grinding transmission

[DLK]

For the six years I have owned my Wayfarer it has always been grinding going from second to third unless I pause in neutral for a second or two.  In 2012 I drained and replaced the lube and the problem stopped for maybe a month.  I assume this means there is a synchromesh gear issue.

 

I can live with the problem, speed shifting would do nothing with my flathead six-fluid drive setup - it is a dog off the line regardless.   But should I sell the car down the road someone else might not be as accepting of this as I have been.

 

I assume the same three speed manual was used for many years and in many applications.  How difficult would it be to replace the defective gear(s) - would it be just as simple to swap out the transmission for a good used one?  But I assume swapping the transmission must also involve swapping out the parking brake unit.

[greg g]

What did you use for gear lube?  The new stuff doesn't like bronze or brass, which the synchros andbalking rings are made from.  You might want to lengthen your clutch linkage to the throw out fork to assure the input shaft is stopping while in idle.  If you shift from first to thrird what happens, no problem first to second?

[dpollo]

There is a flat brass spring which can be installed under the synchro ring which, when combined with a new synchronizer ring

should solve your problem.  Also, Hypoid oils are too slippery and while they are needed in the differential, they can cause the problem you are having in the trans.  Later transmissions, in the 60s used ATF and had the same synchro setup.  These also had an input shaft seal which your unit does not have.  You could experiment with different oils but I think a new synchro ring will be the ultimate solution.  They are easy to install and it is not necessary to completely tear down the trans.

 

It may even be possible to replace the high gear ring by pulling the front bearing then pulling the input shaft,   Also, if the snap ring on the input shaft has broken  ( visible by removing the throw out collar)  this will cause the  problem you are having.

[DLK]

There is a flat brass spring which can be installed under the synchro ring which, when combined with a new synchronizer ring

should solve your problem.  Also, Hypoid oils are too slippery and while they are needed in the differential, they can cause the problem you are having in the trans.  Later transmissions, in the 60s used ATF and had the same synchro setup.  These also had an input shaft seal which your unit does not have.  You could experiment with different oils but I think a new synchro ring will be the ultimate solution.  They are easy to install and it is not necessary to completely tear down the trans.

 

It may even be possible to replace the high gear ring by pulling the front bearing then pulling the input shaft,   Also, if the snap ring on the input shaft has broken  ( visible by removing the throw out collar)  this will cause the  problem you are having.

I need to find out what the shop used, my guess is 90W gear lube. It is encouraging to know it may not require a total tear-down when I get around to it which won't be this year.