a great way to help your engine hammer out its expensive babbit bearings! OK back to business-- NEXT-- Double clutch and shift into 2nd gear. Don't rush or force anything. After a little more experience and while your hand is on the shifter, you will be able to feel as each gear meshes with the cluster gear .OK I got sidetracked again-- NEXT-- Gain a little more speed while still in 2nd gear.THEN, repeat the previous shifting procedure and shift into 3rd (high) gear. The idea is to get the car rolling and into high gear as soon as is reasonable. If you feel the need to downshift,go ahead and do it-DON'T LUG THE ENGINE-that's no good either. It won't take you long to become familiar,some say intimate, with your particular car's performance envelope. Legend has it that an ancient stone tablet exists with the inscription: "EVERY MODEL 'A' IS DIFFERENT". Sorry--BACK TO THE IMPORTANT STUFF-- Always come to a complete stop before returning to 1st gear OR reverse. This gearbox is NOT synchronized, so smoothly downshifting from 3rd to 2nd will also come with a little practice. This humble advice (some call it BS) comes from the well over 50 years of valuable 'field experience' that I have received while operating and maintaining these vehicles. This education began when I was a ham fisted and lead footed 6-yes-6 year old 'gearhead wannabe'. I have been advised with great authority that most of the unflattering terms used in the previous sentence are still valid when my ADULT demeanor is described. Recently, however, I have become aware that the term 'wannabe' has been downgraded to 'usetobe'. MY KING PINS MUST BE WORN- I'M WANDERING AGAIN- A healthy Model A gearbox is difficult to damage. It is good practice for one to use 1st gear only long enough to get the car safely moving.---However it is possible and advisable to engage the tractor like qualities of 1st gear when one's car fails to progress forward. An example of this situation is: As when one must remove his FATHER'S borrowed 1930 Deluxe Roadster from Great Uncle's Felder's manure ditch without adult detection-again EXPERIENCE is a key word. Once more. it is difficult for one to damage a healthy Model A gearbox. This unit is overbuilt for the power that it transmits. The internals and the feel of the Model A gearbox make me think of the early Harley Davidson gearboxes i.e. tough, well engineered, and slow to operate. LASTLY- GOOD LUCK-you'll get the 'hang' of it sooner than you think. All the best, REA,jr(jmr) Shadetree rule #2."An engine that's been often thrashed, May soon become one's used up trash!"
it would be a good idea to take most of the free play out of the clutch-that should help with the 'foot feel' as things begin moving. OK-TIME TO ROLL--shift into 1st (low) gear and get the car rolling to MAYBE, I repeat MAYBE 10mph?!?! Don't "THRASH" the engine.My definition of "THRASHING": The intentional or uninformed act of holding one's Model 'A' in 1st or 2nd gear longer than is neccessary while at the same time running the engine up to and holding said engine at a higher RPM than is generally accepted as safe practice by experienced members of the Model 'A' world. "THRASHING" is easily recognized by the excessive noise and vibration produced by the engine. On rare occasions, engine fluids, some flammable,some not,can be regurgitated. Be advised that the expulsion of engine oil will most likely soil the engine compartment AND the undercarriage. The lose of coolant can often soil the entire car. Also, the lose of coolant can soil your entire wife. Worse yet, it sometimes it soils BOTH. If one's wife is 'compromised' in any of these ways and said wife is even remotely familiar with the definition and/or the consequences of "THRASHING",the vehicle's operator/husband may at his discretion sit in an electric chair for a time of not more than 15 minutes nor less than 10 minutes at least twice daily (these times to be determined by the wife) OR he can produce a check drawn on a bank which is known to both he and his wife. Said check must be made payable either to CASH or at the wife's discretion, made payable jointly or singularly to the wife and/or mother-in-law.The check's amount must be left blank. The husband must sign the check and warrant that valid funds are available for any amount that is presented. He must then present said instrument of financial servitude to the wife along with as much fanfare as he can muster along with a blood oath to become a better husband. The car then must molder in its own 'stew' for a length of time which will be determined by the wife. This length of time will begin not before the husband's forced fashion show viewing is over.As you can see, DON'T "THRASH" YOUR ENGINE. The extra speed that might be gained from "thrashing" is negligible. However, the practice of "thrashing" WILL do a pretty good job of vibrating your mirrors, windwings, luggage rack hardware,etc. loose! ALSO,I almost forgot, REPEATED "thrashing" is a great way to help your engine hammer out its expensive babbit bearings! OK back to business-- NEXT-- Double clutch and shift into 2nd gear. Don't rush or force anything. After a little more experience and while your hand is on the shifter, you will be able to feel as each gear meshes with the cluster gear .OK I got sidetracked again-- NEXT-- Gain a little more speed while still in 2nd gear.THEN, repeat the previous shifting procedure and shift into 3rd (high) gear. The idea is to get the car rolling and into high gear as soon as is reasonable. If you feel the need to downshift,go ahead and do it-DON'T LUG THE ENGINE-that's no good either. It won't take you long to become familiar,some say intimate, with your particular car's performance envelope. Legend has it that an ancient stone tablet exists with the inscription: "EVERY MODEL 'A' IS DIFFERENT". Sorry--BACK TO THE IMPORTANT STUFF-- Always come to a complete stop before returning to 1st gear OR reverse. This gearbox is NOT synchronized, so smoothly downshifting from 3rd to 2nd will also come with a little practice. This humble advice (some call it BS) comes from the well over 50 years of valuable 'field experience' that I have received while operating and maintaining these vehicles. This education began when I was a ham fisted and lead footed 6-yes-6 year old 'gearhead wannabe'. I have been advised with great authority that most of the unflattering terms used in the previous sentence are still valid when my ADULT demeanor is described. Recently, however, I have become aware that the term 'wannabe' has been downgraded to 'usetobe'. MY KING PINS MUST BE WORN- I'M WANDERING AGAIN- A healthy Model A gearbox is difficult to damage. It is good practice for one to use 1st gear only long enough to get the car safely moving.---However it is possible and advisable to engage the tractor like qualities of 1st gear when one's car fails to progress forward. An example of this situation is: As when one must remove his FATHER'S borrowed 1930 Deluxe Roadster from Great Uncle's Felder's manure ditch without adult detection-again EXPERIENCE is a key word. Once more. it is difficult for one to damage a healthy Model A gearbox. This unit is overbuilt for the power that it transmits. The internals and the feel of the Model A gearbox make me think of the early Harley Davidson gearboxes i.e. tough, well engineered, and slow to operate. LASTLY- GOOD LUCK-you'll get the 'hang' of it sooner than you think. All the best, REA,jr(jmr) Shadetree rule #2."An engine that's been often thrashed, May soon become one's used up trash!"