Bill,

Sorry to hear about your overdrive. Does it look like you'll be able to make the repair without dropping the whole transmission?

Tom

I can't think of any way that the R9 overdrive output shaft would become stuck on the overrunning clutch assembly as it just slides over the rollers....unless maybe the rollers have somehow worn a grove into the bell of the output shaft (?).

If the lockout lever is moving by itself as you pull rearwards on the overdrive housing then my guess is that the lockout ring is hanging up somewhere, either on the overrunning clutch splines, the ring gear splines (forward of the overrunning clutch) or possibly either the reverse lockout plunger or the other, wider, plunger that interlocks with the solenoid pawl.

The reverse plunger should slide out of the overdrive housing as the housing is pulled from the transmission. If the reverse plunger is somehow stuck in the overdrive housing (stuck in the lockout collar shifting fork) it could 'hook' on the planetary gear and keep the housing from pulling free. This doesn't seem likely though.

Have you tried re-installing the tail piece on the output shaft, putting the car in gear and gently twisting back and forth with a wrench? This might help work any stuck splines loose. Alternatively you could try a slide hammer, though that might be a last resort option.

Bill,

One further diagnosis would be to disconnect the lockout cable at the overdrive and unscrew the governor. If you manually pull the lockout lever forward it should spring back rearward when released. You should be able to feel the lockout ring move forward (freewheel) and back (lockout) through the governor port.

Tom
(Station Sedan with an R9 overdrive)

On the mainshaft, a neighbor of mine, an auto-mechanic / machinist, has it right now. He thinks a heavier snap ring should work. It'll take some minor machining though to fit the new ring. Luckily all of the shaft components are in good shape. I'll post some pictures when it's done.

Thank you, I may be looking you up shortly if a modern alternative isn't available.

Cheers,

Tom

Hello again,

Another question, I'd like to replace the rear mainshaft bearing in the R9 overdrive. The original is still a little rough after cleaning & re-oiling and it looks like it may have "spun" (outer race spun within the overdrive housing) at some point during its life.

An email to SKF indicates that the original, a MRC 5206 BSF2, was a "special" and is not available. Their advice is to use a standard size 5206 (1 1/16" width) and add spacers to make up the difference.

It looks like Max Merritt looks sells an original for $250. Kanter sells a "kit" for $90 though I'm not sure if this is an original bearing or a thinner bearing with spacers (have an email in to Kanter for more info).

The original bearing has an inner race that protrudes several mm from the outer race. The drive shaft U-joint flange bolts onto the end of the main shaft and sandwiches the bearing between the speedo gear and the U-joint flange. In this configuration, the bearing carries the overdrive mainshaft and has to handle considerable thrust and angular torque. As such, I'm worried that a kit with spacers isn't an optimal replacement.

TL;DR

Anyone know of a less expensive source than the $250 from Max Merrit for a R9 rear bearing? Alternatively, has anyone had success with a bearing / spacer replacement kit?

Thanks for your time,

Tom in KC

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Hello,

First time poster,

Have a '49 Station Sedan with an R-9 overdrive transmission that has 2nd & 3rd gear problems. Drained the transmission oil and found one of the syncro clutch plunger/springs in the bottom (not good). Proceeded to take the top off and found that the second gear assembly was loose on the main shaft as it could be slid forward, off of the ball bearings (really not good). OK, looks like a rebuild is in my future. Finally had time over the holidays to remove the transmission and disassemble.

Wow, quite a learning experience.

One of the problems seems to be that the main shaft snap ring has worked its way out of its grove and allowed 2nd gear to become loose on its bearings (see pictures). One of the Packard service bulletins indicates that there should be a 'rolled lock ring' holding the mainshaft together rather than a snap ring. I do know that the transmission was rebuilt in 2012 (previous owner had a garage do it) and, though I'm not 100% certain, I think that the main shaft may have been replaced as part of the rebuild.

Couple of questions:

Is there supposed to be a snap ring holding the main shaft together or should it be the 'rolled lock ring' as indicated in the Packard bulletin? Current experience indicates that the snap ring isn't cutting it.

Do the mainshaft rebuilds from Max Merrett or Kanter come with a snap ring or is a pressed lock ring used?

Has anyone successfully rebuilt a mainshaft on their own?

Thank you in advance for any help or advice.

Tom in Kansas City