1942 Farmall H Memorial Restoration - Trans Issue

Ken Christopherson

Well-known Member
Hello all. It has been a while since I have posted an update on the 1942 Farmall H that I am restoring to help raise awareness for suicide and mental health. Two nights ago, we were able to test fire the engine for the first time. Aside from a little fine tuning, it runs beautifully and quiet. This morning, we thought we would see how it rolls into the gears. (Keep in mind this thing was 100% disassembled). When driving in first gear it makes a very noticeable metal scraping sound that is coming from directly underneath the top deck. Also, if you pull back on the gear shift while in first, the gear grinds inside the transmission while in motion. Reverse is EXTREMELY hard to get the shift lever out of gear. All other gears work flawlessly and quietly. Does it sound like I may have gotten the 1/R shift fork misaligned with the 1st sliding gear? Seems to me if the fork were out of the machined groove in the gear, it would push it but not pull it back out of gear? Any ideas? I really hate to have to pull the top cover, but it sounds like it is necessary at this point.

You wouldn't believe how easily this girl starts. First gentle half-flip of the hand crank and she is running! I hope you enjoy the photo of the current stage. All that is left is to do the bodywork and paint on the tin (and figure out the issue of the 1st/reverse gear).
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You will be able to see the issue with the belt pully drive removed. Use a good bright LED light, and see inside. Jim
 
Did you replace any gears? Is the reverse idler gear installed end for end as the constant mesh end is straight whereas the end engaging sliding gear when in reverse is beveled. There is a different part number reverse idler for early and later tractors but I don't know the difference as the sliding first and reverse is the same.
 
The only gears I replaced is the 4th/5th slider, and 3rd 4th drive gear. The reverse idler is installed properly. I studied the photos and diagrams VERY vigorously prior to reinstalling that piece because the casting is a little thicker/taller on one side of the gear face than the other.

It really is throwing me and many others for a loop. Shift forks are not bent, either. I'll pull the belt pulley tomorrow morning and see what I can find inside.

Stay tuned.
 
It has been a while since I had an "H" transmission apart, but it almost sounds like the R/1 shifter fork is not aligned properly. Did a detent slip slightly when lowering the transmission cover on? I want to say the fork should ride in a groove on the back of the gear. Maybe it popped out during assembly. Another possibility is that a fork is bent.
 

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