8N transmission shifter plates help

[Twebb101]

Hi all! I'm having some transmission issues on my '51 8N. After sitting for a couple of months, 2nd gear wouldn't work; wouldn't shift into 2nd, it was like hitting a wall, just wouldn't even try. I took the transmission lid cover off to look at things, and now I'm having an issue getting it back on. My understanding is that the two shifter plates get lined up, the holes get lined up, so that the large pivot bolts on either side of the trans housing go through the holes. Right? I can get them installed like that, but the bottom plate, the 2nd/4th gear plate, just flops side to side, nothing holding it vertical. The knob on the end won't stay in the shift rod notch/cutout. If I back the screws out, I can get it to sit in the notch, but as soon as I tighten the screws up, it gets pushed out and won't go back in. Is it bent? I can't see anything that is in the way. I can move it to vertical position, verify the tractor is in neutral (moves back and forth freely), and install the transmission cover lid. When doing that, I can only shift in to Reverse, and then the transmission locks; can't get it back in to neutral or any other gear. When I take the lid back off, the bottom plate has fallen out of the notch, and down again and is not vertical, just floppy again. Very frustrated right now! Any tips/help is appreciated.

 

[Jim in LA]

Are the detent balls and springs working freely in the shift rails? My '51 wouldn't go in 2nd so I took the top plate off and the detent ball and spring in the shift rail was all rusted. After cleaning it thouroughly and lubing it, everything was fine. Do you have service or illustrated parts manual?

 

[Twebb101]

I'm assuming the detent balls and springs are good, as I can manually move the shift rods via the top shift plate and a pry bar on the other shift rod; they move pretty easy and "clunk" in well. The top shift rod (1st/3rd) moves freely by hand. I can pull the springs out and check them though to make sure. Yes, I do have the manuals, service, parts and IoT, but they aren't much help...just say to put the shift plates in and screw in the pivot screws.

 

[R Geiger]

Should look like this before putting the cover on. You may not have the pivot bolts installed correctly.

 

[Jim in LA]

I would like to replace all the bearings in the tranny and final drive on both my ‘49 and ‘51 8N but doubt I ever will.

 

[Twebb101]

Should look like this before putting the cover on. You may not have the pivot bolts installed correctly.

I can get them lined up like this, with the pivot bolts installed all the way in; the problem is that the bottom shift plate is not staying inside the notch cutout on the bottom shift rod. If I back out the pivot bolt on that side (driver's right), I can get it to sit in the notch; put the bolt back in, and it pushes the plate out of the notch.

 

[Hobo,NC]

If you need to go deeper you can get to the forks and remove them where you are at. BTDT

R

Thread 'Still won't go into 1st 3rd gears'

Jul 24, 2019

I have drained the old tranny fluid, flushed the sump out 4 times with diesel, and put 5+ gallons of correct oil back into my 1950 8N. It would run around the barn in 2nd & 4th and reverse before I did all this. It still goes into 2nd & 4th & reverse, but still won't go into 1st and 3rd. I have removed the spring and can see the ball in the bottom of the hole under the coverplate, but it seems rusted and I can't remove the little ball to save myself. Also, the shifter rail will not slide. Any ideas as to how to remove this little ball and free the shifter rail? I assume the rail MUST...

• RUHokie
• Replies: 10
• Forum: Ford 9N, 2N & 8N

4-speed Transmission Locked - Ford Fordson Collectors Association

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