Technical 41 ford cluster gear end play question.

I recently bought a rebuilt 41 Ford transmission from another hamb er and upon inspection The cluster gear has a lot of play back-and-forth. I've measured about a 16th of an inch and I've read that it needs to be about fifteen thousands. Anybody have the proper specs? Anybody sell a shim kit for this? I've sent a private message to Mac Van pelt about this but have not heard back yet.

 

Shouldn't there be a thrust washer there?

 

That's on the front side of the transmission, on the rear side of the cluster gear There is a thrust washer of some kind. I'll look into it this morning and get some detailed pictures.

 

Yes, thrust washer at both ends. Tighter clearance is better...down to .002" works fine for me and helps keep the trans in gear under decel.

 

That's what I don't want happening is popping out of gear.

 

Just checked inside the case and for sure Is a thick thrust washer at the rear and nothing in the front. I guess I need to pull this thing apart and check it out.

 

http://www.vanpeltsales.com/FH_web/FH_images/FH_trans-pics/Flathead_Trans_1936-52-LD3spd.jpg

Credit to Van Pelt sales.

 

Yup, that explains everything in that drawing. Gonna pull it apart right now and see what else I may need in this thing.

 

You are missing a thrust washer. Should be one on each end. These also act as the fore and aft bearings. Running with one missing will ruin the case. End play is .015" max. There used to be thin spacers available to fine tune the end play due to a worn case, etc. I don't know if they are available now. There is more than one version of the thrust washers. To see which one you need involves removing the cluster gear to see which one is in there. The difference is the tabs on the back side of washer that fit the end of the gear. You might also contact centuryhotrods.com

 

Thanks, all I've got it figured and I've got the trans almost apart. I just talked to the guy that rebuilt it for me and he feels bad about it. And was gonna refund me all my money. But I told him no sweat things happen.

 

Nope, no thrust washer in the front at all. And I believe the front seal is in backwards. Oh well, that's about it. Everything else looks great. The thrust surfaces look great in here too.Luckily, I didn't need to swap the trans in anytime soon.

 

Yep, seal is bass ackward.

 

Yep, I already replaced it.

 

Sorry I missed this thread. The factory spec for end play at the cluster gear was 0.005” to 0.015” clearance, and the factory “wear limit” was 0.025”. I guess Ford was okay with that limit but we aren’t at our shop.
We do have steel shim washers available for the rear thrust location but only in about 0.021” thick. You would fit this between the rear cluster gear washer and the adjoining location at the back (inside) of the gearbox. If the thrust surface inside the case is badly worn , particularly if the contact area is grooved, I don’t think the shim washer would last very long.

 

Thanks for the reply, Mac. I believe I have these parts at the house. Just have to wait and see. As far as the thrust surface in the box itself, they are perfect.

 

When I ordered the new thrust washer for the front I ordered a new rear one too. Just to be sure. When I put it all together, it was way too tight and couldn't put a feeler gauge in between it. So I put the old rear thrust washer back in and ended up with 0.005. I'm good with that. I also put a new sealed bearing in the rear but took off the front part of the seal so it gets gear oil and notice that the snap ring is about half as thick as the old one and caused the rear portion to have a bunch of play, so I had to take the old snap ring From the old bearing and transfer it to the new and everything was nice and tight. Also Installed a new u joint.

 

Brian, you’re ok with 0.05”? That’s double Ford’s max. Sounds like an invitation to jump out of second gear.

Or maybe you forgot a zero?

 

Yup, ha ha, sorry, forgot a 0. .005 I'll correct the post.