The Ford Barn

Gary57210 · 05-23-2022, 01:13 PM

How noisy are the straight cut gears in a Model A transmission? Our second gear sounds terrible.

rotorwrench · 05-23-2022, 03:52 PM

Straight cut gears will have the whine associated with them in low and second gear. In high gear the main shaft dogs onto the input shaft for 1:1 drive so it doesn't whine with gear noise. Now if the noise isn't a normal gear whine in low or second gears then there may be some other problem with the gears or bearings that rotate while in those gears.

ursus · 05-23-2022, 04:42 PM

The second gear is the hardest working gear in the box and most likely to wear out first. You can remove the shift lever assembly and evaluate the condition of the gears.

LeonardS · 05-23-2022, 06:25 PM

Did you check the gear oil level in the transmission?

bavArian · 05-24-2022, 07:50 AM

The 2nd gear pair on my A is louder than 1st and 3rd as well.

As stated, check the oil first.
As long as it's "just" a whine I would continue to drive it. You should notice if it gets worse. When the noise changes I would start to investigate.

katy · 05-24-2022, 10:02 AM

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It's called a musical transmission, the old Chevs were bad for that.

Sunny the Model A · 05-24-2022, 10:42 AM

Model A's love to whine, mine does, fresh 600w is what I use, and it shifts nice and smooth now that I rebuilt the shift tower. if it whines, don't lose sleep about it, it's normal. All cars of that era made the same sound, be it a Duesenberg, a Cadillac V16, or a Ford Model A. but if it gets so loud the neighbors notice, then look into it.

Gary57210 · 05-24-2022, 11:39 AM

I've checked the oil and it's OK. Mine has more of a growl than a whine. I'm getting another transmission to go through and then I can just change it out.

jack backer · 05-24-2022, 01:39 PM

What to look at is the tops of the gear teeth and the face of the tooth for pitting. The tooth top tells the story, this transmission is used but still serviceable, it has clash wear but the top of the tooth isn’t tapered or ‘sharpened’

Chuck Sea/Tac · 05-24-2022, 06:04 PM

Mine is noisy in second on deacceleration, but quiet on acceleration.

1crosscut · 05-24-2022, 06:23 PM

I would venture that one of the cluster gear bearings has gone bad.

al's28/33 · 05-25-2022, 12:35 AM

crosscut nailed it, I just had that problem resolved. Bad bearing and worn cluster gears was my issue, better trace the problem before the whole thing jams up and you get stuck.

05-23-2022, 01:13 PM	#1
Gary57210 Member Join Date: May 2022 Location: Collinsville, OK Posts: 50	Noisy transmission How noisy are the straight cut gears in a Model A transmission? Our second gear sounds terrible.

05-23-2022, 03:52 PM	#2
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 16,425	Re: Noisy transmission Straight cut gears will have the whine associated with them in low and second gear. In high gear the main shaft dogs onto the input shaft for 1:1 drive so it doesn't whine with gear noise. Now if the noise isn't a normal gear whine in low or second gears then there may be some other problem with the gears or bearings that rotate while in those gears.

05-23-2022, 04:42 PM	#3
ursus Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Oregon Posts: 1,374	Re: Noisy transmission The second gear is the hardest working gear in the box and most likely to wear out first. You can remove the shift lever assembly and evaluate the condition of the gears.

05-23-2022, 06:25 PM	#4
LeonardS Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Jamestown, ND Posts: 657	Re: Noisy transmission Did you check the gear oil level in the transmission?

05-24-2022, 07:50 AM	#5
bavArian Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2019 Location: Germany Posts: 215	Re: Noisy transmission The 2nd gear pair on my A is louder than 1st and 3rd as well. As stated, check the oil first. As long as it's "just" a whine I would continue to drive it. You should notice if it gets worse. When the noise changes I would start to investigate.

05-24-2022, 10:02 AM	#6
katy Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Red Deer, Alberta Posts: 5,042	Re: Noisy transmission Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) It's called a musical transmission, the old Chevs were bad for that. __________________ If you don't hear a rumor by 10 AM, start one!. Got my education out behind the barn!

05-24-2022, 10:42 AM	#7
Sunny the Model A Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2021 Location: Charleston SC Posts: 168	Re: Noisy transmission Model A's love to whine, mine does, fresh 600w is what I use, and it shifts nice and smooth now that I rebuilt the shift tower. if it whines, don't lose sleep about it, it's normal. All cars of that era made the same sound, be it a Duesenberg, a Cadillac V16, or a Ford Model A. but if it gets so loud the neighbors notice, then look into it. __________________ "Quality means doing it right when no one is looking" Henry Ford

05-24-2022, 11:39 AM	#8
Gary57210 Member Join Date: May 2022 Location: Collinsville, OK Posts: 50	Re: Noisy transmission I've checked the oil and it's OK. Mine has more of a growl than a whine. I'm getting another transmission to go through and then I can just change it out. Last edited by Gary57210; 05-24-2022 at 12:12 PM.

05-24-2022, 06:04 PM	#10
Chuck Sea/Tac Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Between Seattle & Tacoma Posts: 2,354	Re: Noisy transmission Mine is noisy in second on deacceleration, but quiet on acceleration.

05-24-2022, 06:23 PM	#11
1crosscut Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Lincoln, Nebraska Posts: 1,907	Re: Noisy transmission I would venture that one of the cluster gear bearings has gone bad. __________________ Dave / Lincoln Nebraska

05-25-2022, 12:35 AM	#12
al's28/33 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Redwood City, CA Posts: 1,591	Re: Noisy transmission crosscut nailed it, I just had that problem resolved. Bad bearing and worn cluster gears was my issue, better trace the problem before the whole thing jams up and you get stuck. __________________ 1928 "A" Phaeton (mid year with many early features) 1933 "V8" Closed-Cab Pickup Truck (originally a Model B, 4 Cylinder dating to May, 1933)