Ol, Ford lost all gears.

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2014: Ol, Ford lost all gears.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By brian lawrence on Saturday, July 26, 2014 - 09:37 am:

Hello all,

Was leaving gas station yesterday and when I went to engage low gear I heard something snap under my feet. My car wont go forward or backwards. All bands "feel" fine though. Hoping it's not really serious. Any thoughts? It's been 7 years since I has motor trans out. BTW, Hagerty roadside assistance worked out great for me. Thanks in advance.. Brian


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John Danuser on Saturday, July 26, 2014 - 09:41 am:

u-joint, or rear end went?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Steve Tomaso - Milton,WA on Saturday, July 26, 2014 - 09:51 am:

Pinion gear key ?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Keith Townsend ; ^ ) Gresham, Orygun on Saturday, July 26, 2014 - 10:10 am:

Does the engine run?
New member to the two-piece crank club?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By brian lawrence on Saturday, July 26, 2014 - 10:18 am:

John, I was hoping u-joint. Rear end has been rebuilt. Engine runs great. Im trying to visualize how u-joint could completely break and not make a lot of racket while car is running. Im gonna start with simple things first. Really hope not something in trans or rear. Steve, pimion gear key? Hmmmmmmmm. I guess I'll have to take the black book out of mothballs! Brian


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Royce in Georgetown TX on Saturday, July 26, 2014 - 10:40 am:

I can't think of anything that could cause this other than something wrong with the rear axle. Perhaps no key in one of the rear wheel hubs? Seen that happen before. Real easy and cheap to fix.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Warren F Rollins on Saturday, July 26, 2014 - 10:49 am:

Will it run in high gear? I broke a transmission shaft a few years back. No warning, no sound, no high gear. As I recall low and reverse worked. I don,t believe this is your problem. Does the transmission sound like it is working? Like John said probably in the rear end,pinion failure?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Charlie B actually in Toms River N.J. on Saturday, July 26, 2014 - 10:51 am:

I guess the first thing I'd do is get the rear wheels off the ground and give them a spin. (broken axle ?) Next (I think there's a cap you can pull to look at the u-joint ?) I'd pull that or the 4th. main cover to view the joint. I'd also set my jack stands with pulling the rear end in mind because I believe you'll be pulling it.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ken Todd on Saturday, July 26, 2014 - 11:19 am:

My first guess would be a broken rear axle.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By brian lawrence on Saturday, July 26, 2014 - 11:30 am:

Ken, about five years ago I pulled the rear and replaced thrust washer, hyatt bearings, seals etc. I did all this cause while running to the store the right axle broke right at the keyway. Yes I lost the wheel and went skidding down the road on axle housing. I replaced the axle with a (what looked) to be a good Ford original axle. I did so cause there seemed to be controversy regarding new replacement axles. Let me ask this, if the axle broke, would I be able to pull wheel right off the car? My memory says yes but not sure. Thanks for tips everyone. Brian


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mark Gregush Portland Oregon on Saturday, July 26, 2014 - 11:49 am:

Start easy: With the key "OFF" and the parking brake lever forward in high, crank the car. Does it want to move as you crank? This will at least tell you that there is a connection from the flywheel to the differential and should rule out the drive shaft. Jack the car up and pull the rear wheels and check for sheared axle keys. Even if the key(s) are sheared there may be enough bond between the axle and hub that hand cranking will still roll the car but the torque from the motor will just spin the axle shafts in the hub.
Depending on where and if the axle broke, it may not want to come out by just pulling. The axle shaft where not machined is larger in diameter then the machined bearing areas and may not pull through the bearings unless a great deal of force is applied.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mike Walker, NW AR on Saturday, July 26, 2014 - 11:58 am:

Mark -- That's a well-thought-out response and a good way to proceed.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mark Gregush Portland Oregon on Saturday, July 26, 2014 - 12:09 pm:

Thank you!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Hal Schedler, Sacramento on Saturday, July 26, 2014 - 02:00 pm:

My first guess is the Universal Joint Pin (2574 in Chaffin's parts list)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Stephen D Heatherly on Saturday, July 26, 2014 - 06:28 pm:

Brian, It could be
1. Broken drive shaft
2. sheared pinion key or broken pinion
3. Sheared axle shaft gear key
4. Broken axle shaft
5. Sheared or missing hub key

Also, when you say you replaced the Hyatt bearings what did you replace them with?

Stephen


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By brian lawrence on Saturday, July 26, 2014 - 11:08 pm:

Well I hope it's somewhat simple. I have too many things goin on right now, I'd rather be driving my ol' Ford than working on it. Stephan, I replaced the Hyatt bearings with good original Ford bearings. When I get a chance to tear into this thing, I will post my findings. All help is appreciated!.... Brian


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bob Jablonski on Sunday, July 27, 2014 - 08:03 am:

Friend's pinion gear fractured at the key slot then made itself into two chunks found at the bottom of the axel housing, engine/trans ok, similar symptoms you experienced. Hope for an easy fix, rebuilding a rear assembly isn't too difficult.

Bob Jablonski


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jerry VanOoteghem on Sunday, July 27, 2014 - 04:54 pm:

I'm thinking split pinion gear, as is Bob J. I guess.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Norman T. Kling on Sunday, July 27, 2014 - 05:17 pm:

It happened to my first T. The driveshaft broke about 6 inches in front of the pinion bearing. Someone had welded the front of one driveshaft to the back of another. The weld was only around the outer edge of the shaft. Fortunately, the first thing I did to that car when I bought it was to install Rocky Mountain Brakes, so I was able to stop.

Something broke between the transmission driven shaft and the rear axles. It could be the rivets holding the driven shaft to the transmission drive plate, the U joint, the drive shaft, the keyway in the pinion gear, the bolts which hold the ring gear, the pinion gears, the axle shaft, or the hub to axle key. Or it could be a babbit thrust washer causing separation of the ring and pinion gear. You might not know which part is broken until you pull it apart. Good luck.
Norm


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By brian lawrence on Saturday, August 02, 2014 - 11:36 pm:

Well I pulled the Fordor into the shop tonite, jacked it up, and pass side wheel didn't feel right. After pulling hub /axle nut, I was pulled what's left of axle out. Yep, axle broke. At least I didn't lose wheel like last time. It was the axle that I replaced 7 years ago. Repro axle or old good one, what do ya think? Brian


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Steve Tomaso - Milton,WA on Sunday, August 03, 2014 - 10:22 am:

Thanks for letting us know what you found out, Brian.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Steve Jelf, Parkerfield KS on Sunday, August 03, 2014 - 10:58 am:

I think old or new depends on whether you're in a hurry. There are lots of old axles around, but it might take awhile to find a good one. I don't know anything about the quality of the new ones, but if I was buying one I'd get it from Chaffin's. Glen is pretty strict about quality.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dave Huson, Berthoud, Co. on Sunday, August 03, 2014 - 11:45 am:

Brian: Glen Chaffin is very good also another source is Ford-N-More in Spokane, Washington Phone 509-525-7789. I will be going to pick up some used axles nest week. I ran across three large piles of rear axle shafts and differentials near here the other day. Some of the axles shafts and ring gears look real good. Let me know if you decide to go with a used axle.

picture


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Michael Deichmann, Blistrup, Denmark on Sunday, August 03, 2014 - 11:37 pm:

It goes with rear axles as with the cranks. With the improved Ford from late 25 the rear axles was made of the EE steel alloy which are more resistent towards fatigue.The EE should be visible in the forging. Look for that.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Don Skille on Monday, August 04, 2014 - 01:15 am:

Don't replace another axle, new or good used without checking the axle housing out for being straight. You need to have a fixture for your lathe so you can turn it and see where it is bent. Almost everyone I have checked are bent and if they are it will cause an axle to break.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By brian lawrence on Monday, August 04, 2014 - 08:36 am:

I was told that axles were stamped with Ford script starting in 1917 or so, is this right? Michael, thanks, I will look for the EE on replacement axle. Is it literally stamped in axle somewhere?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John Zibell on Monday, August 04, 2014 - 03:31 pm:

Brian,

Since that axle broke on the same side as last time I'd be looking for a reason why. Is there an alinement problem causing the axle to flex or something along those lines.


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