'41 A Internals: One step forward, two steps back..

Ken Christopherson

Well-known Member
Hey all.

Was able to get some more work done on the A project. Got the flywheel off last night, the reduction cover, mains and crank out. Got one of the mains loose and the collar of the left (flywheel side) main bearing insert fell down into the crankcase. Pulled the other side out and saw that there was a spot in the bearing where it was starting to chip away. Guess I am doing mains, too.

The reduction gear was sloppy, so figured it was the outer bearing that went. Pulled the cover and found most of the bearing internals laying in the bottom. The gear itself has about 3/8" of movement in and out, and when turned, seems to want to spiral off of the shaft. I'm guessing that the splines on the gear are worn, due to driving with a bad bearing for (probably several) years. Looks like I'll probably be needing a reduction gear, as well as the outer bearing.

Third, the cam bearings are both shot. So I'll be needing those.

Fourth, the oil pump drive gear is missing two teeth. Be needing one of those too.

Seems like I make a leap forward, and take a few steps back with everything on this A. That's ok, though. At least I didn't give much for it. Just have to keep plugging away.
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Yep there is usually no end to it ! The more you look the more you find !

That's why when I did them I just took them all the way down and started with an empty case. Sure takes a lot of time and a toll on you. But sure makes for one good tractor when done. Nothing better then having an extra or 2 of the same model to use for parts as you go either.
 
I've got quite a bit of slop in the first reduction gear shaft as well, so I may be looking at doing the inner bearing (hopefully I don't have to replace the shaft).

Oh well, mine as well do it right.. Just going to take longer is all. Still trying to figure out how to get the bearing off of the shaft so I can pull the gear to look at it and the shaft.
 
Put a gear puller on it hooked into the holes near the center and pull away and give it a SMACK to get it's attention when tight. The bearing should come off and the gear too.
Those input shafts are loose feeling when the reduction gear cover is not there to support it. It has a flat type roller bearing with no inner race as it rides on the shaft. You can likely get the bearing out for a look once the gear and the retaining cover are off. Your that far take a peek at the lower counter shaft endplay and lock nut on the left hand side. Many many times these are too loose. Also many times those bearings are bad too.
 
The outer first reduction bearing is one of the weak points of the old two cylinders. zit really doesn't get a lot of lubrication. As you have noted, it may have been replaced or needs to be replaced now. Even after replacing bearings you may have some noise in the first reduction gear. Once the gears wear a bit with a worn bearing, and are out of line, they may be noisy after being put back in alignment. My '37 B is like this, no visible wear, but noisy. So far I have chosen to live with it, it isn't that bad.
 
Gear noise does not bother me much, I am used to the whining of a Case transmission (which is most notable in road gear). A little whine is ok, I just want to make sure it is mechanically sound.
 
Was able to get the gear off tonight, and looked at the (nearly gone) splines inside the gear journal. They are worn down to almost a thin line of metal down the center of where the spline should be. The shaft splines looks good, and has only a little up and down/side to side/in and out play. Hopefully everything else checks out ok. From looking down inside, everything looks to be in really good shape.
 

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