Machining replacement transmission counter shaft for a 1910 Locomobile

[OldCarGuy]

Locomobile was an early American manufacture of automobiles. They first made affordable steam cars from 1899 to 1903. Then switched to internal combustion engines. A recently deceased Northern Ohio collector own a first year production 1899 Locomobile.

Here's a picture of a close friend's 1910 Locomobile. That needed a replacement four-speed transmission counter shaft .
1910 Locomobile. Big difference 11 years make...

View Four-Speed gear box. The counter shaft is the left one.

Started with a piece of 4140 pre-heat treated to 32 RC. and turned. Turned down five steps..

Cut three key-way slots.

Machined three brass spacers to seperate the gears

Gears fitted to shaft with freshly made keys...

Press fitted the smallest gear and two bearing to one end of shaft. The shaft is placed with the smallest gear and set of bearing is placed into the transmission housing. Adding the three gears, three spacers, and. Two slightly smaller bearing are then pressed onto the shaft completes the assembly.

 

[GL]

Nicely done. It’s very rewarding to have the tools and skills to be able to restore whatever interests we choose to pursue. Sometimes it’s just stuff around the house. Other times it’s a 120 year old car. Glad there are people out there who care enough to bother. Be safe.

 

[Karl_T]

Are the gears themselves 120 years old??

I did not think the ability to make this quality of gear existed back then.

Same question about the bearings in the background, they can't be 120 years old??

 

[brino]

Beautiful!
Thanks for all the photos.

The "Loco" name may be apt based on this Wikipedia quote:

A typical open-body cost about $10,000 when the average Model T Ford Phaeton cost about $300.​

From here:

Locomobile Company of America - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Very interesting shape of the gear teeth ends.
No synchro, so a clutch and some skill based on sound and feel?

Was the original shaft worn eccentric?
I would be interested to see a photo of old and new shaft side-by-side.

Great work, Thanks Again!
Brian

 

[benmychree]

I once had the opportunity to drive one of those Locomobile steamers around the block, it was kind of a white knuckle thing due to sitting up on a seat about 4 ft off the ground in a vehicle that was not much longer than that and also quite narrow, the one that I drove was I think a model a bit later with side tiller rather than the front tiller shown, which was renowned for oversteer due to front end design and geometry and was well known for turning over on too tight of turns, the side tiller was an improvement, but it made tight right turns difficult for folks that had a bit of belly, It took both hands to drive one, one for tiller right for tiller, left for hand throttle, plus foot brake, meanwhile watching the water column gage and regulating the water bypass valve with the same hand as the throttle lever, plus, they were fairly fast for the times, fast enough to get one in trouble

 

[benmychree]

Bear in mind that ball bearings and well made gears were no rarity back in those times, sure there was no synchromesh, and you got good at, that pretty much persisted up into the early 1930s shifting without too much clashing, that was what the beveled teeth were for, Machine tools during those years used pretty much the same gears and bearings up into the 1940s with only small improvements.

 

[OldCarGuy]

Are the gears themselves 120 years old?? Yes most likely the gears are original

I did not think the ability to make this quality of gear existed back then. You'd be amazed how well things were build back then. Even with the old technology machines...

Same question about the bearings in the background, they can't be 120 years old?? Again most likely those Bearing are original.

Beautiful!
Thanks for all the photos.

The "Loco" name may be apt based on this Wikipedia quote:

A typical open-body cost about $10,000 when the average Model T Ford Phaeton cost about $300.​

From here:

Locomobile Company of America - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Very interesting shape of the gear teeth ends. Actually the corners of the teeth got worn from years of use
No synchro, so a clutch and some skill based on sound and feel? The driver learned just when to make a shift,, and each car has its' own set of rules to learn.

Was the original shaft worn eccentric?
I would be interested to see a photo of old and new shaft side-by-side.

Great work, Thanks Again!
Brian

Here's a picture of the original shaft. The area where the largest gear mounted was worn causing slop in messing of the gears. It also had a fine crack that I'm sure would result in a major issue if not replaced.. The keys were worn and sloppy fit because their slots widened.

 

[OldCarGuy]

I once had the opportunity to drive one of those Locomobile steamers around the block, it was kind of a white knuckle thing due to sitting up on a seat about 4 ft off the ground in a vehicle that was not much longer than that and also quite narrow, the one that I drove was I think a model a bit later with side tiller rather than the front tiller shown, which was renowned for oversteer due to front end design and geometry and was well known for turning over on too tight of turns, the side tiller was an improvement, but it made tight right turns difficult for folks that had a bit of belly, It took both hands to drive one, one for tiller right for tiller, left for hand throttle, plus foot brake, meanwhile watching the water column gage and regulating the water bypass valve with the same hand as the throttle lever, plus, they were fairly fast for the times, fast enough to get one in trouble

I'm sure that was a thrill. I've been behind the tiller and or wheel of century old cars many times. And I never get enough. I'll be driving in an unfamiliar area of tours driving at 35 MPH. Dreaming how this car was in its' day. By the way all cars at the turn of the century were very sensitive to drive. If you stop concentrating of driving for a second, you will run off the road.. Indeed you're always making fine tune adjustments on the fly.

 

[OldCarGuy]

sure there was no synchromesh, and you got good at, that pretty much persisted up into the early 1930s shifting without too much clashing,

All Ford Model A's had non-synchronized transmissions. Cadillac/Oldsmobile was the first American automobile to offer synchronized transmissions in 1928. Others followed that lead after 1932, while others didn't change until 1950's. Timing a shift with the Engine RPM's to the transmission input shaft RPM's is the secret to smooth shifts. One way is to “double Clutch” between shifts. But not necessary. When starting off in first gear and shifting to second gear. Depress the clutch and off the gas pedal simultaneously. Allow the engine RPM to match the lower expected RPM of the second gear. Then let the clutch out. A good driver does this without thinking. But having a tachometer helps to determine the correct timing.

My 1914 Cadillac has a disk after the cone clutch and before the transmission input shaft. When the clutch is engaged, a brake pad is forced against the disk. That slows the disk and transmission input shaft RPM's quicker. Making for easier and faster shifting.. Again timing is important. Along with the adjustment of the small brake pad. Anyhow this feature was not needed after 1928 when synchronizers were introduced on Cadillacs.