VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1933-1936 Flywheel Ring Gear

Can anyone tell me how to replace the flywheel ring gear on a 1934 Master?

Yes,heat the ring gear with a torch and it will fall right on.At least thats what they told me when I asked about installing mine.

I did heat it very well-never "fell on" but did get it into correct position after much heating and coaxing.Chilling the flywheel will help also-will it fit in your freezer?

Before we get to the interesting part....How did you get the old ring gear off?

I would not do this at home without thinking it over, But........Maybe???
If it will fit into your oven (I have a 30" that is used for powdercoating, try heating it up to 450* F for 30 mins and when you get the flywheel out of the freezer lay it onto a piece of 3/4" plywood near the oven then quickly , but carefully remove the ring gear from the oven and slide it over the clean, cold flywheel, I got this receipe from Martha Stewart Living......just kidding and I never put one on even once in my life either,
I have used this method to put a axle bearing on my 62 IH Scout, the first one I did must have cooled too fast because after about 5 minutes it popped like a gunshot and the innerrace cracked straight across,....So back to the IH dealer 60 miles away in Walsenburg Colorado, axle and all, they pressed the second one on.... I have tried to live without useing heat instead of a press ever since)

it just sounded like something I would try if the occasion arose.....

Removing the old one is a snap-just split it with a sharp chisel or???

When I was a kid ( light years ago) I had a 55 coupe that had a very bad ring gear. I simply heated the new ring gear with a torch and it slipped on with quite a bit of hammer taping.

Before buying a new ring gear shouldn't the original gear be rotated on the flywheel rather than replaced? All of the wear rotated out of it's original positions and relocated into the unworn locations (or is that the other way around). save $$

Don V, a good question. I wonder if it is possible to move the ring gear on the flywheel without cutting it?

I have heard of rotating the flywheel, on my cars that isn't possible too many side effects, Timing marks, Balance? etc.

I wonder really how much expense there is for a NOS or a new Repo ging gear?

Haven't priced a new / NOS gear. I have (had done) rotated the ring gear on my '34 Master. It was part of a proffesional engine rebuild so I have no idea what ring removal and replacement alone would cost. I don't believe that rotation of the ring on the flywheel is critical.

1929-32 replacement ring gears sell for around $160 so I would think that a new 1934 ring gear would be about the same.

I once had one turned around so that the wear pointed to the back of the car instead of towards the starter. The machine shop who was about to reface the flywheel suggested it. I don't remember but it seems the cost wasn't much more. By the way, it was on a Studebaker Hawk, But I assume the same principle would apply to achevy.

Hi Landman,

If you turned them around on the early stuff you would then have to machine every tooth to put an angle face on it. On the 4-cylinder flywheels, the teeth are cut into the flywheel. To replace(?) the teeth requires machining the old teeth off and to the size specified for the new/replacement ring gear.

It is possible to move the flywheel on some 4-cylinders. There are 6 possible locations. As was noted earlier, the timing marks would require moving and remarking.

Thanks for the tips guys. I have taken the engine and transmission out of my 1934 Town Sedan to clean and paint them. A few weeks ago I bought a NOS flywheel gear, and I plan to install it soon. Bought it for $22.00. Good deal,eh?

I paid $15.00 for mine-but that was in 1970.

If anyone needs a fly wheel ring gear for a '34 Master let me know.I have a friend (and VCCA member) that has one and could be purchased for a reasonable price.

The flywheel ring gear can be removed and reset or rotated about 6 to 8 inches either direction (or what ever you decide to be in a new better location for starter engagement) but do not reverse the ring as only the front side is chamfered for the starter gear to mesh properly. There are no timing marks on the ring gear. I changed the ring gear on a couple of 28's and several of my six cylinders. No problem!

Walt D, how did you get the gear off of the flywheel without damaging it?

Remove the flywheel ring gear with an acetylene torch or similar. heat the ring on the outside edge and continuously tap the ring as you circle the flywheel with the heat. No need to get it red hot. It will come off within five minutes if your coordinated. Make sure you mark the fly wheel and the ring gear before removal. So you know how much to rotate it. Install the same way with heat. The flywheel has a stop, so you can't get the ring on to far. When the ring is seated you will know it by the sound and observation. It may be a little annoying at first to line up the ring to slip on. With three hands it will work better.

Thanks Walt D.