Bosch 3 gear aluminum cross drive magneto

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Michael Peternell
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Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 11:00 am
First Name: Michael
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* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: TT gas truck, T tractor conversions, '15 touring, '17 speedster, '26 16 valve speedster
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Bosch 3 gear aluminum cross drive magneto

Post by Michael Peternell » Mon Oct 12, 2020 9:35 pm

I'm asking about the gear noise. The first one I purchased center gear was really worn/ sharp. Replaced it with a very good one. Less noise, but still some.
Pumped it full of grease helped a bunch. Still a bit of noise. I have nothing to compare it to. Any insight would be appreciated!

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Mark Gregush
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* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1925 cutdown PU, 1920 Dodge touring, 1948 F2 Ford flat head 6 pickup 3 speed
Location: Portland Or
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Re: Bosch 3 gear aluminum cross drive magneto

Post by Mark Gregush » Tue Oct 13, 2020 11:32 am

I think you are asking about this type esp. when you talk about the middle gear;
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/33 ... 1373403034
A cross drive has the magneto mounted at a right angle to the motor on the left side.
Is the noise at idle or speed? Could be a number of things; like crankshaft gear to cam gear, other teeth worn, shaft for middle gear allowing it to move around etc.
If it is the type shown in the link, counting the cam gear and main drive gear as on, there are 4 points starting at the crank gear that could be loose, teeth not making good contact.
If it is a cross drive, could be also all the teeth are worn or maybe the shaft is loose in the holes it rides in, or thrust is worn allowing the shaft to move in and out. The cross drive would only have two gears, the one on the magneto drive shaft and the one on cam shaft.
Kinda hard to diagnose a noise that we can't hear from a distance.
I know the voices aren't real but damn they have some good ideas! :shock:

1925 Cut down pickup
1920 Dodge touring
1948 Ford F2 pickup


big2bird
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Re: Bosch 3 gear aluminum cross drive magneto

Post by big2bird » Tue Oct 13, 2020 12:51 pm

Keep in mind straight cut gears are far noisier then helical gears, which are always meshed.


Kevin Pharis
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Re: Bosch 3 gear aluminum cross drive magneto

Post by Kevin Pharis » Tue Oct 13, 2020 12:59 pm

Hey Michael, my dad ran one on his speedster for a bit... don’t remember noticing the gear noise🤔

The idler and the driven gears ride in bushings, and so will affect the gear mesh as the bushings wear. Also the drive gear is mounted to the camshaft, and may not locate well when mounted to the timing cover. Try to adjust backlash between the drive and idler gears by sliding the aluminum housing around. Gears too tight make just as much noise as gears too loose...

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