My first vehicle! 1956 CJ5

[56willys]

Okay, a weird one today...

So now that the trans is apart I wanted to mock up the overdrive now that I can see everything. So I put the overdrive bowl/planetary assembly onto the the trans main shaft. And noticed there is a gap between the main bearing and the bowl gear with the overdrive nut tightened all the way. The gap measures about 0.140". Do you have any idea what would be causing this? Maybe it's normal, but I feel like it should go tight against the bearing? This explains why when I added shims on the overdrive, it wasn't gaining anything on the stick-out distance, I was just filling this gap.

Is there anything that could be done to fix this, but if the overdrive would go tight to the bearing, it would just hurt the stick-out distance even more. Maybe I should just add that much more distance of shims, and maybe it will work?

[bmorgil]

When you tighten the nut on the output shaft, It needs to draw the gear up against the bearing. There should not be a gap when the output nut is torqued. Herm has updated his web site. Here is a good link. https://hermtheoverdriveguy.com/inst...n-instructions

[56willys]

When you tighten the nut on the output shaft, It needs to draw the gear up against the bearing. There should not be a gap when the output nut is torqued. Herm has updated his web site. Here is a good link. https://hermtheoverdriveguy.com/inst...n-instructions

So what do you think could be causing the gap? And would it be safe just to put a thick spacer in there?

[bmorgil]

There should be a spacer on the case side of the bearing, and its about as thick as that gap. You need to make sure it is there.

[56willys]

There should be a spacer on the case side of the bearing, and its about as thick as that gap. You need to make sure it is there.

That spacer is in place.

There is actually 2 thin spacers added in front of that. (Pictured) from the research I've done I don't think they should be there? I saw something that people add spacers there if there's an issue with 2nd gear. So should I leave those thin spacers in place since they were added for a reason? Or take them out since the new bearings may fix the possible issue it may have had?

[bmorgil]

There should be little to no end play in the mainshaft 56'. If the mainshaft is moving back and forth it can cause a few problems. If its bad enough, it can pop out of gear. The spacer sounds like it is too thin. As parts are swapped around and/or if the clamp on the mainshaft nut is insufficient it can gain clearance, the spacer can wear if its not clamped against the bearing and the mainshaft. Once you have all the new parts assembled, check the end play. Shim it up until there is no end play. Check to be sure the mainshaft turns easily in neutral. Too thick of a spacer will tie things up.

[56willys]

So should I keep those thin spacers that someone added? Or try it and maybe the new bearings will fix whatever issue led to adding those shims? Because, I can't add or remove those shims without removing the rear bearing, which I don't know if it's safe to reuse the bearing after it's been removed since it's pressed onto the main shaft?

I got the case cleaned and painted! And all the gears are cleaned, so I'm basically ready for assembly!!

[bmorgil]

You will need to put it together and check it for end play. With a new spacer and bearings it may not need shims. Add shims if it has too much end play. The bearing should be able to be removed without damaging it. Clean up the mainshaft and it should move on there a little easier.

[56willys]

You will need to put it together and check it for end play. With a new spacer and bearings it may not need shims. Add shims if it has too much end play. The bearing should be able to be removed without damaging it. Clean up the mainshaft and it should move on there a little easier.

Thanks mate, I wanted to make sure it was okay to reuse the bearing.

Hopefully I can start assembly today!!

[56willys]

Everything is good so far! Not a lot done, but it's a start.

I got all the needle bearings packed onto the counter shaft and installed it along with the cluster gear into the case. And I have the reverse gear installed. I replaced the countershaft due to wear, so I cut the old one down the same length as the cluster gear. Then I used rubber bands to hold the needle bearings around it, after that was set, slid it into the cluster gear, cutting the rubber bands and greasing as it went. Then I could set the whole assembly into the case. It worked great!! After I install the input shaft I'll use the new countershaft to push the temporary one out through the case.

As I don't have a shop press, I put the main shaft and input shaft in the freezer to shrink a little bit. Then I'll be able to put the main bearings on way easier. So I'm just waiting for a little bit.