Hi all been a while since I've been able to get into some tractor wrenchin' fun,
Dug out my 43 VAI that's been sitting for a couple of years. Got her running, few fuel issues to deal with as expected, no big deal.
The big deal is I always had concerns with the noise the tranny made. Not like something was grinding or banging, just more like the noise of gears / bearings turning, just seems loud. Unfortunately I don't have other CASE's to compare it too, so not sure just how bad it really is.
Had problems in the past with the tranny getting locked up in two gears at once. Read the topics here and most pointed to problems with the shift forks / assembly being worn out. Replaced it with an ebay one. Was from a VAC, so casting of shift pattern on the top of the cover is different, but functionally it’s the same. Seems to have fixed the problem. While I had that out I replaced the reverse idler gear because it was missing a couple of teeth. All easy enough to do from the top.
I took a bunch of pictures while I was in there, so I could compare them to the service manual / parts list etc. And it appears my oil slinger gear is missing ALL of its’ teeth! According to the service manual it appears that the oil slinger gear should be the same size as 3rd gear on the counter-shaft. Mine is definitely not.
Who knows how long it’s been like this. When I drained the tranny I didn’t see any chunks of metal or teeth come out, but the oil was pretty dirty, so I suppose it’s possible. I never heard the tranny grind gears, just the two gears at once problem corrected by replacing the shifter assembly.
I wonder if due to the worn shifter assembly that over the years 2nd gear on the main shaft was allowed to drag on the oil slinger instead of properly engage it. You can see the teeth on 2nd are a little worn on one side. I just figured that was normal from engaging with 2nd on the counter-shaft, but maybe it wasn’t. Maybe the oil slinger has been fighting a losing battle with 2nd over many years. I’m guessing the oil slinger gear was made out of a softer metal and lost the battle.
So besides wondering just how bad this is, now I’m debating do I really want to go down this road to replace the oil slinger.
1. Anyone care to guess how much life the tranny has left? If I add a few extra quarts of oil such that 2nd gear on the main shaft spins through oil will that help? Tractor will only get used a couple times a year mowing along a dirt path (1mile) Tractor has an industrial all angle mid-mount sickle bar on it.
2. How bad is to split a VAI? Would be a 1st for me. I already replaced all the differential brake seals and rear axle seals as well as pto bearing and seals without splitting or removing axles. Any CASE specific tools needed or just your typical bearing pullers and such? Do I need special tools to get the clutch back together afterwards? I’m assuming I’ll be replacing the bearings in there as well. I got all my seals and bearings from NAPA or bearings houses for the other jobs, assuming I can do the same here?
3. Engine is strong, guessing it had a rebuild at some point in its’ previous life as a DPW mower. Has a few other issues, charging, fuel/carb etc. Nothing major that I can’t fix myself.
Guessing the loud gear noise is related to the oil slinger gear problem but wondering can I squeak a few more years out of her with extra gear oil before a tear down is needed or do I need to bite the bullet now? I know the right thing to do for a resto would be a tear down and rebuild, but I'm not trying to do a full resto now, but wondering if I'm gambling with some bad Vegas odds, by not tackling it now.
Open to all suggestions / advice, thanks.
Dug out my 43 VAI that's been sitting for a couple of years. Got her running, few fuel issues to deal with as expected, no big deal.
The big deal is I always had concerns with the noise the tranny made. Not like something was grinding or banging, just more like the noise of gears / bearings turning, just seems loud. Unfortunately I don't have other CASE's to compare it too, so not sure just how bad it really is.
Had problems in the past with the tranny getting locked up in two gears at once. Read the topics here and most pointed to problems with the shift forks / assembly being worn out. Replaced it with an ebay one. Was from a VAC, so casting of shift pattern on the top of the cover is different, but functionally it’s the same. Seems to have fixed the problem. While I had that out I replaced the reverse idler gear because it was missing a couple of teeth. All easy enough to do from the top.
I took a bunch of pictures while I was in there, so I could compare them to the service manual / parts list etc. And it appears my oil slinger gear is missing ALL of its’ teeth! According to the service manual it appears that the oil slinger gear should be the same size as 3rd gear on the counter-shaft. Mine is definitely not.
Who knows how long it’s been like this. When I drained the tranny I didn’t see any chunks of metal or teeth come out, but the oil was pretty dirty, so I suppose it’s possible. I never heard the tranny grind gears, just the two gears at once problem corrected by replacing the shifter assembly.
I wonder if due to the worn shifter assembly that over the years 2nd gear on the main shaft was allowed to drag on the oil slinger instead of properly engage it. You can see the teeth on 2nd are a little worn on one side. I just figured that was normal from engaging with 2nd on the counter-shaft, but maybe it wasn’t. Maybe the oil slinger has been fighting a losing battle with 2nd over many years. I’m guessing the oil slinger gear was made out of a softer metal and lost the battle.
So besides wondering just how bad this is, now I’m debating do I really want to go down this road to replace the oil slinger.
1. Anyone care to guess how much life the tranny has left? If I add a few extra quarts of oil such that 2nd gear on the main shaft spins through oil will that help? Tractor will only get used a couple times a year mowing along a dirt path (1mile) Tractor has an industrial all angle mid-mount sickle bar on it.
2. How bad is to split a VAI? Would be a 1st for me. I already replaced all the differential brake seals and rear axle seals as well as pto bearing and seals without splitting or removing axles. Any CASE specific tools needed or just your typical bearing pullers and such? Do I need special tools to get the clutch back together afterwards? I’m assuming I’ll be replacing the bearings in there as well. I got all my seals and bearings from NAPA or bearings houses for the other jobs, assuming I can do the same here?
3. Engine is strong, guessing it had a rebuild at some point in its’ previous life as a DPW mower. Has a few other issues, charging, fuel/carb etc. Nothing major that I can’t fix myself.
Guessing the loud gear noise is related to the oil slinger gear problem but wondering can I squeak a few more years out of her with extra gear oil before a tear down is needed or do I need to bite the bullet now? I know the right thing to do for a resto would be a tear down and rebuild, but I'm not trying to do a full resto now, but wondering if I'm gambling with some bad Vegas odds, by not tackling it now.
Open to all suggestions / advice, thanks.
