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Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 148
S
Shop Shark
Shop Shark
S Offline
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 148
I have a 54 235 4 speed. Went thru the box 2 years ago with a Novak major kit. At the time 2nd synchro was not avail. Now it is and they sent me a gasket kit and a synchro ring. Looks very similar to 3 and 4 rings which are identical. I called and they said it was correct. Now bring out the shop manual. On page 7-120 2nd ring is called a cone and on 7-121 it is called a ring. Looking closely inside 1st gear you can see the circular rings the cone slides into. The instructions say to hold the cone into 1st with a retainer ring. I don't think there is a separate synchro ring and a cone. It looks like 2nd ring is made inside 1st gear. Is it not serviceable without buying 1st gear? Need help please. will call Novak tomorrow but not comfortable with their answers. Sharon

Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 9,671
D
'Bolter
'Bolter
D Offline
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 9,671
Hope Novak gave you an answer. It's been a long time past
since I rebuilt my SM420 Sharon so don't ask me to elaborate.
But from what I do remember, the 2nd speed syncro brass is an
integral part off the first gear slider, not serviced separately
as far as I know.
http://www.pbase.com/dennygraham/image/137529622
The 3rd-4th clutch brass is the only syncro part that is supplied
in the kit.
http://www.pbase.com/dennygraham/image/137529594
The inside of my SM420 was in fantastic condition so it really
didn't need to be rebuilt but since I had it out when rebuilding
the 216 I freshened it up anyway. In other words, the old
syncro brass was still in great shape and it was still
shifting just fine. An SM420 doesn't take to speed shifting
because it takes a little longer for the syncros to grab the
large gears and bring them up to speed, compared to lighter
transmissions with smaller gears having less mass.

You've been running yours for a couple of years you say, so
this may not be of any interest to you. But after my rebuild,
I refilled with Synthetic oil thinking new and improved
lubricants would be better, mostly because Ken says that's
what he runs in his trucks in his commercial operation. I had
shifting problems right of the bat. The syncro clutches
didn't want to grab so the gears didn't want to play catch-up.
My thoughts were, that with the mass of the large gears in the
SM420 there simply wasn't enough friction with the lubricity
that the synthetic oil offers. I went back to the plain old
gear oil and haven't had problems with it since.

Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL


Denny G
Sandwich, IL
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 148
S
Shop Shark
Shop Shark
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Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 148
Thanks Denny
I am going to call Novak this morning to see if 1st gear is available and also 2nd speed gear synchro cone. I just have to come to a complete stop before sliding it into 2nd. A lot of in town driving here in Tucson where you don't always need to come to a full stop before taking off again in traffic.
I'll keep you posted with results.
Sharon
PS really nice pictures Denny, look brand new

Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 9,671
D
'Bolter
'Bolter
D Offline
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 9,671
Yes, let us know what they say. I'm really surprised that that
syncro is worn that badly. It should slip into 2nd really
nice and smooth.
dg

Last edited by Denny Graham; 05/06/2015 4:08 AM.

Denny G
Sandwich, IL

Moderated by  Dusty53, SWEET 

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