Where I go find information on toploader

[PJ UPTMOR]

I'm looking for information on the top loader transmission. I bought my transmission separate than when I bought the shift linkage. I know it is in gear but which one is a mystery to me. I'm looking for the neutral position so that I can put on the shift linkage. Can any one help me with this. Thanks in advance.


Paul Uptmor

[xlr8or]

Try here:
http://www.davidkeetoploaders.com/

[427 S/O]

Try this, complete instructions(with pics) for breakdown and assembly........



http://www.classictiger.com/techtips...dr/topldr.html

[blykins]

It's easy to knock it out of gear...

There are 3 shifter cams on the side of the tranny....

If you are looking at the transmission with the input shaft to your left, the one closest to the input shaft is 3rd/4th gear. The one in the middle is reverse. The one closest to the tailshaft is 2nd/1st.

You can take a small wrench and change gears. If the tranny is in good shape and the interlock pin is in there, it should be easy to figure out what gear it's in.

You can rule out reverse very easily.

For the other two, just take your wrench and go to each one separately.....one of them will turn one way or the other. Once that happens, you can find the "neutral" spot on that gear.

Again starting from the left side (input side), you have 4th gear, 3rd gear, reverse, 2nd gear, and 1st gear. That's also the ways the shifter cams will point to when they're in that gear.

Two tips.....have someone hold the output shaft when you rotate the input shaft. Especially if it's cold, tranny grease is thick and could cause the output shaft to turn even if the transmission is in neutral.

Also, it may be easiest to just take the cover off the top and you can see what gear it's in. You can watch the synchro assemblies move back and forth when you turn the shifter cams.

[Cal Metal]

Reverse gear is situtated on the 1st/2nd gear synchro. Its teeth are straight cut, so that is easy to spot. If you turn the input and the tail shaft turns in the opposite direction, you know you are in reverse. The middle shifting lever or cam on the side of the case is the one, then, to rotate to get the unit in neutral.

When looking at the gears from the top, the synchro units should be evenly spaced between each gear. If not, one is probably engaged. You can see the difference, as one will be locked in and one will be locked out. The sliding clutch, in neutral, is evenly spaced between the two gears (lst/2nd) and (3rd/4th).

If they are equally spaced, and you can spin the input while holding the output stationary, you are in neutral, assuming reverse is not engaged.

[Clois Harlan]

Mark has some nice pictures for you to reference:

http://www.toploaderheaven.com

Clois

[Ron61]

I got a book from Transmission Technologies Corp. that is very good. Shows every gear, pin, and shaft and takes you step by step through the complete dissasembly and assembly of them. They alshad a VCR tape that I got which is really good as they take one apart and show you each gear, pin, and shaft and explain what is wrong with the ones they are replacing. I don't have a web site address handy for them, but I knew nothing at all about the insides of one of these things untilI got that book.

Ron

[Excaliber]

That "interlock" pin on the third/fourth shift rail needs special attention. It is OFTEN MISSING due to incorrect rebuild at some point in the transmissions life. As the top loaders are OLD trans you can bet someone, sometime had it apart. Did he forget to put the interlock pin back in the shift rail? Pretty common mistake actually. That pin is REALLY small, looks like a roller bearing, drops to the bottom of the case on disassembly. Not "apparently" needed during initial reinstallation.

What does it do? Locks out reverse gear when the trans is in 1st or 2nd gear. You should not be able to shift the trans into TWO gears at the same time, but you CAN if the interlock pin is missing. If your in TWO gears (first or second AND reverse) the input and tail shaft will not turn, the trans will lock up. But the problem is more sinister than this.

You might not be looking for this problem "on the bench" and it is not likely you WILL be able to get the trans in TWO gears after you install the shift linkage. The linkage itself is designed to only allow for ONE gear selection at a time. BUTT the linkage does have enough "play" in it where it IS possible to get the trans "half way" to reverse and "half way" to first. When that happens the gear shift mechanism "locks up", the trans may be in either gear, not likely "nuetral". It takes some "force" on the gear shift to duplicate this nasty little problem and you WILL NOT be able to do it "on the bench". It will show up IN THE CAR, in the parking lot when your try to shift into reverse from first, or from first into reverse. Then BAM, your stuck.

I know, I have my top loader apart right now and after many hours of scratching my head AND consulting with "Top Loader Heaven" AND David Kees eventually figured out the dam interlock pin was missing. MANY thought the problem was:

1. My "imagination".
2. My Hurst linkage was worn out.

I went on a lot of wild goose chases over this!

Well on my way to becoming a side oiler and top loader "specialist"! And thats NOT something I wanted to do when I started this adventure.

In the end, David Kees pointed me in the right direction, but it's pretty tough to rebuild a trans over the phone!

[trularin]

Ernie, we still think it is your imagination.

[Ron61]

Tru,

It is Ernie's imagination. After hours of scratching his head and consultation, he figured out that the gears he was looking at came out of the rear end and the transmission is the thing up on the other end of the drive shaft.

Ron

[Excaliber]