The Ford Barn

Macdozer · 05-04-2014, 08:25 AM

I have a 1936 ford sedan, all original.

21 stud engine

The transmission has been hard to put into gear and sometimes it takes a lot of effort to get it to go back into neutral, like it is stuck in gear. I can move the whole shifter around and it seems to have a lot of play in it.

What can I check and/or adjust on this transmission?

AnthonyG · 05-04-2014, 08:32 AM

Does it grind when trying? Have you check the tranny oil for level and condition?

Charlie ny · 05-04-2014, 08:59 AM

Macd,
Not much to adjust but certainly drain and replace the trans lube. I use
85-140 from NAPA or any other quality auto store. I'm guessing that there is
accumulated excessive end play and just some worn out components in your trans
and / or shift tower.
Charlie ny

Macdozer · 05-04-2014, 09:01 AM

No grinding. Tranny oil was changed and level is good.

Is there anything I can inspect, like clutch adjustment, or anything from the top where stick goes into tranny?

Brendan · 05-04-2014, 09:03 AM

how about checking the pin that fits into the shifter? I took a drill bit that fit into the hole and the notch and cut it to fit. that helped!

AnthonyG · 05-04-2014, 09:24 AM

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Gotta feeling it's just tired and in need of a rebuild. If it hasn't been it's past due. Remove floor pans / boards, open the top and take a look inside. Check for side play on shafts, check for gear damage, look at syncros for signs of excessive wear. If you remove the shifter make sure you don't lose the pin Brendan is speaking of (which keeps stick from spinning when you shift) into the tranny. Sometimes it's stuck in place there some times not, better when stuck as less chance of falling into the tranny gear box. That can be nasty to get out if it does. I locktite mine in place before reassy to make sure I don't lose it into the box when reassembling the top plate

1931 flamingo · 05-04-2014, 09:37 AM

How much clutch pedal free play is there??
Have you tried adj clutch??
Paul in CT

Flathill · 05-12-2014, 09:14 AM

Macdozer,
I think Brendan's information about the shifter pin is the first item to check.
If the pin that fits under the round cap that unscrews is missing the shift handle will move around in all directions. Make sure the pin is in place.
Some times this pin is misplayed and not reinstalled.
This would also cause it being difficult to move the gears to neutral.
Let us know how you make out.

Mac VP · 05-12-2014, 06:08 PM

Check the B7221 pin and it's contact points for excess wear. However, I suspect your problem may be in those early shifter forks. The early shifter housings often had the B-7230 and B-7231 shift forks, along with a pressed steel bracket device located in the center of the housing. The purpose of the bracket was to help guide the shifter lever into each fork groove, but as the forks wore, it did a lousy job of it. The replacement 40-7230 and 40-7231 forks had wider ramps and the were able to eliminate that poor bracket. The result is that the stub of your shift lever "finds" each fork groove much more easily. This pic link shows a set of worn early forks vs the replacement forks.

http://www.vanpeltsales.com/FH_web/F...comparison.jpg

Check your shift housing....off the gearbox. Look inside with a flashlight to inspect the fork grooves. If you see that wear, we can rebuild the housing for you.

Macdozer · 07-27-2014, 07:17 AM

Thanks for all the help. It was the shifter pin, problem was that there wasn't one.

Now I can shift between gears with out problems. Thanks again.

Marv · 07-27-2014, 12:23 PM

You may want to use a magnet and make sure the old pin was not lost down inside the transmission.. when i was 16 idone that and knew it. I thought that would not hurt it and just got another pin and put in it. It worked for about 10 mile then i wound it up in 2nd gear and just before i hit 3rd it caught and there went the cluster gear.

Lawson Cox · 07-27-2014, 12:35 PM

By all means get one of those gizmos that have a magnet on the end, and that has a swivel to it and fish around in the transmission for the pin. Find it or make damned sure it is not in the transmission before driving around or you will wind up like Marv. If the pin winds up floating around in the gear lube, it is almost certain that in a matter of time you won't be a happy camper.

05-04-2014, 08:25 AM	#1
Macdozer Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Central NH Posts: 192	36 transmission help I have a 1936 ford sedan, all original. 21 stud engine The transmission has been hard to put into gear and sometimes it takes a lot of effort to get it to go back into neutral, like it is stuck in gear. I can move the whole shifter around and it seems to have a lot of play in it. What can I check and/or adjust on this transmission?

05-04-2014, 08:32 AM	#2
AnthonyG Senior Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: Pa. Posts: 2,176	Re: 36 transmission help Does it grind when trying? Have you check the tranny oil for level and condition? __________________ Nomad

05-04-2014, 08:59 AM	#3
Charlie ny BANNED Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 3,019	Re: 36 transmission help Macd, Not much to adjust but certainly drain and replace the trans lube. I use 85-140 from NAPA or any other quality auto store. I'm guessing that there is accumulated excessive end play and just some worn out components in your trans and / or shift tower. Charlie ny

05-04-2014, 09:01 AM	#4
Macdozer Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Central NH Posts: 192	Re: 36 transmission help No grinding. Tranny oil was changed and level is good. Is there anything I can inspect, like clutch adjustment, or anything from the top where stick goes into tranny?

05-04-2014, 09:03 AM	#5
Brendan Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: At my kitchen table in Santa Rosa, Ca Posts: 2,904	Re: 36 transmission help how about checking the pin that fits into the shifter? I took a drill bit that fit into the hole and the notch and cut it to fit. that helped! __________________ If it would have been a snake it would have bit ya! i can't spell my way out of a paper bag!

05-04-2014, 09:24 AM	#6
AnthonyG Senior Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: Pa. Posts: 2,176	Re: 36 transmission help Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Gotta feeling it's just tired and in need of a rebuild. If it hasn't been it's past due. Remove floor pans / boards, open the top and take a look inside. Check for side play on shafts, check for gear damage, look at syncros for signs of excessive wear. If you remove the shifter make sure you don't lose the pin Brendan is speaking of (which keeps stick from spinning when you shift) into the tranny. Sometimes it's stuck in place there some times not, better when stuck as less chance of falling into the tranny gear box. That can be nasty to get out if it does. I locktite mine in place before reassy to make sure I don't lose it into the box when reassembling the top plate __________________ Nomad

05-04-2014, 09:37 AM	#7
1931 flamingo Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: new britain,ct 06052 Posts: 9,393	Re: 36 transmission help How much clutch pedal free play is there?? Have you tried adj clutch?? Paul in CT

05-12-2014, 09:14 AM	#8
Flathill Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Grantham, NH Posts: 49	Re: 36 transmission help Macdozer, I think Brendan's information about the shifter pin is the first item to check. If the pin that fits under the round cap that unscrews is missing the shift handle will move around in all directions. Make sure the pin is in place. Some times this pin is misplayed and not reinstalled. This would also cause it being difficult to move the gears to neutral. Let us know how you make out.

05-12-2014, 06:08 PM	#9
Mac VP Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 1,364	Re: 36 transmission help Check the B7221 pin and it's contact points for excess wear. However, I suspect your problem may be in those early shifter forks. The early shifter housings often had the B-7230 and B-7231 shift forks, along with a pressed steel bracket device located in the center of the housing. The purpose of the bracket was to help guide the shifter lever into each fork groove, but as the forks wore, it did a lousy job of it. The replacement 40-7230 and 40-7231 forks had wider ramps and the were able to eliminate that poor bracket. The result is that the stub of your shift lever "finds" each fork groove much more easily. This pic link shows a set of worn early forks vs the replacement forks. http://www.vanpeltsales.com/FH_web/F...comparison.jpg Check your shift housing....off the gearbox. Look inside with a flashlight to inspect the fork grooves. If you see that wear, we can rebuild the housing for you. __________________ VANPELT SALES LLC Cincinnati, Ohio Office: 513-724-9486 www.vanpeltsales.com www.classictransmission.com

07-27-2014, 07:17 AM	#10
Macdozer Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Central NH Posts: 192	Re: 36 transmission help Thanks for all the help. It was the shifter pin, problem was that there wasn't one. Now I can shift between gears with out problems. Thanks again.

07-27-2014, 12:23 PM	#11
Marv Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 875	Re: 36 transmission help You may want to use a magnet and make sure the old pin was not lost down inside the transmission.. when i was 16 idone that and knew it. I thought that would not hurt it and just got another pin and put in it. It worked for about 10 mile then i wound it up in 2nd gear and just before i hit 3rd it caught and there went the cluster gear.

07-27-2014, 12:35 PM	#12
Lawson Cox Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Above the gnat line in Georgia Posts: 7,009	Re: 36 transmission help By all means get one of those gizmos that have a magnet on the end, and that has a swivel to it and fish around in the transmission for the pin. Find it or make damned sure it is not in the transmission before driving around or you will wind up like Marv. If the pin winds up floating around in the gear lube, it is almost certain that in a matter of time you won't be a happy camper. __________________ Life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer to the end, the faster it goes. It is better to be seen, than viewed. "We sleep safe in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm".