OK, so I made a T19W out of a T19C just like Torc did. I am having this problem where the reverse idler gear arm is not holding the idler gear out of the way of second gear, and when the engine is running you can constantly hear the idler gear ticking off the cluster gear, and the tranny never fully goes into second gear, you can see the shifter bouncing off the teeth of the idler gear. I have verified by running the tranny in all gears with the cover removed that this is the problem. I just replaced the poppet springs on the reverse shift rail and the shift block and no difference. I do have all forward gears and reverse, except that problem with second. Nothing on the reverse shift rail is excessively worn. Tomorrow I will remove the top cover from the other T19 I have and verify that is the problem.
My biggest worry, however, is this:
Where is reverse on a T19?
I have never owned a T19 before, but reverse on the multiple T18s and T98s I had was up and away. Even the shift knob on this tranny shows it up and away. Yet to physically put the tranny I built in reverse, it's down and away. I thought T19s were up and away.

So what is wrong here? Any ideas?

God, I just want to get this tranny done with. It's gotta be something simple and stupid.

Darel

T-19s are down and away.

Did you check the other end of the reverse shifter arm? Check to see if the end that fits down into the groove of the idler gear isn't worn. Maybe the slop is coming from down there.

Whew, at least nothing major is wrong. I thought T19s had the same shift pattern. Must have the wrong knob too (not that I care).
Torc, the bottom end is my next guess. I am going to drain it tomorrow and take a peek with the flashlight to see what's up. Iit must be sitting in the groove in the idler correctly, becuase it wouldn't go into and out of reverse if it wasn't. It'd probably just lock up then. Maybe the little "flipper" on the bottom is worn.

Thanks!
Darel

Torc et al,
Well, I spent the day messing with that damn transmission and I have to say that now I am even more stumped, confused and frustrated than before. Basically, NOTHING is wrong. I don't understand this at all. I swapped to the topcover from the other T19 I have, and the problem was still there. OK, doubt two topcovers have the same problem so it must be down below. Drain fluid and peek down inside - nothing out of the ordinary there. The end of the reverse idler gear arm is engaged in the gear normally, and there isn't any play in the "flipper" or in the pivot on the arm.
So just for fun I swapped arms, from the other T19, and still no change at all. I also tore down my topcover again. Nothing is wrong. NOTHING. There isn't any play in any parts, nothing is worn, I didn't mis-swap anything when I changed out the gears (at least not that I know). I do not understand. It's just that the arm doesn't fully disengage the idler gear from the reverse gear, it's constantly ticking off of it. With the topcover off I can hold the top of the arm and it will move the idler gear the extra 1/16 inch or so, such that it is out of the way and everything is completely normal. It's kinda like the reverse shift bar (in the topcover) isn't moving all the way to disengaged, but short of filling in the slot and making a new one 1/16" further back, I can't figure out why because the detent in the shift rail is fully and easily engaging the poppet ball. I've been through every single part of this tranny, every poppet ball and spring, every shift rail and bearing, and I know exactly what needs to happen (the reverse shift arm need to move just a tiny bit more) but I cannot for the life of me figure out how to do it, short of redneck engineering like drilling a hole in the arm and somehow rigging a spring to it. Of course, this may not even work because the shift rail would not move far enough with the arm interlocked to it since there's no play between the two!

AAAARRRGH! I swear if I don't figure this out soon I am going to junk both trannies and stick that damn automatic back in!

Please help me!

Darel

Hmmm... I'm fresh out of ideas without being able to lay hands on it myself (you know how that long distance diagnosis can do). Get ahold of me if you decided to ditch 'em for an auto.... I need a couple 6 spline mainshafts....:p

NOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!

Are there any tranny shops you could drop by and just pick thier brains. We got one here that full of these old timers who play guess the tranny all day. Maybe you could get an expert oppinion on it.