On your synchronizer rings, are the grooves on the inside sharp? They should be well defined and feel sharp on your fingers. The outer teeth should be well defined also.
I posted the photos. I’m really thinking this has the wrong idler in it. If you look at: http://www.vanpeltsales.com/FH_web/FH_images/FH_trans-pics/Flathead_Trans_1955-56-TBird.jpg and Look at 7141… I googled 7141 and found the gear I also posted. Which has a lot larger shoulder that would push the gear away from the speed gear. And would also look like the gear I circled in the video that I posted a screen shot of. However I’m worried that idler gear won’t clear part 7119 that’s in the diagram.
7119 is a thrust washer on the lower counter shaft the idler gears lines up with the speed gear on the counter it should not be an issue.
This is the current gear and shims spaced appropriately for where the two shafts are. And one certainly over laps the other. I wish I could read part numbers so I could at least tell what I currently have.
I remember buying these boxes for $20 because nobody wanted them..............to only have a few of the parts left today that were in the old trans parts cabinets in my buddies shop. He cleaned it out a couple of years ago before passing away, there was stuff we looked at knew what it was but had not used it 40+ years and to the scrap pile it went, it is still a working 3 generation shop after all and space has become a premium. Most of it was truck stuff but there were car parts thrown in.
Maybe it has the thick thrust washer on the wrong side ? It certainly looks like it is too close to the slider as it was before you took it apart . Have you had this car a long time ,,,,,or has it always been like this ? Tommy
If your referring to the the last pic, that thrust washer came off the shaft with multiple gears next to the idler. The idler it self does not have any washer sod any kind. Not sure if what you say would apply unless I’m not understanding right. First manual iv ever had apart. As far as how long it’s made the noise, it’s always made it. It may have had 1000 miles out on it since 95
Sorry ,,,,my mistake,,,,I misread your post . The washers are from the other shaft . At some time in the past it has been worked on and maybe a gear replaced or something out of necessity. Have you considered relieving the idler gear a little? Since the gear engages immediately,,,,it is definitely getting full engagement. The rough edges near the slider could be relieved slightly,,,,and offer some additional clearance . The teeth are already beat up pretty good,,,,,a slight relief and re bevel the lead in would probably do what you need . Also,,,touch the teeth on the slider,,,they are almost flat as well,,,it might help with reverse engagement,,,,make it a little smoother . Tommy
The transmission appears to be a 1952-54 Ford 3 speed unit, based on what I can see of the two rear thrust washers. If the countershaft is 3/4” diameter you definitely have a pre 1955 type. Beginning with the 55 units, they went with a larger diameter (0.865” I think) and all the gears changed. I would venture a guess that the transmission has the wrong reverse idler gear in it. The big shoulder on the idler gear faced to the rear on the 49-54 units, but faced to the front on the 55-62 Ford types. Since my advice is limited to what I can see and what you’ve described so far, I don’t think there’s any more hard facts I can offer. There were MANY different reverse idler gears for the many versions of the Ford 3 speed transmissions and they all would fit on the idler shaft. So the issue is either the gear is turned the wrong way or you have the wrong gear (or both).
Let’s assume that the gearset is a matching set…..with the reverse idler gear being a possible mismatch. Count the gear teeth on all the other gears. That info should identify the gearset and allow us to know which idler gear is correct. Now, if the gears are all mismatched, and yet allow the transmission to rotate, it might be impossible to know what belongs where without having the complete unit in hand to look more carefully.
I sent you a private message after our talk last night. I got some measurements and a couple seem ever so slightly different then the specs you gave me.
The Jalopy Journal
