1929 Model A Pickup HELP!! No forward or Reverse Gears

[ModelAHawaii]

Hi,

I'm new to the Model A.

Well I've owned my 29 Model A pickup for about 5 years now. Had a few things go out over the years. I've always been able to figure it out. This time I'm stumped.

One day a few months ago I took out my pickup. On the way home I stopped at a light. After the stop I put it in gear and heard some noise. Then I had no gears (forward or reverse). The kids and I pushed the ol pickup home and into the garage.

I do own all of the Les Anders books etc. Still can't figure it out.

Ive opened the window on the bell housing and the clutch looks fine. The clutch fork moves as it should. I put a magnetic stick in and found one spring. It doesn't appear to be from the the clutch disc but maybe the pressure plate. But I do't think that would cause it not to have any gears.

I opened the transmission. All the gears are fine. No broken teeth at all. How can I tell if the main drive gear shaft or main shaft is broken?

When I run the motor the gears all move but I can't tell if its still engaging from the engine or engaging from the u joints to the rearend.

I can start the pickup and put it into gear and let the clutch out and it won't stall.

I've pulled both rear wheels and the axle keys are both fine.

When I have the pickup rear wheels off the ground I get a slight movement of the right rear wheel but nothing on the left side. When you put the pickup back on the ground no movement at all.

So I don't know if its the clutch, the transmission (main shafts), or the rearend?

Any ideas on how I should proceed.

Keep in mind that I'm in a remote location in the middle of the ocean. Not to many Model A's around. I've always had to figure it out myself.

I did buy the rear spring spreader if I have to pull the rearend to get at the transmission and clutch.

Just wanted to see if there is anything else I can do before pulling the rearend.

Thank you.

[Keith True]

One quick simple check to eliminate a lot of looking is to put it in gear,let the clutch out,and see if the speedometer works.If it works,the problem is behind the speedo drive.If it doesn't work the problem is more forward.

[Bob C]

When you have it in gear and the clutch out and the truck is not moving is
the speedometer moving??


Typed to slow again.

[ModelAHawaii]

Hi Keith True

Thanks for the reply.

Please explain further the meaning of "If it works,the problem is behind the speedo drive.If it doesn't work the problem is more forward."

Just so I understand it a bit better. If I put it in gear and rev the motor I don't think the speedo goes up. (I'll have to verify that.) Wheels are all on the ground and when in gear the pickup doesn't move at all.

Thank you

[ModelAHawaii]

So is everyone saying I should put in gear let out the clutch and rev the motor? Then if the speedo moves I have a clutch/trans issue. If nothing then its from the trans back (i.e. u joints and rear end)

Thank you

[Bob C]

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If the speedometer moves then the problem is in the rear axle.

[ModelAHawaii]

Thank you Bob C

I'll have to check that out tomorrow.

As previously mentioned the axle keys are fine.

[john charlton]

Do not run the engine with the transmission tower off . The forks are not holding the trans in neutral and and it could try to drop into gear and damage the gear teeth .

John in England .

[KGBnut]

If the gears in the transmission are moving, the things that come to mind for me are.... the universal joint; broken drive shaft (unlikely); something broken in the differential; broken axle (also not very likely); broken shear key at the end of one of the axles (pretty common failure). Remember, thanks to the function of the differential, if axle or key on only one side fails you are NOT going to get power to the other wheel.

Good luck, and let us know what you find.

Ken

[rotorwrench]

The phantom spring in the clutch housing may be for the throw out hub return spring if it's a small coil spring. Larger busted coil could be from the pressure plate or disk if it has that type of disk.

When the transmission is in neutral with the clutch engaged, the input shaft and counter shaft cluster are all that turn. In any gear, the output shaft will turn. I would use the hand crank while someone watches the gearing. It's safer that way. If the rear of the car is up on stands with the spark plugs out, a person should be able to turn the whole drive system with the crank.

The U-joint is hard to see whether it's busted or not but it should make a lot of noise unless a shaft or yoke breaks clean across. The pinion gear on the drive shaft can also shear a key but it is equally hard to detect. The aft frame would have to be jacked up onto stands and the rear axle separated from the frame to get it out for inspection and testing. A busted rear axle will pull right out of the housing and the keys have already been inspected so at least that's done. The differential spider gear set it pretty tough so breakage is uncommon and generally will make a lot of noise if there is breakage. I've not seen a ring gear separate yet either.

[Utopia Texas]

I would check the rear axle keys first.

[bbrocksr]

Originally Posted by Utopia Texas

I would check the rear axle keys first.

Read original post, he already did.
Bill

[KGBnut]

Originally Posted by bbrocksr

Read original post, he already did.
Bill

I read his post twice and somehow I missed that he said he checked that.

[jquinlan]

Even though you inspected the axle keys, I'll mention that No forward and reverse were symptoms I had when I sheared off a rear axle last year. It sheared just before the back of the key.

[TerryO]

I just read your article in the Restorer this morning...


TOB

[KevinH944]

In my limited experience, the spring you found is a clue. I had the same experience with no gears at all when the springs around the outside of the clutch disk came out, allowing the center of the disk to separate from the outside. Once I had it all apart, I found more clutch springs and rivets. I replaced it with the better clutch disk with keepers around the springs. Here is a recent thread:
https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showt...clutch+springs