The Ford Barn

Senior Tim · 12-02-2017, 03:00 PM

I have owned several Model A's over the years, but I have never had one that had an overdrive. Recently I purchased a 1930 Cabriolet with a Mitchell overdrive. I figured out how it worked, and I was happy. The car was not driven for six months, and when I attempted to use it, it backed out of the garage, but I could not get it to go into any forward gear. By putting the overdrive into a neutral position I was able to roll the car back into the garage. If the overdrive is in low or high, and the gearshift is in neutral, you cannot roll the car at all because it seems like the Mitchell gearbox is locked up. If you start the car with the clutch in, the engine will bogg down as you try to release the clutch. Does anyone have an idea what is wrong?
Thanks for any help you can give.
Senior Tim

supereal · 12-02-2017, 03:46 PM

If the shifter is properly adjusted, it must be an internal problem. then a call to Mitchell Manufacturing is due. Their number is 800-859-2088.

Tom Endy · 12-02-2017, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by supereal

If the shifter is properly adjusted, it must be an internal problem. then a call to Mitchell Manufacturing is due. Their number is 800-859-2088.

This is good advise. Make sure that the shift lever will move the rod protruding from the overdrive housing to both extremes. There is an adjustment available that will accomplish this. Make sure the slot cut into the floor board is not restricting the shift lever.

But first, make sure the oil level in the case is at the proper level. There is a port on the side and one at the top. You can fill the case from either port. The trick is to have the oil level even with the bottom of the port on the side.

Tom Endy

MAG · 12-02-2017, 05:11 PM

Don't overlook the possibility that the transmission could be locked between reverse and a forward gear. Test:. Put Mitchel in neutral. Push in clutch. Start engine. Slowly release clutch. If engine bogs down the transmission is locked in 2 gears.

Railcarmover · 12-02-2017, 11:30 PM

Doesn't look like you can hang it up...or bend the forks...maybe the fork slid on the shaft,but Id bet Mitchell designed where it cant catch both gears.

Tom Wesenberg · 12-03-2017, 02:13 AM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Railcarmover

Doesn't look like you can hang it up...or bend the forks...maybe the fork slid on the shaft,but Id bet Mitchell designed where it cant catch both gears.

I was thinking the same thing, and my first thought was the tranny is in two gears at the same time.

Railcarmover · 12-03-2017, 12:00 PM

Putting the overdrive into neutral and rolling it back into the garage pretty much clears the rear end and overdrive unit..I'm with Tom,Id pull the transmission shift tower and take a look.

Senior Tim · 12-08-2017, 04:02 PM

Thanks for all of the responses. In digging into the transmission with some car buddies we determined that the transmission is a Mitchell transmission that was installed when the Mitchell overdrive was installed. The transmission came with a two-piece gear shift shaft that was threaded together. It was impossible to keep the connection tight, and the folks at Mitchell surmised that that was the cause of our issues. I had the shaft welded together and my problems went away!

12-02-2017, 03:00 PM	#1
Senior Tim Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2017 Location: Florida Posts: 2	Mitchell Overdrive I have owned several Model A's over the years, but I have never had one that had an overdrive. Recently I purchased a 1930 Cabriolet with a Mitchell overdrive. I figured out how it worked, and I was happy. The car was not driven for six months, and when I attempted to use it, it backed out of the garage, but I could not get it to go into any forward gear. By putting the overdrive into a neutral position I was able to roll the car back into the garage. If the overdrive is in low or high, and the gearshift is in neutral, you cannot roll the car at all because it seems like the Mitchell gearbox is locked up. If you start the car with the clutch in, the engine will bogg down as you try to release the clutch. Does anyone have an idea what is wrong? Thanks for any help you can give. Senior Tim

12-02-2017, 03:46 PM	#2
supereal Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Iowa Posts: 1,634	Re: Mitchell Overdrive If the shifter is properly adjusted, it must be an internal problem. then a call to Mitchell Manufacturing is due. Their number is 800-859-2088.

12-02-2017, 05:11 PM	#4
MAG Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 925	Re: Mitchell Overdrive Don't overlook the possibility that the transmission could be locked between reverse and a forward gear. Test:. Put Mitchel in neutral. Push in clutch. Start engine. Slowly release clutch. If engine bogs down the transmission is locked in 2 gears. __________________ I noticed the harder I work the luckier I get!

12-02-2017, 11:30 PM	#5
Railcarmover BANNED Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Sacramento Posts: 1,262	Re: Mitchell Overdrive Doesn't look like you can hang it up...or bend the forks...maybe the fork slid on the shaft,but Id bet Mitchell designed where it cant catch both gears.

12-03-2017, 12:00 PM	#7
Railcarmover BANNED Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Sacramento Posts: 1,262	Re: Mitchell Overdrive Putting the overdrive into neutral and rolling it back into the garage pretty much clears the rear end and overdrive unit..I'm with Tom,Id pull the transmission shift tower and take a look.

12-08-2017, 04:02 PM	#8
Senior Tim Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2017 Location: Florida Posts: 2	Re: Mitchell Overdrive Thanks for all of the responses. In digging into the transmission with some car buddies we determined that the transmission is a Mitchell transmission that was installed when the Mitchell overdrive was installed. The transmission came with a two-piece gear shift shaft that was threaded together. It was impossible to keep the connection tight, and the folks at Mitchell surmised that that was the cause of our issues. I had the shaft welded together and my problems went away!