Farmall M transmission

oldtrucksandtractors · Jun 29, 2015

Alright. This may be kind of long so bear with me please.
My M was idling one day and just started to make strange noises from the transmission.
1. sounded like a bad bearing up towards the clutch. i went through and replaced the rubber washers on the clutch joint after reading a forum about an H with a similar issue hoping that would fix it but it didn't. it does go away when the clutch pedal is pushed in though.
2.The other happens when it is in motion, when the tractor is under load it doesn't happen but when i am going even the slightest bit downhill the gears will start to chatter(that's how i describe it) but when i take it out of gear it stops. I have replaced the shifter swivel pin and that did help a little. Also when i engage the belt pulley it almost eliminates the problem.

I asked a few people the area and they said it may be the pilot bearing but everyone local is ford people so i was hoping to get some advice from some IH people.

Thanks for the help.

Also, could these be related?

Janicholson · Jun 29, 2015

The front trans shaft main bearing (and probably the Pilot bearing between the input and output shafts) need to be replaced. I think it can be done with the belt pulley and Liftall removed. Jim

Andy Martin · Jun 29, 2015

And if not replaced, bearings can get trapped between gears and break gear teeth. Driving in fifth gear will quiet the problem if it is a pilot bearing failure.

D Slater · Jun 29, 2015

If it still makes as much noise in 5th gear as others I would suspect other problems than the transmission main shaft pilot bearing. Don't know what's wrong but if I was starting to look. I would check the condition of the clutch release bearing holder and sleeve or mounting bolts and casting ears for being broke or loose. Next make sure the coupling on input shaft is installed correct. Could you move the input shaft up down, in out or sideways when putting rubbers on the coupling. If shaft moves a good bit I would pull it out and check those bearings. Probably pull the belt pulley gear box first and see what things look like on the input shaft at inside end and feel and look as much as possible at the pilot bearing. If nothing is found on what can be seen through the belt pulley gear box hole or at the other places I would try to narrow the noise location down then remove transmission top if needed.
Only thing the belt pulley gear box loads is the transmission input shaft, bearings and everything ahead to flywheel. Don't think engaging it would affect the main shaft bearing, but its possible and I can't hear what it's doing.

oldtrucksandtractors · Jun 30, 2015

I will try and get out to see how it sounds in 5th gear tomorrow.

When I did the rubber washers I changed the transmission fluid too and in the process I checked the transmission shafts for play and there didnt seem to be anything noticeable. I injured my hand while waiting for the washers though so I was unable to Install them and my brother who helped me dosent remember if there was any play in the shafts so unfortunatly I cant answer that question.

The noise is definitely coming from the clutch area where the washers are but the gear chattering is definetly coming from the transmission if that helps explane it any better.

Chance M · Jul 1, 2015

Sounds to me like input shaft bearing failure or the pump output bearing and the cancer is spreading because you keep using it...I'd stop and crack the top on that ole girl and give her the treatment....and prey no major tooth decay has occurred....good luck bud.

Chance

D Slater · Jul 1, 2015

Running in neutral with clutch engaged you are turning the transmission counter shaft, input shaft and everything up to and including the clutch. Input shaft is spinning on the main shaft pilot bearing. Also the hydraulic pump is turning. Coasting tractor in neutral with engine off or clutch disengaged the pilot bearing is also turning inside the input shaft but no other parts that were in the first description are turning. You would think if the pilot bearing didn't make noise when coasting it may be okay. But it could act different under a coast load.
You may have more than one problem or a bearing is bad on the counter shaft, input shaft, pilot bearing or bad constant mesh gears.
All the above is just my guess without more information.

oldtrucksandtractors · Jul 1, 2015

After the 5th gear test today I have pretty well narrowed it down to the main shaft pilot bearing because it did fine with only a little minor chatter that didnt warrant taking it out of gear (like one hit when I went over a bump). I think im going to replace the imput shaft bearings while im in there though just to be safe.
I also did some google searches and saw that some people got their bearings at napa. Would I be able to take the case ih part numbers down there and get them cheaper?

Janicholson · Jul 1, 2015

The bearing between the two shafts. (pilot) is (IIRC) not a common bearing may be IH only. The others are. Jim

Farmall M transmission

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Janicholson

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D Slater

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Chance M

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