Howard gear box

[r geiger(oR)]

Are parts avaiable for the Howard gear box?

 

[TheOldHokie]

(quoted from post at 18:44:19 03/19/10) Are parts avaiable for the Howard gear box?

I hope to have them in the near future. I'm in the process of measuring and preparing prints for the shifter and compound reduction gears that seem to be the classic failure. They require broaching and shaping operations that I am not equipped to perform myself so I'll be farming that out and doing a little rework to put the finishing touches on them. The bearings are standard inch series - not cheap at $35 a pop but readily available. I am debating the need for the mainshaft gear as it doesn't seem to fail like the others. I'll be making replacement rails myself as well as the shifter bushing. If you have a specific need other than those give me a call. I think Dell may soon have to drop the "rare and fragile" from his Howard mantra. So if you have a chance to pick a roached one up cheap it might be a good deal.

Call me if you want more details.

TOH
301.655.0631
[email protected]

 

[R Geiger]

Thanks for the information. I am looking at a 8N with one it it. I do not know the condition of it at this time, just thinking ahead.

 

[John in Mich]

I've copied your info into my sources file but I hope that my 8N with a Howard is not toast. I can shift into the low range but it will jump out unexpectedly. I have not looked inside yet. Any preliminary diagnosis or things to look for as the problem?

 

[TheOldHokie]

(quoted from post at 06:01:06 03/20/10) I've copied your info into my sources file but I hope that my 8N with a Howard is not toast. I can shift into the low range but it will jump out unexpectedly. I have not looked inside yet. Any preliminary diagnosis or things to look for as the problem?

Yes. Judging from the looks of the toasted gears I've seen slipping out of mesh in low range is the problem. When the gears disengage under load they "grind" the edges of the teeth off just like trying to shift a transmission without disengaging the clutch. The gears are plenty hefty - I'm begining to suspect the problem is the shifter - it doesn't lock them into low range securely allowing them to partially disengage. I'd suggest you use a bungee cord or similar on the shifter handle to keep them securely engaged if using low range. They may already be partially nicked which will nly make the problem worse.

There seems to be way more separation on the compound gears than actually needed and I'm toying with the idea of making the faces wider in the hopes it would fix the problem. Have to talk to my experts about that...

I'll post some pics this afternoon that will help clarify the operation of the Howard. Got to run right now and help my son with some house rewiring.


TOH

 

[John in Mich]

Thank you. I will refrain from using low range until I can get inside to look at it. Right now I'm getting my mowers set for the season and fertilize trees before the rain we are supposed to get. Then I want to work on my '39 9N.

 

[TheOldHokie]

(quoted from post at 08:25:17 03/20/10) Thank you. I will refrain from using low range until I can get inside to look at it. Right now I'm getting my mowers set for the season and fertilize trees before the rain we are supposed to get. Then I want to work on my '39 9N.

Here are some pictures of typical Howard damage:

[u:2dfa35c861]Howard Gearbox[/u:2dfa35c861]

TOH

 

[R Geiger]

Thanks for the pictures. It will give me something to look for.

 

[Netzarim]

Anyone know any more on these? I've been trying to locate one, but no luck so far. I thought maybe I could reverse engineer, but would need a sample to make initial drawings from. I've heard of others trying to do that also, but were having difficulties with their local machine shop with regards to quantities. Also, I thought that changing to helical gearing would add some strength and possibly change the gear ratio to 5:! from the stock 3:1.