I have seen a lot of crazy transmission failures in my 35 year career, but this one tops my WTF list for sure. If you think new transmission cluster gears are made from one piece of steel like they were originally, you better think again. I rebuilt this Super T-10 in Dec. of 2014. The transmission is in a car with a stock Pontiac 400ci. with probably 200 HP. It has gone through two summer seasons and about 1000 miles. When it was rebuilt, I used as much OE or NOS gears as possible and always stay away from the white box made in Indonesia stuff. I was not able to locate a OE cluster gear at the time so I used one from Richmond Gear as they had the rights to the BW S T-10 and are reproducing them. Its laser etched with their part number and a date code of 2-14. The transmission lost 3rd gear, so I take it out of the car and this is what I find. 3rd gear is broken off the cluster and its intact. The only area that I can see breakage, is on the outside id of the gear and shaft. The gear will literally spin in place. After closer inspection of the cluster gear, it appears as Richmond Gear welds the gears to the tube and then machines the weld down to make it look like one piece, instead of making the gear the old way, machining it from one piece. This is clearly a manufacturing failure. I do realize its over two years and 1000 miles later, but talked with Richmond Gear anyway and was told "we didn't make the part, the other Richmond did, sorry" Richmond Gear was bought out by Midwest Truck Parts in Oct. 2015 Bill
You would think if they were going to make it like that that they would use splines on the shaft and gears at least.
J.B. Weld! That's a terrible way to make the part. Also, when someone or something buys out another company, don't they also buy the liabilities? Of course two years may still be too long to collect on it. The "new" Richmond Gear may have wished they just replaced your cluster gear rather than get this free publicity.
How did they get it on there? The input gear must be welded on too. Maybe they are selling rebuilt clusters??
This is why the "New GM" replaced the old General Motors Corp. after bankruptcy reorganization. Now they're trying to figure out ways to dodge their prior legal and financial obligations.
My thoughts exactly! Weld it back on and don't grind the weld. I know it shouldn't be this way, but what are you going to do? We used to weld the crank pins on 7 sec. turbo funnybikes making 350+ hp without any problem.
I wont be welding and using that cluster over, I located an OE cluster to put it back together with. That one will get a special spot on the WTF shelf. Bill
"How did they get it on there?" Third gear was made in two halves that were then reassembled onto the cluster! Good luck welding it back together and maintaining concentricity within a couple thousandths. Too bad the manufacturer doesn't spend more effort into making a strong product than he does in hiding evidence of welds. It still seems strange that the maker is not keen on addressing this. I guess the gears will continue to be made thusly? Isn't this a really bad way to run a business in the long term?
One very important question needs answering. How does second gear get machined to became a gear if third gear material is in the way ? See how @ about 3 minutes into video.
Interesting video. Is that the new Richmond Gear plant? Did anyone else notice the swastika on the inspection microscope?
Appears to be a facility in India. That swastika is ancient good luck symbol. It was hijacked and used by the Nazis- hence the negative association today.
No idea but I doubt it. That is about the only video I found of many that shows a cluster can be cut from one piece of stock.
When did 7-11 Stores buy out Richmond Gear? I noticed the swastika also; the Nazi's turned it "backwards", but don't ask me which way is which. It would seem that more than one "gear" would have to be welded on for any of them to go onto the cluster "stack". I hope my Borg Warner Super T-10, that I've had for over 25 years now, never needs any gears replaced! I am Butch/56sedandelivery.
This is why , good used and NOS parts are so valuable . These days I have a hard time throwing yesterdays junk away ? As it has become today's treasure ! Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Sometimes 'yes', usually 'no'. It usually depends on the potential scope of the liabilities. Also, the selling price of the entity being bought is usually higher if the liabilities remain with the seller. The difference is whether you buy the entity as a 'whole', that is, the corporation itself as well as it's assets, or just the assets from the corporation. Either way, the liabilities, so far as they exist under the law, remain in place. The difference is with whom they reside. If the seller retained the corporation (and it's liabilities), and it hasn't been dissolved or declared bankrupt, that is who is responsible for dealing with liability claims. Most buyers of a company's or corporation's assets do not want to become responsible for the liabilities they had no hand in creating. What normal, prudent person would do that if they had a choice? Most would not, including those who criticize from their safe armchair. Ray
I do not understand your comment. But think about this. If all was at stake for the new owner of this gear company was an occasional cluster gear failure, even though they (new owners) did not manufacture it, they might be okay with that. But what if a former employee filed a sexual harassment suit against the company. The guilty party is long gone, the new owner had nothing to do with the charge, but the company is liable for prior actions. Would you choose to buy a business and accept open ended liability? Ray
You said the purchasing company did not have a hand in creating the liabilities, I just pointed out they didn't have any hand in creating the assets either. When making an argument, it has to make sense. However, I actually agree with you.
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