M transmission reverse idler question

Hi All, After putting all new bearings and bushings from the clutch back to the tires in my M I had a very loud gear whine coming from it so I thought I had set the diff. to tight. The neighbor that allowed me to hijack his shop last winter to put the new bearings in recently had the thought that since I turned the reverse idler end for end after getting the bushings reamed to size that it might be causing the noise. I know I set the side to side movement of the diff carrier at zero lash with a large pry bar for leverage and the backlash I set a little on the tight side (.008) if I remember right. I checked the mesh pattern with prussion blue and it looked OK I guess since I put the cover on and called it done. I used up better than a half day moving shims side to side and front to back. Maybe I shouldn't have altered the shim packs that were in there but I guessed that new bearings would change everything anyway so... I re-set all of it. I can't really do much about it till I can afford to get a good rim for the rear tire that's broken but I was just wonderin' what ya'll thought? It's been up on blocks since last June , a week after I got it out of the shop a rim broke and I haven't drove it since. I DID get all new rubber for the front a few weeks ago so I'm making some progress Thanks! ...Randy

The reverse idler isn't loaded except in reverse so I doubt its whining going forward. What could be a problem if I understand your post correct, is if you installed the original front of the reverse idler toward rear of tractor. Gear is not the same on both ends.
On ring and pinions that have been used togeather and look okay I try to put them back exactly like they were even if the backlash is a little over what is recomended as the ideal setting. If there to far out thats not possiable sometimes. But after saying that you can't get all these old parts completely quiet all the time no matter how hard you try. It helps to know if the rear was okay before work also. On some I know are good before working on I go as far as marking several places on ring & pinion gears and differential case. Then take exact measurments of distance from diff carrier to pinion and also check backlash with dial indicator before removing parts. If any bearings need changed ring and pinion can be put back to same wear pattern. I will admit on some rears I can't get them quiet no matter how hard I try even if dye pattern is great.
If you only have the whine with tractor moving and about the same whine in all forward gears I would suspect the ring and pinion.

I agree with Slater on the ring and pinion, always try to set it back to where it is when you take it apart unless of course it has completely out of line. And the reverse idler is not reversible. On the later model tractors, pinion and ring gears are matched at the factory, you set them with a gauge according to the numbers stamped on them. Problem is, the guy who is matching them at the factory has a pile of ring gears on one side of him and a pile of pinions on the other side and when he gets done they all "match". hmmmmmm

Hi, Well, if the reverse idler isn't the same on both ends then it won't fit backwards right? I don't remember since it's been nine months ago. I do know I didn't have to force anything in. It's to late to set the diff. gears back the way they came out. It was the first tranny I've done so I skipped some important measuring I suppose. Live and learn! The tranny sounded OK gear wise I guess before the bearings fell apart and locked it up. It had bad bearing noise since the day I bought it though. I may take it to a good mechanic and see if he can right my wrongs. I really need a shed and shop of my own to do these things !!! Thanks! ...Randy

Hi, I know now that I should have taken some measurements before removing everything inside. To late now! If I can ever afford to do this to another tractor I'll know better. All the bearings in the rear end were pretty bad. I have to get get good tires and rims for it before I can do anything else with it. I'm glad it's auction season! I might find a good set of used 13.6-38's this year! Thanks! ...Randy