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NP435 shifting

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Old Apr 10, 2006 | 10:58 AM
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NP435 shifting

For those of you who have trucks with this tranny - does your truck downshift from 4th to 3ed easily? My '79 runs great and shifts up through the gears just fine. Coming down through the gears is another story. Getting it to go back into third gear from 4th is a real bugger until I slow down almost slow enough to use 2nd gear. Is this because the 3-4 synchro is worn out or is that just how these transmissions are?
 
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Old Apr 10, 2006 | 12:03 PM
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The plastic bushings inside the rails may be worn and sloppy. Even when they are fresh you have to shift it at the exact right angle though, just the way these are.
 
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Old Apr 10, 2006 | 12:30 PM
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Cool - thanks Pro. I have a rebuilt one sitting in the shop but will save it for the other truck it was intended for. I may however pop the top off of the one in question and replace those plastic guides if there is enough room with it installed in the truck.
 
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Old Apr 10, 2006 | 12:51 PM
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mine is freashly rebuilt and the syncros and edplays were shimmed to spec. i know so because it was done by ME.....mine still wont down shift into any gears very well unless you rev it up and try to shift it like a non syncro tranny when your moving at higher speeds
 
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Old Apr 10, 2006 | 01:06 PM
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Thanks Kubota. You guys are saving me from doing a complete swap for little or no improvement. I rebuilt this setup for my Supercab transmission swap but was thinking of putting the transmission in my regular cab. https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal.../90077.520.390

Instead I'll save my time and money and learn how to correctly drive it.
 

Last edited by IB Tim; Apr 11, 2006 at 06:06 AM.
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Old Apr 10, 2006 | 01:53 PM
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Thats probably a good bet. It would be easy enough to pop the top while its in the truck and replace those bushings. No need to pull it. Even when fresh you have to be pretty damn specific when shifting them. They are a great solid tranny but they suren't aren't any toploader!
 
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Old Apr 10, 2006 | 09:18 PM
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i agree....just learn to drive it...they are a pretty primaitive tranny, when were these things designed?? mid early 60's?
 
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Old Apr 10, 2006 | 11:25 PM
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Yeah speed shifting these things is nearly nonexistance, but i think i'd take the strength over shifting speed, its to bad the toploader i have in my 2wd flareside couldn't be geared lower as they are one stout tranny as well.
 
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Old Apr 11, 2006 | 12:36 AM
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if you practice alot and get used to em you can shift em pretty quick... i've left rubber with just a foot and a half patch between 2nd and 3rd... gotta be careful though cause the shifting forks have a tendency to bend when jammed tooooo hard... please don't ask.. LOL
 
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Old Apr 11, 2006 | 01:03 PM
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yea, ill back you up on bending shift forks........
 
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Old Apr 11, 2006 | 04:38 PM
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my NP435 shifted like dog-poo.. but it shifted pretty much like everyone else's does here. the 2-3 syncho were going out of it, and the shifter was pretty sloppy..

I'm wondering if a T18/19 shifts better... and if they are as tough as the NP435.
 
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Old Apr 11, 2006 | 04:49 PM
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the t-18 that used to be in my truck felt and shifted pretty much identical to my 435...

i think the t-18's with the syncro first gear shift a little better
 
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Old Apr 11, 2006 | 07:28 PM
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>does your truck downshift from 4th to 3ed easily

Yes, it did when I owned it. Make sure all motor/transmission./transfer case bolts are tight and the fluid is good. I think I used normal 80/140 gear oil in mine.
 
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Old Apr 11, 2006 | 07:51 PM
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Originally Posted by KubotaOrange76
the t-18 that used to be in my truck felt and shifted pretty much identical to my 435...
Yup, pretty much the same.
 
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Old Apr 11, 2006 | 08:22 PM
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arent' they exactly the same aside from the name? i know they look pretty close to the same on the outside, just neved opened a t-18.

-cutts-
 
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