Youngest Person to Rebuild a Transmission?

[BillCNC]

Hey All,

My son and I were curious as to who the youngest person is to rebuild a Model A Transmission?

Well, we would like to toss my Grandsons hat in the ring, ... He just turned (6), YES, ... SIX Years old and in Kindergarten.

We made a video of the build and my son is going to get it ready to toss up on Youtube. With any luck, ... he to might own a Model A one day....

Here are a couple of pictures of the trans dirty to show a parts count and then the finished up trans. I figure it will be something to brag about for years, ... A SIX year old built my transmission.

Parts Replaced;

A - 7113 Cluster Gear
A - 7111 Gear Cluster Shaft with O-ring
A - 7140 Reverse Idler Shaft with O-ring
A - 7025 Bearing
A - 7065 Bearing
A - 7045-B Snap Ring
A - 7060 Main Shaft
A - 7061 Main Shaft Collar
A - 7063 Spacer
A - 7118 Needle Bearings (short) x2
A - 7121 Needle Bearing (long)
A - 7111-2 Transmission Seal Kit
A - 7153 Transmission Gasket Set



*** Now for the RANT:

All the parts seemed to fit well with the exception of the main shaft, ... the diameter was to fat for the (old) slider gears to even fit on. I had to bring it down .002" in diameter and break the edges on all the splines and front leading edges, ... NO final inspection, NO De-burring of the part!

YUP, ANOTHER Piece of Crap, ... USA made part causing yet another 30 minutes to make a *** NEW *** part CORRECT!

Is it just me or does anyone else find it absolutely mind boggling that these parts were made correctly in the 1928 - 1931 on VERY CRUDE machines, yet, ... With the top of the line CNC's we cannot make the simplest parts correctly, ... even in the USA?

I also added a picture of the packaging for the Main Shaft that I had to rework. If anyone can decipher the codding on the label, ... AVOID at all cost unless you know how to machine and rework metal.

Regards
Bill

[Bikerider58]

Looks like a Us made part, not USA.

Maybe a small village in China?

Maybe the grandsons will become the engineers to finally deliver the Jettsons type flying cars.

[2manycars]

When I was a kid Japan named a town USA, so they could label the stuff made in USA.

[Tom Endy]

Transmission seminar:

See attached.

Tom Endy

[BillCNC]

Very Cool Tom,

What were their ages?

The only thing was a constant reminder, ... Stay on task!

Kids easily get distracted in that room. It has quite a few large RC Airplanes hanging from the ceiling and walls. A Cosmo robot was sitting within arms reach proved to be challenging at times.

Regards
Bill

[Jim M]

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That is terrific. He now has a memory that will last a life time. We all have some of them but wish we had more. I am in the middle of a complete tear down from the rear axles up to and including the pressure plate. I did the tranny a short time ago and it is on the shelf. Hoping to finish up the differential in the next couple of weeks and start putting it all back together. This whole exercise was caused by a cracked axle so while I had it apart I decided to check everything and I am glad I did. FYI don't know where you sourced your parts but all of mine came from Bert's and I couldn't be more pleased with them AND the service. Congratulations to you for what you did for your grandson!!!

[Dino's A]

Bill,
Your not alone and disgusted about this topic. They can't copy a part that has been already designed & engineered 80+years ago? I guess these CNC machines are not what everybody bragged about or the part would be duplicated the same.

[Brian T]

BillCNC,
Congratulations on having a talented grandson, hopefully he will become a Model A owner that will appreciate ownership and the hobby, ---- as for the problem with fitting the gears to the shaft, I had the same problem using used gears and a new shaft a few years back, however if you have the Service Bulletins (page 303) you will discover this was a 80 year old problem, the tolerances were changed to eliminate slipping out of gear, Henry states that gears have a selective fit, so apparently there was a problem then.
I suppose we will have to order a selection of gears and shafts, or fit them fit ourselves.

[burner31]

My wife says I act like an eight year old sometimes...so there's that

[Floats]

Keith
Truth be known, they all think so. Some of them just suffer in silence

[JDupuis]

Way to go Bill. Teaching your Grandson about the Model A's is surely a good investment of your time , that will pay off in his bright future.
Now can he sign up as the "youngest Fordbarn Member" ? . Jeff