The Ford Barn

dorvedahl47pu · 09-09-2021, 11:13 PM

Good evening,

My 40 one-ton 4 speed has leaked from the rear end of the countergear cluster shaft since I have had it. I decided I would try to see if I could fix it. I tried tightening some bolts on the rear of the bearing retainer and busted the head off the bolt that (didn't know at the time) was holding the "key" in place for the countergear cluster shaft slot. I took it for a spin and everything seemed fine until I got some clanging shifting into third. I limped home in second. I pulled the cover and everything looked and moved as it should inside and the shifter was ok. The next day I noticed that the shaft had come out the back of the tranny by about an inch. After much (maybe not enough) pondering, I decided to see if I could get the shaft back in. I "carefully" knocked it back in with a small sledge and then rigged up a way to hold the shaft in place. I then changed the tranny fluid and I now have leaks on both ends of the shaft...fast leaks. I figure I will have to pull it to fix it. Any idea what might need to be replaced?

big job · 09-11-2021, 04:38 AM

I would remove transmission and take it apart I have seen this before when a shaft slips out and it was tapped back in but if it has shims / washers most likely fell out to the bottom. If that thick gear oil picks this washer up you now will have a lock up. Be safe
take it apart or look it up to see if this has shims or not. Maybe VanPelts has a picture break down.

Mac VP · 09-11-2021, 07:05 AM

Those shafts have a “push fit” as you slide them into the case from the rear, until you get to the last 1/2” inch or so. The shafts were machined with a slightly bigger diameter on the rear end so that they have a tight fit into the case. You have to align the “flats” on the shafts to face upwards so that they can be secured by the lock plate. If you didn’t feel that tightness on sliding them in the last one half inch, I would guess that the case might be cracked. This would also account for the oil leaking. I would pull the transmission, remove all the gears, and inspect it carefully back there. We may have some of the cases in our core stock.

dorvedahl47pu · 09-11-2021, 11:23 PM

Thank you gentlemen. I will pull and see what the situation is. It did seem snug the last inch or so putting it back in. Leakage on the front end likely means something up there needs fixin so I suppose I might as well check it out and get some parts ordered. I've got a list made up of likely Vanpelt candidates ready....

supereal · 09-12-2021, 01:39 PM

Most transmissions where the cluster shaft enters the box at the rear will leak there. When we overhaul such a box, we coat the rear end of the shaft with Loctite. We learned that trick back in my Model A days when such leaks were common. At that time, there was an accessory cap sold to contain the oil, so it has been around a long time.

dorvedahl47pu · 09-14-2021, 10:41 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Quote:

Originally Posted by supereal

Most transmissions where the cluster shaft enters the box at the rear will leak there. When we overhaul such a box, we coat the rear end of the shaft with Loctite. We learned that trick back in my Model A days when such leaks were common. At that time, there was an accessory cap sold to contain the oil, so it has been around a long time.

Thank you. That is good info.

09-09-2021, 11:13 PM	#1
dorvedahl47pu Member Join Date: Sep 2020 Location: Hooper, Utah Posts: 79	4 Speed Leak Situation Good evening, My 40 one-ton 4 speed has leaked from the rear end of the countergear cluster shaft since I have had it. I decided I would try to see if I could fix it. I tried tightening some bolts on the rear of the bearing retainer and busted the head off the bolt that (didn't know at the time) was holding the "key" in place for the countergear cluster shaft slot. I took it for a spin and everything seemed fine until I got some clanging shifting into third. I limped home in second. I pulled the cover and everything looked and moved as it should inside and the shifter was ok. The next day I noticed that the shaft had come out the back of the tranny by about an inch. After much (maybe not enough) pondering, I decided to see if I could get the shaft back in. I "carefully" knocked it back in with a small sledge and then rigged up a way to hold the shaft in place. I then changed the tranny fluid and I now have leaks on both ends of the shaft...fast leaks. I figure I will have to pull it to fix it. Any idea what might need to be replaced?

09-11-2021, 04:38 AM	#2
big job Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Dighton, Mass Posts: 1,230	Re: 4 Speed Leak Situation I would remove transmission and take it apart I have seen this before when a shaft slips out and it was tapped back in but if it has shims / washers most likely fell out to the bottom. If that thick gear oil picks this washer up you now will have a lock up. Be safe take it apart or look it up to see if this has shims or not. Maybe VanPelts has a picture break down.

09-11-2021, 07:05 AM	#3
Mac VP Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 1,361	Re: 4 Speed Leak Situation Those shafts have a “push fit” as you slide them into the case from the rear, until you get to the last 1/2” inch or so. The shafts were machined with a slightly bigger diameter on the rear end so that they have a tight fit into the case. You have to align the “flats” on the shafts to face upwards so that they can be secured by the lock plate. If you didn’t feel that tightness on sliding them in the last one half inch, I would guess that the case might be cracked. This would also account for the oil leaking. I would pull the transmission, remove all the gears, and inspect it carefully back there. We may have some of the cases in our core stock. __________________ VANPELT SALES LLC Cincinnati, Ohio Office: 513-724-9486 www.vanpeltsales.com www.classictransmission.com

09-11-2021, 11:23 PM	#4
dorvedahl47pu Member Join Date: Sep 2020 Location: Hooper, Utah Posts: 79	Re: 4 Speed Leak Situation Thank you gentlemen. I will pull and see what the situation is. It did seem snug the last inch or so putting it back in. Leakage on the front end likely means something up there needs fixin so I suppose I might as well check it out and get some parts ordered. I've got a list made up of likely Vanpelt candidates ready....

09-12-2021, 01:39 PM	#5
supereal Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Iowa Posts: 1,634	Re: 4 Speed Leak Situation Most transmissions where the cluster shaft enters the box at the rear will leak there. When we overhaul such a box, we coat the rear end of the shaft with Loctite. We learned that trick back in my Model A days when such leaks were common. At that time, there was an accessory cap sold to contain the oil, so it has been around a long time.