Farmall Super-A transmission problem, please help

[Gary730]

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The transmission in my super-a has a noise like a worn out roller bearing on the end of the input shaft. I disassembled the transmission, replaced all four roller bearings, they all look bad so I thought I solved the problem. Oh no, after a total tractor re-build, including all new bearings, seals, sandblast, epoxy primed, and acrylic painted, the trans. Still has the same noise. The noise is very loud and seems to be coming from the front area of the transmission, but I’m not sure. In first gear in whines a little, second is a little louder, and third gear is loud, and forth gear is very loud. It doesn’t make any noise in neutral or reverse. When the clutch is pushed in the noise stops. Coasting in any gear with the clutch pushed in the noise stops. Both transmission shafts looked great the gears look ok for having 60 plus years of service. What did I miss?
 

[David G]

My dad's super A had that noise, he took it clear apart and never found it.
 

[pete 23]

To me it sounds like ring gear and pinion mesh noise. It is difficult to set those little buggers unless you are really good at reading gear patterns which I never did develop that ability as well as I would have liked. Very few mechanics I know have either. When you change bearings you probably make it even worse. It is also very time consuming taking them apart and putting them back together to check the patterns. On the larger tractors we had a tool to use with new gears. Using old gears was a guessing game. I always set them as close as possible to the lash and depth they had when I took them apart but if bearings were shot that is tough to do.
 

[uncle henry]

throwout bearing?
 

[teddy52food]

He said the noise stops when the clutch is pushed in. That is when the TO bearing is turning.
 

[BOB HAWBECKER]

since he said when clutch is press in noise stops

well it might be the tube that the throw out bearing rides on,take cover off and see whats happen when you press clutch in.
 

[Wheat Farmer]

My Super A does the same thing. Question...Does any one have one that does not make that noise?
 

[ShaggyM]

My B had the same type of noise. It turned out it was the bearing in the left side wheel!
 

[DaveLamp]

My Super A had a very loud gear lash noise in 4th gear. So loud that I was afraid it was going to come apart. I drained the trans. and dif. and the pans at the bottom. All the oil was tan with water. I refilled all with 80w-90 gear oil and it reduced the noise some but it was still to loud to suit me. So I decided to try 85w-140 gear oil. After changing to the 85w-140 and running the tractor on the road for a couple of miles the noise went almost completely away. There is still a slight noise but it made a huge difference.
HTH
Dave
 

[Gary730]

Thanks for all input, everything mentioned I have already tried. I replaced all bearings that were less than perfect. I don't know what else to do. I would disassemble it again if I knew what to look for. Any more input would surely be welcome. I have hundreds of dollars in bearings and seals thinking that would resolve the initial problem. This has turned out to be the Farmall from Hell!
 

[pete 23]

Did you measure the back lash of ring and pinion with the old bearings intact. You may have been noisy from worn bearings but the new bearings put a different pattern on the ring gear. The depth of the pinion is set by the shims under that front bearing retainer on lower transmission shaft. Like I said before, it is difficult to get at to even see that pinion depth when it is once installed and you have to know what the pattern should look like to adjust it properly. Usually, just using original shims will get you by BUT like others have said, have you ever heard a really quiet one. Heck, it is hard to get one set that is easily visible on the top shaft pinion set up like the larger tractors use. You could take that lower shaft cap off and feel the back lash. That would give you an idea if it is too tight or too loose.
From your description of the noise I would say it all comes down to mesh of the pinion. Few years ago I put a whole bunch of gears into a different rear housing on a Farmall A and I thought I had it pretty darn good but the guy complained. Didn't sound unusual at all to me.
 

[Gary730]

Thanks Pete, This is the way I'm thinking I need to go. Can you email me, and maybe give me a phone number...I would like very much to be able to talk to you on the phone.