Shift Fork trouble

1941 - 1945, MB, GPW Technical questions and discussions, regarding anything related to the WWII jeep.
Post Reply
IvorGPW
G-Command Sergeant Major
G-Command Sergeant Major
Posts: 244
Joined: Tue May 24, 2016 1:56 pm
Location:

Shift Fork trouble

Post by IvorGPW » Thu Apr 20, 2017 8:08 pm

I am in the process of tearing down my T84 and have run into a problem. While disassembling my T84 I was removing the Allen screws on the Low & Reverse Shift Fork and the Allen wrench slipped and there is now no way to remove the screw. Any ideas on removal?
Tate Christensen
1944 Ford GPW #234613 USMC Radio jeep
1943 Willys MB #263100
1945 Willys CJ2A #10226
1941 Ford GP #9687
1941 Willys MB #100161


packer
Sergeant Major of the Gee
Sergeant Major of the Gee
Posts: 382
Joined: Sun Feb 01, 2009 9:15 am
Location: England

Re: Shift Fork trouble

Post by packer » Fri Apr 21, 2017 1:06 am

Hi just a idea drill out and try a easy out bit , if you drill out carefully what is left might come out ,,, all the best colin in france

Joe Gopan
Jeep Heaven
Posts: 49841
Joined: Sun Mar 02, 2008 12:37 pm
Location: Proving Ground

Re: Shift Fork trouble

Post by Joe Gopan » Fri Apr 21, 2017 1:42 am

Have you tried the correct "fluted" wrench?

Order from Ron or to your local machine shop tool supplier and purchase a 0.183" Diameter "Fluted Wrench" It will have 6 Flutes.

Originals required the use of a fluted wrench. Many assume that the screw has an allen socket. Over the years there were civilian marketed replacements that were indeed allen sockets, best to carefully clean the screw head. It will be very evident which you have.
Sometimes we Jeep owners get lucky and an allen wrench will loosen the fluted set screw, we get unlucky when the wrench does not get a grip and the persistent "mechanic" keeps trying while chewing off the edges of the flutes.

STOP-go no further, get a 0.183 Fluted Wrench! :wink:
2011 MVPA PIONEER AWARD - MVPA #1064
HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
LIFE MEMBER AM LEGION-40/8-DAV
7 MIL SPEC MAINTAINED MV'S
COL. BRUNO BROOKS (ARMY MOTORS) IS MY HERO

dinof
G-Major General
G-Major General
Posts: 2860
Joined: Fri Jan 08, 2010 4:32 pm
Location: Arcadia & Johannesburg Ca.

Re: Shift Fork trouble

Post by dinof » Fri Apr 21, 2017 6:03 am

Packer has the idea-an easy out should do it. BUT....you must drill the hole so it does not injure the fork threads so beware, take your time.

As in John Barton's transmission tutorial, a slightly ground down Torks T-27 socket will also work. I did that and it worked for me. Make sure the side of the socket that goes into the fork screw is flat so it can go down fully to get a good grab on it. Use Allen screws next time.
Dino Falabrino
On the "G" since 1998.
1943 GPW 102310 DOD 3-3-43
1928 Model A Roadster Pickup
1930 Model A Tudor
1968 Taco Minibike

Joe Gopan
Jeep Heaven
Posts: 49841
Joined: Sun Mar 02, 2008 12:37 pm
Location: Proving Ground

Re: Shift Fork trouble

Post by Joe Gopan » Fri Apr 21, 2017 7:58 am

Fluted wrenches are available in bulk.
2011 MVPA PIONEER AWARD - MVPA #1064
HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
LIFE MEMBER AM LEGION-40/8-DAV
7 MIL SPEC MAINTAINED MV'S
COL. BRUNO BROOKS (ARMY MOTORS) IS MY HERO

bazza46
G-Colonel
G-Colonel
Posts: 1550
Joined: Sat Aug 12, 2006 4:28 pm
Location: Sydney, Australia
Contact:

Re: Shift Fork trouble

Post by bazza46 » Fri Apr 21, 2017 2:18 pm

The fluted wrench is listed as a 'bristol wrench'. As Ben says, if a hex wrench hasn't worn off much of the internal shape of the head, the bristol wrench will successfully get it out.
And as the screw is very hard, it sometimes hasn't much worn off- more wears off the allen key. Because of their hardness, these screws are notoriously hard to drill, and even if drilled and an ezy-out fitted, they are usually so tightly installed (they're tapered), the extractor will slip or break off.
And if yours is truly a hex head screw and it's rounded, I wish you luck!
Pic: Bristol vs. hex key
Image
Pic: One man's solution (not mine) to the problem.)
Image
"The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt"..Bertrand Russell

jkillelea
G-Captain
G-Captain
Posts: 757
Joined: Mon Aug 06, 2007 1:18 pm
Location: Northport, N.Y.

Re: Shift Fork trouble

Post by jkillelea » Sat Apr 22, 2017 5:22 am

Don't forget to use heat from a propane torch followed by PB blaster, etc. followed by heat, etc. several times. I've found mostly everything eventually gives in to this process. There is another cold penetrant spray that works well by using cold spray. Can't remember the name, and it smells bad when used, but it works. Good luck.

bazza46
G-Colonel
G-Colonel
Posts: 1550
Joined: Sat Aug 12, 2006 4:28 pm
Location: Sydney, Australia
Contact:

Re: Shift Fork trouble

Post by bazza46 » Sat Apr 22, 2017 1:53 pm

If all else fails, there are places that use a 'spark eroder' to electrically burn away broken bolts. But they look expensive. Maybe not so. It might cost more than the shift fork and rail is worth.
"The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt"..Bertrand Russell

Joe Gopan
Jeep Heaven
Posts: 49841
Joined: Sun Mar 02, 2008 12:37 pm
Location: Proving Ground

Re: Shift Fork trouble

Post by Joe Gopan » Sat Apr 22, 2017 2:02 pm

Be patient and get a fluted wrench.
2011 MVPA PIONEER AWARD - MVPA #1064
HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
LIFE MEMBER AM LEGION-40/8-DAV
7 MIL SPEC MAINTAINED MV'S
COL. BRUNO BROOKS (ARMY MOTORS) IS MY HERO

Beers
G-Colonel
G-Colonel
Posts: 1409
Joined: Sat Oct 22, 2011 7:41 pm
Location: Orinda, California

Re: Shift Fork trouble

Post by Beers » Sat Apr 22, 2017 4:59 pm

If you have to remove one of these, this the best $5 you'll ever spend...

https://www.vintagejeeps.com/p-1243-too ... a1492.aspx
1943 MB 213301 DOD 2-22-43


Post Reply

Return to “MB GPW Technical Knowledge Base”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Google Adsense [Bot] and 74 guests