Transmission too tight.
 

I haven't been here for a while but am at wits end and need some help.
I just finished installing a new Mitchell Synchronized transmission.


For some reason it is too tight. As per Mitchells instructions I made sure the synchros were free and checked then as I was going back together. As I slid the rear end forward to hook up the drive shaft, I could easily turn the output shaft to align the u joint with the drive shaft. as soon as I tightened the U joint caps, it put too much pressure on the output shaft and locks the input and output shafts together. I even tried removing the felt seal, just to see if that made a difference.


I noticed on another thread that Walkerlakeprinter said his caps were A-4517 -B2 top, and A-4514-B2 Bottom.


According to Steve Pluckers info this is what it should have.


My 29 has A-4514-B2 top and bottom. Can this be what Is causing the problem? If not any ideas what is?


I have contacted Steve Mitchell, and although he has been very friendly and helpful I think he is about out of ideas too. I noticed the cap number issue after talking to him.

Re: Transmission too tight.
 

I don't know if this pertains to a Mitchell, but on a stock transmission I have encountered a situation where the length of the bearing surface on the main shaft exceeded the length of the free play inside the input shaft where the roller bearing resides. This would jam up the transmission then the front and rear were bolted up. I attributed this to the input shaft and the main shaft being made by different manufacturers. There may not be a specific specification for the depth of the free play inside the input shaft and it may vary. The resolve is to grind some material off the end of the main shaft, or find another that was shorter.


This is one of the things I check when rebuilding a transmission. I slip a roller bearing into the input shaft and insert the main shaft and rotate them in the opposite direction while pushing them together to feel for any binding.


I have also found transmissions jammed because someone installed a later bearing spacer on an early main shaft that already has a fixed spacer installed.


Another cause is when someone installs the long roller bearing in the input shaft instead of the short one. I have seen that also.


Tom Endy

Re: Transmission too tight.
 

But the transmission was fine completely assembled and in the car. It was only when the Split caps were installed, I am guessing the drive shaft is putting too much pressure on the u Joint for some reason?

Re: Transmission too tight.
 

Could it be that the split caps are binding against the u-joint when tightened?

Is it a reproduction u-joint? Some have had problems with the repro's

Re: Transmission too tight.
 

What 1955cj5 said. Did you replace the universal joint? Some repros do not fit in the housing and ythat could be binding things up.

Re: Transmission too tight.
 

Same caps, same u joint.

Re: Transmission too tight.
 

You didn't forget the universal joint housing inner cap, I don't know
if that would make it bind or not.



Bob

Re: Transmission too tight.
 

Plus the gaskets on each side of the inner cap.
Be sure the tab on the thick U-joint washer is tucked into the space between the splines.

Re: Transmission too tight.
 

Thanks for the ideas, No, I did not forget the inner cap nor the two gaskets.
If it was not put in, the torque tube would be pulled even further forward and make it worse, I believe. In fact I am guessing I could solve the problem by installing an additional cap, with the bell cut off creating a spacer. But I would prefer it be right not just working.


The u joint washer is replaced with a special Washer that Mitchell supplies to keep it from leaking as their transmission uses 85-140 oil. It has no tang on it. Their instructions on it are pretty clear. And it works on all the other transmissions they sell.

Re: Transmission too tight.
 

Burrs on the driveshaft spline, u-joint could be causing problems? Check that the u- joint slides easy on the driveshaft. If you have burrs or nicks ran a file down the splines!

Re: Transmission too tight.
 

removed bad info

Re: Transmission too tight.
 

[QUOTE=Big hammer;1687770]Burrs on the driveshaft spline, u-joint could be causing problems? Check that the u- joint slides easy on the driveshaft. If you have burrs or nicks ran a file down the splines![/QUOTE Yep, slides easily

Re: Transmission too tight.
 

Their washer is machined to fit the U joint. They did say not to use the tang washer. I didn't find that until later and left it in. After talking to Mitchell, I pulled everything out and took the tang washer out as per their instructions.


Obviously this setup works with all the transmissions they sell. There just has to be something, that someone did to my car at sometime that is coming back to haunt me.

Re: Transmission too tight.
 

Disregard ...

Re: Transmission too tight.
 

The bolt and washer come assembled and ready to install, as I recall there is no Lock washer. Like everything, they send exactly what is needed including any seals and gaskets. They did not say to add a lock washer.


and after some thought, the drive shaft could not hit the retaining bolt because the u joint cross is between it and the bolt.

Re: Transmission too tight.
 

Right never mind ... Too much coffee today!

Re: Transmission too tight.
 

Actually after taking it apart for the third time, You are not that far off. Theoretically the drive line could come through the U joint as I had forgotten that the Spider is open. But in checking there is plenty of room, the U joint yoke hits the speedo gear before the driveshaft splines get to the end of the yoke. I did find the Mitchell Output shaft protrudes about .060 further than original, will talk to Steve Mitchell about it tomorrow.


Bill

Re: Transmission too tight.
 

Thanks for response.

1. Maybe that 0.060 longer shaft would be enough to move the U joint to the rear so that it would rub and bind up on the Inner cap A-4513A when bolts are tightened?

2. As I remember sometime in the past some Repro U Joints were made that were larger than Ford specs that rubbed on this "Inner Cap".

Might have been a V8 U joint that would fit Model A but outer part was larger than Model A one.

Re: Transmission too tight.
 

The problem that I had about 2 yrs ago was the splined holes in the yokes were out of alignment with one another. One finger on one of the yokes was so far out that the "clamshells" surrounding the joint could not be assembled with out locking up

Re: Transmission too tight.
 

Figured it out, the after market u joint is too long.
No clearance between the U joint and the speed gear. Pulling the torque tube into place pushes the U joint forward and puts pressure on the output shaft and rear bearing.