Synchronized Transmission

[nkaminar]

For those of you who, like me, don't know what a Lenco transmission is, it is a stack of planetary transmissions, each with its own gear shift knob. See https://lencoracing.com/.

[Pete]

Originally Posted by nkaminar

For those of you who, like me, don't know what a Lenco transmission is, it is a stack of planetary transmissions, each with its own gear shift knob. See https://lencoracing.com/.

I was thinking of the single lever shift model for street use.

[Anteek29]

Originally Posted by Joe K

I can go from first to second without double clutching.

From second to third I can do it - but it's a lot easier to double clutch.

Funny. When I first got the Model A and before any work on it I drove it around town quite a bit. Even my father remarked on the lack of "grinding" which in his previous experience seemed "unavoidable" on occasion even for experienced drivers.

Imagine my chagrin to dismantle the car, remove the transmission, remove the top and pour out what was in the case.

600W oil and SAWDUST. The gears were none too good either - probably the reason for the sawdust.

It's never been quite as quiet since. My best luck for a transmission lubricant is STRAIGHT STP. I see now there are some versions of this which have zinc. Probably not the best for a tranny.

Yeah, yeah, I know. STP is not a lubricant...

Joe K

I've read that some mix both 85W-140 gear oil and STP, half and half in their tranny.

[Joe K]

For a while, 600W oil was (um) substituted with something else. There was complaints on the quart cans of oil everyone was buying from "proven" Model A vendors.

One of the nice features of working in a power plant is that "period" machinery frequently require "period" lubricants. One of these was ACTUAL 600W oil which was assured to meet the SAE standard. Quality Assurance was and is a major motivating force when up to $1M per day is lost on a unit outage. The standard number and grade was actually on a sheet glued to the top head of the 55 gallon drum.

This is the standard which has been revised bi-annually for many years. Automotive Gear Lubricant Viscosity Classification J306_201902 $92 and you too could own the actual standard.

Of course I grabbed a gallon or two while I was there.

I've mentioned the STP. In the punkin I use 600W oil. I feared that "slinging" of the oil on the gear would be impeded if I used STP in this application - and this might cause undue "working" of the oil - and consequent heating of the oil.

Which might "undo" the stick/pressure capability of the oil.

Dunno - it's not exactly rocket science. But it is nice to have "actual" 600W oil as an option.

Joe K

[Benson]

...

[GeneBob]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

The later 1930's Ford transmissions have a better gear ratio and the 1939 has good synchros. I changed to a 1936 for the gear ratios but it has pretty weak synchronization.

[Dodge]

All the above is good advise. Using the stock transmission the biggest novice driver
problem I see is trying to drive the car like a modern car and and revving the motor
to high going into 2nd gear. As stated above it needs a "short shift" (shifting at a lower
motor speed.)
You should be in 2nd gear before you cross an intersection. The double clutch is not necessarily needed mechanically but it gives the right amount of time to make the shift
letting the gears mesh.

[ModelA29]

My car has a 39 trans (2 & 3 syncro) with the Cling's adapter. The adapter kit is around $800 and you'll need a trans. The Mitchell trans is about $2,400 and the OD is about 3,400. You could go with a T5 trans and end up will a full syncro 5 speed with overdrive $900 plus the trans. https://www.lainefamily.com/ModelAFiles/ModelAT5.htm

[Y-Blockhead]

Or you could go with a A4LD and not worry about shifting at all...

[Bruce of MN]

Originally Posted by Y-Blockhead

Or you could go with a A4LD and not worry about shifting at all...

Too bad, says sold out: https://transmissionadapters.com/pro...r~mk_ford-a4ld