T-20 Troubles--Which One to Rebuild???

[6X6]

I have no idea how long they have been making them that way . . . over 20 years??? But, I would say if they have the older style steering linkage, it is hit and miss.

Over 35 years, my Wolf's a 1973 and came with a T-20

Yeah . . . the groove in the shift collar is correspondingly narrower to go along with the smaller diameter pin.

OK, I would expect they'd want a tight clearance, but have seen photos of badly worn down pins, guess that wasn't the case. I'll be checking my other old style.

It would be easy to check, if you're curious. Just pull one of your diamond shifters out of your various T-20's and compare. You will quickly see if any of them are different.

I was actually referring to the shifter drum's teeth, since I thought the new and old styles I've rebuilt so far (haven't done the 2nd old style, it's still apart.) had the same size teeth, just different spacing and count. I just don't feel like tearing down another tranny right now, I think you understand why

I would not doubt that a drum would be compatible from Tranny #1 to fix up Tranny #3, except that Tranny #1 was not made for trust washers (neither was Tranny #2). But, Tranny #3 was made for thrust washers. I am not sure what all would need to get cut down--or how much--to make this work . . . if I would to go that route.

Well, IF the 3 posts the planet gears ride on are the same diameter, it MAY work. What I am not sure of is if the drum is different, or if the planet gears were narrower. Again, what I have seen between MY new and MY old T-20, the new style has loose roller-bearings for the planet gears, they spill out if you just take off a planet gear. The OLD style I have has captured Roller Bearings in the T-20. So the gear ARE different, I don't know if the washer's clearance was made by narrowning the side of the planetary gears or the drums, or what? Of course you know the shift teeth ARE different, but may be compatible, and if it's the planetary gears that are narrower, you're in business.

I am gaining way too much experience--way too fast--for my liking (baptism by fire, here), but nevertheless, I do not feel confident enough to take some pieces and head off to the local machine shop. And, then come home and start putting Tranny #3 together. I would not feel confident that I have the right stuff done to make it work its best.

I'm learning more on T-20s here than any other one thread so far, sorry it's been at your expense, but I think most of us here started off with a "baptism by fire". You'll have it running soon enough though, and then it will be more than worth it

[Rolling_X_6]

Thanks, John, for all of your help and encouragement. I do appreciate it.

I remember you saying that you thought some of the newer style shift collars had fewer teeth . . . you did not think they were larger . . . just fewer teeth that were farther apart. Well, I was looking over my parts list from Recreatives, and it turns out that you were right. They even offer--according to the list I have from them, anyhow--they even offer those relate parts in either 9 or 18 teeth, so you were right on that point. (I have three T-20's with three different shift collars, but all with 18 teeth. Now, we learn that there are also versions out there with 9 teeth. )

So, that confirms that there is yet another version (or more) of the T-20. And, I am guessing that those variation may just be found within the various "modern T-20's," the ones with the C-channel style steering linkage.

There you go, John . . . even more parts to worry about in reference to cross compatibility.

Ah well . . . that's what keeps up young.