140 ring gear turning on flywheel

My '62 farmall workhorse just got hard to crank over the last month or so. I thought it was just needing some plugs.

Come to find out, the starter is spinning very strongly, along the ring gear, but the flywheel only creeps around. Did I shear a pin or something that holds the ring gear to the flywheel? Couldn't find a drawing that shows the ring gear.

thanks,
Mitch

The ring gear is pressed onto the flywheel. If the ring gear turns but the flywheel does not then the ring gear is broken.

Thanks for the reply. I guess spotwelding the ring gear is out of the question?

I believe I have a spare flywheel assembly from another engine that had a cracked block. I guess there's no way to change it out without breaking the tractor though, right?

I guess you could try spot welding it, you would have nothing to lose, but I think the flywheel is cast iron, so I don't think a weld would hold very well.

You are right, you can not remove the flywheel and ring gear without splitting the tractor.

Were it mine, I would put Blue locktite on it first. Have someone on the fan with the plugs out, and turn the wheel past the starter hole while you apply the juice. Let it set up for 2 days or a week if cold, then see if you were successful. Jim

Tap it back on (all the way around) and spot weld it evenly around the flywheel. Probably outlast you and I together.

Allan

I'd go with the locktite provided the ring gear is not cracked. First I would tap the ring gear away slightly and then apply some locktite primer to make sure it is perfectly clean. then put the locktite to it and tap the ring gear up against the flywheel.

I would go with the loctite remedy. There is one loctite that is made special to creep into such places. I don't know if it is the blue one or what number it is but by looking at the charts one should be able to figure out which one works best. I would clean it good with brake cleaner, tap it into place and apply loctite. Some one on the crank, other guy on the other end.

I would spot weld it. Hal

its the green loctite that is made to take up clearances. blue stuff is the removable stuff that never gets totally hard. the red stuff is gets hard like a weld.

I don't know if the bell housing is the same as a Super A as far as the hand hole inspection location, but on my Super A , I took the starter off, took off the hand hole plate, I used a piece of steel stock connected to the welder ground cable thru the hand hole and my friend welded it thru the starter hole , I think 6 evenly spaced welds.. Works fine so far.

Are you sure there is not a problem with the starter drive? Generally if the ring gear is as loose as you are describing, you can reach in with a pry bar and and pry the ring gear off the flywheel. This is what I would do to check the ring rear. I suggest you remove the starter and replace the starter drive before getting into splitting the tractor to get to the ring gear.

(quoted from post at 15:32:34 10/16/12) The ring gear is pressed onto the flywheel. If the ring gear turns but the flywheel does not then the ring gear is broken.

Click to expand...

Actually, the correct way to install a new ring gear is to heat it up so it expands, and then lay it down on the flywheel in the correct position. When the ring gear cools, it will be tight on the flywheel. Some folks just put the new ring gear in the oven at about 450° for several minutes.

You may be able to find a good used flywheel with a good ringgear. Other models may use the same flywheel. Then you can take a good look at the clutch disc to see if needs rebuilding. I had a brake shop to reline the clutch disc from a Farmall A. Hal

Thanks, but the starter is off, that"s how I know the ring gear is spinning on the flywheel. I can jam the flywheel stationary and still turn the ring gear.

Already took the starter to the shop...it"s good.

Installing a new ring gear isn't all that bad, but it does require splitting the tractor.

Pull the inspection hole cover underneath and have someone slowly roll the engine over while you shine a light in there and watch. I bet you'll find the ring gear is split.

Just wanted to thank you guys once again for all the ideas and advice. Here's what I did to fix the problem....

The ring gear was loose enough to turn very easily, but I never found a crack even after checking it slowly with a bright flashlight. I really didn't think the fit was tight enough for any loctite to hold it, and I am very familiar with the grades of loctite as I have built transmissions, axles and t-cases for large trucks for the last 14 years.

The more I thought about it, the more I realized my tractor had been getting harder and harder to start over the last few months. No wonder...the ring gear was spinning on the flywheel and the crankshaft was hardly turning, but I never noticed it until it just wouldn't crank at all. It sounded like it was cranking, just not firing right up like it should.

Well, since the teeth were still in great shape, I had my welding fix-it buddy to come by and we tacked it in 6 different spots. He charged my $25, but I gave him $30 for coming right away. I put the starter back on, which I had just had rebuilt a couple of years ago, and that bad boy fired up as soon as I hit the key. It had been a long long time since it cranked that quickly.

So, it is true, some stories do have happy endings, and this is one....thanks to you guys.

Now I have 4 "F"s to be thankful for...my faith, my family, my freedoms.... and my farmall.

Mitch in NC