Had trouble w/original 3 speed manual trans in my 53 F100. Would hang in second. Checked linkage and all, once I decided it was the trans, took one from my doner 55. Worked like a champ, however, now I have noise when engaging the clutch. And the answer is, no I didn't put a new clutch or throwout bearing in. Sounds just like a TO bearing, figured that it dried out got dirty, whatever. Tracked down a new TO and put it in today. Before rebolting the trans, I checked the main shaft. I seem to have a lot of wobble play. When compared it to my old trans the play is excessive.
My Question, is the problem the bearing on the front of the shaft or could it be the dreaded needle bearings? Can I change just bearing by removing the 4 bolts and retaining ring, without disassembling the transmission?

 

If I remember right it comes out with the input shaft yes

 

Nope. Sorry, but all the 3-sp's I have seen you have to drop the cluster gear down to remove the input shaft and gear. While you're in there, you'll want to do more, I suspect.

Exactly how much wobble do you have?

 

Must be a 4 speed I'm thinking off Ross. I know I have pulled the front cover on trannies and had the input shaft come out. Right?

 

The 4 speeds do come right out, I figured this out the hard way by picking a parts trans up with that cover off and it landed on my foot. Nothing like a giant heavy pointy piece of iron smashing your foot, but anyhow they do. The Three speeds are a PITA. If you do decide to drop it out then just go all the way through it and be done with it.

 

Maybe 1/8 inch. Can I not just replace the front bearing without removing the input shaft. The transmission works great, it is just the noise when the clutch is in. Can fix the problem in my old trans without much trouble. Just hoping a quick front bearing change would get me rolling again.

 

Well, chances are if the fronts that bad then the rest is probably not far behind.

I might be tempted to fix the old one. It's not that difficult (might want to just check on the procedure in the shop manual - just as kind of a back-up)

But in the mean time there's no substitute for pictures (3 spd light duty):

 

Well, If there the is noise when you push the clutch in and you are at a complete stop and the trans is in gear then it is not the trans because it cannot be moving. If it continues to make noise then it could be the bearing in the flywheel (pilot bearing)

 

You are right. When I first put the tranny in, I did not lube the pilot bushing. Thanks, I will put her back to gether.

 

It should be a pilot bushing, if it's stock. They do sell ball bearing models and personally I prefer them. I wonder if it's your throwout bearing, they are more likely to be bad than the pilot.

There's a chance (not very good) that the front bearing is loose enough on the shaft to pull it off with the shaft in the tranny, if it is bad.

 

Stupid question:

Are the input shaft diameters - where it seats in the pilot bushing the same diameter on the two transmissions?

 

No stupid questions Princess, only stupid answers. And because I aint sure I won't answer.

 

Parts CD shows same pilot bearing used thru '56, so I'd assume so, but definitely worth checking.

 

Yep, but I'm wondering if both of his transmissions are the same? IOW is the input shaft on the noisy transmission possibly smaller in diameter than the original one?