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The Ford Barn (https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/index.php)
-   Model A (1928-31) (https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=3)
-   -   Shift Lever Drawing (https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=285354)

dmaxweb 08-09-2020 09:44 PM
Shift Lever Drawing
 

Does anyone have a measured drawing of the lower section of the shift lever? I have a machinist rebuilding one to original specs.

Tom Endy 08-09-2020 10:26 PM
Re: Shift Lever Drawing
 

1 Attachment(s)
The original shift levers were made from one piece and bent to the correct angle. There were two angles, one for 28-29 cars, and one for 30-31 cars. The repos are all bent to one angle that is in the middle to fit all. They are also made of two pieces that are screwed together and welded just below the bend. Many have failed by either breaking at the weld or unscrewing. See the attached article.

All the originals can be repaired by welding up the worn 1\2" ball on the end of the shifter and grinding it down to fit the slots in the forks. The problem is having it re-plated. Very difficult in the the US due to environmental concerns.

Tom Endy

dmaxweb 08-10-2020 06:16 AM
Re: Shift Lever Drawing
 

1 Attachment(s)
I have an original that was replated butler nickel and looks beautiful from the bell up. The problem is the plater told me he could weld up and grind down the ball to the correct size before plating. Well...he did build up and grind but instead of a ball it ended up a heavily nickel plated egg shaped blob. The machine shop at a nearby AFB will precision rebuild but needs a drawing for the CNC. The shifter forks are already done. If possible, I'd prefer not starting over with another lever and would like to get in done locally.
Thanks

BRENT in 10-uh-C 08-10-2020 06:34 AM
Re: Shift Lever Drawing
 

1 Attachment(s)
Quote:
Originally Posted by dmaxweb (Post 1918472)
Does anyone have a measured drawing of the lower section of the shift lever? I have a machinist rebuilding one to original specs.
Does this help?

.
.

BRENT in 10-uh-C 08-10-2020 06:39 AM
Re: Shift Lever Drawing
 

Quote:
Originally Posted by dmaxweb (Post 1918542)
I have an original that was replated butler nickel and looks beautiful from the bell up. The problem is the plater told me he could weld up and grind down the ball to the correct size before plating. Well...he did build up and grind but instead of a ball it ended up a heavily nickel plated egg shaped blob. The machine shop at a nearby AFB will precision rebuild but needs a drawing for the CNC. The shifter forks are already done. If possible, I'd prefer not starting over with another lever and would like to get in done locally.
Thanks
You do not need to have them write a program on this. There is 0.004" tolerance on the shift forks, and the same on the shift lever. One word of caution though, the ball on the end is NOT ½" (-0.500").

dmaxweb 08-10-2020 06:48 AM
Re: Shift Lever Drawing
 

These guys are military and like fun things to do with their high tech machines, And, the price is right.

Werner 08-10-2020 06:53 AM
Re: Shift Lever Drawing
 

1 Attachment(s)
Dmax,


I did that too and tried. The extremely worn ball is newly build-up welded. Then sanded and filed a spherical shape. But that didn't get exactly round. +/- 1/100 inch.
Also the height of the sphere could not be reconstructed exactly because I could no longer recognize the original dimensions.

Shifting was a bit scratchy. Therefore I installed a new gear lever.

dmaxweb 08-10-2020 06:58 AM
Re: Shift Lever Drawing
 

Quote:
Originally Posted by BRENT in 10-uh-C (Post 1918550)
Does this help?

.
.

Thanks!

Werner 08-10-2020 07:02 AM
Re: Shift Lever Drawing
 

Brent,
Quote:
the ball on the end is NOT ½" (-0.500").
What am I getting wrong here?

Or is that a misprint and should be 0.005 inches?

BRENT in 10-uh-C 08-10-2020 07:26 AM
Re: Shift Lever Drawing
 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Werner (Post 1918564)
Brent, What am I getting wrong here?

Or is that a misprint and should be 0.005 inches?


Not a misprint. The size of the ball is not machined to 0.500" or ½".

I think where some people started that misinformation (-besides reading it in Fordbarn and then telling it to others. :D) is that someone likely said file your shifter forks to straighten them up, and then just make the ball oversize to something such as ½ inch to compensate. Before long the shifting becomes difficult as it passes thru the neutral position due to the oversized ball.

Bob Bidonde 08-10-2020 08:49 AM
Re: Shift Lever Drawing
 

1 Attachment(s)
The gearshift lever needs some protection against human contact. I find that when wearing short pants my leg often touches the lever, so the nickle plating eventually corrodes. Same goes for the chrome plated repro lever. To preserve your shift lever, slide a piece of clear plastic tubing over it.

Ruth 08-10-2020 09:53 AM
Re: Shift Lever Drawing
 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob Bidonde (Post 1918599)
The gearshift lever needs some protection against human contact. I find that when wearing short pants my leg often touches the lever, so the nickle plating eventually corrodes. Same goes for the chrome plated repro lever. To preserve your shift lever, slide a piece of clear plastic tubing over it.
Bob, do you have toxic legs? to corrode the lever or is that erosion (gradually wear away). :p :p

dmaxweb 08-10-2020 10:21 AM
Re: Shift Lever Drawing
 

2 Attachment(s)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob Bidonde (Post 1918599)
The gearshift lever needs some protection against human contact. I find that when wearing short pants my leg often touches the lever, so the nickle plating eventually corrodes. Same goes for the chrome plated repro lever. To preserve your shift lever, slide a piece of clear plastic tubing over it.
This is the repro that was on my coupe when I got it. Corrosion on drivers side.

Bob C 08-10-2020 10:58 AM
Re: Shift Lever Drawing
 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Werner (Post 1918564)
Brent, What am I getting wrong here?

Or is that a misprint and should be 0.005 inches?



It's a little hard to see but I think the print shows .492-.496

updraught 08-10-2020 05:09 PM
Re: Shift Lever Drawing
 

Quote:
Originally Posted by dmaxweb (Post 1918644)
This is the repro that was on my coupe when I got it. Corrosion on drivers side.
If you send it to us we can put some corrosion on the other side.

dmaxweb 08-11-2020 09:18 AM
Re: Shift Lever Drawing
 

Quote:
Originally Posted by dmaxweb (Post 1918563)
Thanks!
Thanks again Brent.

I'm taking the shift lever and the blueprint to the machine shop today. Even though the forks have be rebuilt, I'm going to take them along to verify the tolerances. Do you have the blueprint for the forks?
Much appreciated!

Werner 08-11-2020 10:17 AM
Re: Shift Lever Drawing
 

1 Attachment(s)
This one?

dmaxweb 08-11-2020 10:44 AM
Re: Shift Lever Drawing
 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Werner (Post 1919017)
This one?
Thanks Werner
The drawing shows radius corners on the machined recess for the shift lever ball. Do you know if this correct? I've never seen a NOS fork so I don't know.

BRENT in 10-uh-C 08-11-2020 10:58 AM
Re: Shift Lever Drawing
 

Quote:
Originally Posted by dmaxweb (Post 1919041)
Thanks Werner
The drawing shows radius corners on the machined recess for the shift lever ball. Do you know if this correct? I've never seen a NOS fork so I don't know.
They really are not radius-ed, but it actually has a 45° machined chamfer, -and yes it is correct.

And Yes, that is my drawing of the Fork.

dmaxweb 08-11-2020 11:00 AM
Re: Shift Lever Drawing
 

Quote:
Originally Posted by BRENT in 10-uh-C (Post 1919053)
They really are not radius-ed, but it actually has a 45° machined chamfer, -and yes it is correct.

And Yes, that is my drawing of the Fork.
Got it. Thanks


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