The Ford Barn

quickchange · 10-08-2018, 01:57 AM

As a fan of Mitchell over/drives (gear splitters) having sold & fitted a number also visited their factory twice , Got to know the family well , I was concerned today that a rumour was circulating that some recently made ones have been giving troubles .This surprises me & was wondering has any one had any problems ?? feel free to mail me on this, I will also contact Sue with the same concerns , Why am I concerned, well customer called he had heard from a reliable source & wished to cancel his order , That's no problem but any untruths are , particularly on such a great unit , Look forward to your replies ,

old31 · 10-08-2018, 06:53 AM

Must be fake news from a competitor.

Jim Brierley · 10-08-2018, 11:21 AM

I always question "reliable sources"!

AL in NY · 10-08-2018, 03:00 PM

If it's fake new from a competitor, which competitor would that be, since Mitchell makes the only OD for a Model A.

quickchange · 10-08-2018, 03:26 PM

No not a competitor, He is a parts dealer here & I can speak very highly of him , Will get to see him this week end & ask him to authenticate his comments, Thanks,

MAG · 10-08-2018, 03:36 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

The only problem I have seen with a Mitchell is the clearance of the OD section on Vicky bodies.
The OD section is as far forward for this body style as it can be but the box will hit the recessed floor when going over bumps. Mitchell is aware of the situation and suggests adding additional leaf(s) to the rear spring to alleviate the condition.

updraught · 10-08-2018, 04:26 PM

Transmission needle bearing failure?

quickchange · 10-08-2018, 04:48 PM

Updraft, Yes that's what I believe & someone has got confused , Mitchells are great folk to deal with,& produce a great product which adds value too your vehicle, My land speed record holder Lickity Split Model A cpe runs a Mitchell trans , Thanks

lee in bend · 10-08-2018, 06:58 PM

MAG, I purchased a Mitchell specifically for my Victoria. Yes, the regular ones do interfere with the drop down floor but they do make an O/D for the Victoria by changing the lengths of the torque tubes. The O/D I purchased didn't go into my Victoria but I put it in a "31 Roadster...works perfectly.

MAG · 10-08-2018, 07:53 PM

I wouldn't attempt to put a regular Mitchell OD in a Vicky or 400A. The one made for these two body styles moves the box as far forward as it will go. The radius rods prevent it from being moved any farther forward. But it is still so close to the dropped floor it can hit it. Have installed several Mitchells without any trouble except with this body style.

Bick in New Zealand · 10-08-2018, 09:31 PM

Haven't heard of any problems with O.Ds but know of two locals who had problems with their transmissions.

Synchro909 · 10-08-2018, 10:21 PM

I've had no trouble with any of the three I own, except for the interferance between the curtain box under the floor and the unit on my Phaeton. Once I remodelled that, I had waaayyyy more under floor storage than before.

daveymc29 · 10-09-2018, 11:07 PM

No O/D problems. With the tranny in my roadster I have to hold it in third on a steep downhill section but that is not a problem. It will jump out if I forget, so I have something to make me remember what I'm doing. Works real well in all other situations and if it bothered me, I would take it back, or pull the tower, whatever. But it really doesn't bother me. I've had old Fords that required real strength to hold them in gear and just drove them knowing what I had to do. Mitchell's are good products.

10-08-2018, 01:57 AM	#1
quickchange Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Nelson. New Zealand Posts: 2,009	Mitchell gear spiters, As a fan of Mitchell over/drives (gear splitters) having sold & fitted a number also visited their factory twice , Got to know the family well , I was concerned today that a rumour was circulating that some recently made ones have been giving troubles .This surprises me & was wondering has any one had any problems ?? feel free to mail me on this, I will also contact Sue with the same concerns , Why am I concerned, well customer called he had heard from a reliable source & wished to cancel his order , That's no problem but any untruths are , particularly on such a great unit , Look forward to your replies ,

10-08-2018, 06:53 AM	#2
old31 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Posts: 2,094	Re: Mitchell gear spiters, Must be fake news from a competitor.

10-08-2018, 11:21 AM	#3
Jim Brierley Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Temecula, CA Posts: 4,085	Re: Mitchell gear spiters, I always question "reliable sources"!

10-08-2018, 03:00 PM	#4
AL in NY Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Southern Upstate New York Posts: 1,160	Re: Mitchell gear spiters, If it's fake new from a competitor, which competitor would that be, since Mitchell makes the only OD for a Model A. __________________ AL in NY

10-08-2018, 03:26 PM	#5
quickchange Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Nelson. New Zealand Posts: 2,009	Re: Mitchell gear spiters, No not a competitor, He is a parts dealer here & I can speak very highly of him , Will get to see him this week end & ask him to authenticate his comments, Thanks,

10-08-2018, 03:36 PM	#6
MAG Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 925	Re: Mitchell gear spiters, Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) The only problem I have seen with a Mitchell is the clearance of the OD section on Vicky bodies. The OD section is as far forward for this body style as it can be but the box will hit the recessed floor when going over bumps. Mitchell is aware of the situation and suggests adding additional leaf(s) to the rear spring to alleviate the condition. __________________ I noticed the harder I work the luckier I get!

10-08-2018, 04:26 PM	#7
updraught Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Australia Posts: 1,969	Re: Mitchell gear spiters, Transmission needle bearing failure?

10-08-2018, 04:48 PM	#8
quickchange Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Nelson. New Zealand Posts: 2,009	Re: Mitchell gear spiters, Updraft, Yes that's what I believe & someone has got confused , Mitchells are great folk to deal with,& produce a great product which adds value too your vehicle, My land speed record holder Lickity Split Model A cpe runs a Mitchell trans , Thanks

10-08-2018, 06:58 PM	#9
lee in bend Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Bend, Oregon Posts: 29	Re: Mitchell gear spiters, MAG, I purchased a Mitchell specifically for my Victoria. Yes, the regular ones do interfere with the drop down floor but they do make an O/D for the Victoria by changing the lengths of the torque tubes. The O/D I purchased didn't go into my Victoria but I put it in a "31 Roadster...works perfectly. __________________ Always Learning about Model A's 1929 Standard Roadster 1931 Deluxe Roadster 1976 Triumph Spitfire 1500

10-08-2018, 07:53 PM	#10
MAG Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 925	Re: Mitchell gear spiters, I wouldn't attempt to put a regular Mitchell OD in a Vicky or 400A. The one made for these two body styles moves the box as far forward as it will go. The radius rods prevent it from being moved any farther forward. But it is still so close to the dropped floor it can hit it. Have installed several Mitchells without any trouble except with this body style. __________________ I noticed the harder I work the luckier I get!

10-08-2018, 09:31 PM	#11
Bick in New Zealand Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Napier New Zealand Posts: 931	Re: Mitchell gear spiters, Haven't heard of any problems with O.Ds but know of two locals who had problems with their transmissions. __________________ 1928 Roadster (CA67) 1931 Deluxe Coupe RHD 1931 Victoria RHD Model A's don't leak oil they just mark their territory.

10-08-2018, 10:21 PM	#12
Synchro909 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 7,496	Re: Mitchell gear spiters, I've had no trouble with any of the three I own, except for the interferance between the curtain box under the floor and the unit on my Phaeton. Once I remodelled that, I had waaayyyy more under floor storage than before. __________________ I'm part of the only ever generation with an analogue childhood and a digital adulthood.

10-09-2018, 11:07 PM	#13
daveymc29 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Danville, CA Posts: 1,553	Re: Mitchell gear spiters, No O/D problems. With the tranny in my roadster I have to hold it in third on a steep downhill section but that is not a problem. It will jump out if I forget, so I have something to make me remember what I'm doing. Works real well in all other situations and if it bothered me, I would take it back, or pull the tower, whatever. But it really doesn't bother me. I've had old Fords that required real strength to hold them in gear and just drove them knowing what I had to do. Mitchell's are good products.