Some people are just at the right place at the right time.

 

https://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/pts/5362076391.html

Honestly didnt think i was ever going to run across a 5531/5831. The ratios I really wanted. Picked it up today. Couldnt beat the price

 

True. I constantly check CL. Funny thing, last time I left AZ and went to OR, been working a couple of weeks up there and the same model Watson popped up on CL in Prescott for $200, rebuilt and painted red. Was gone in under a wk. Had been searching that general vicinity for many years. Steve and me are going to dissect, getting gear tooth/sliding clutch cog, spline counts and part #s if lucky while in for seal/bearing/gasket replacement. Measurements as well to check possibilities.

 

The output shaft on the NP540OD is a 1.5" 10 spline count. The input and output of the Watson(Rt flange in 2nd pic) are also 1.5" 10 spline. I have some M35A2 Deuce parts and its flanges(left in 2nd pic) are the same Dia/spline, so the short M35A2 jackshaft and drivelines will work, except diff connection. NP540OD/Watson.75/3.54R+P/32" tires would put me at 1700rpms at 75mph.

 

Are you thinking about making an adapter to marry the two units and eliminate the intermediate drive shaft? Now is you and Steve could just dream up synchros for the Watson.

 

Char, you have to know Steves eyes bulged out, was yelling "noooooo" and was trying to pm you after that post Hes sorta looking at a NP540/203//205 adapter to build, hes been working on the beast and orchestrating construction at his house. Hes got his hands full. A NP540/Watson is possible but a new 10 spline female input shaft would have to be built because just using a splined coupler would be too long(about 7" between them) for my purpose. A 31 spline output and you could put a 205 off the back. Thats alot of weight, would have to tie them altogether rigid and put them on some HD mounts. 15sp,double OD, measuring under 3' Id be tickled ****less.

 

7th picked up a heavy duty GM 2sp in Denver CO.

11th picked up a Watson 2021 OD/UD in Visalia CA. The GM is huge and heavy, the Watson is very small, not much bigger than the PTO ports. From what Ive searched its seems to be a .73 or .75 overdrive(can be rotated and used as an under as well)

 

Rambo,

Never got it home, friend got it from me, I got a '37 GMC conventional added 4-53T, RTO-610, Brownie, P-3500 axles.

 

Got a box and can find no info on it at all. Looks similar(maybe stronger) to the Ranger/Double Torque splitter. Cast iron, cooling fins cast into sides and bottom. Hoping the 51 in the serial # is the X10 torque rating and the 73 would be a nice OD ratio. Anybody seen one of these or know anything about this box? Would appreciate any knowledge on it.

 

It looks like a Ranger style OD, company probably no longer in business.

Ed

 

For those thinking of putting a 540 series trans. together with a brownie of some sort-the rear bearing of 540 series is retained by the output shaft nut, so output must be attached around or Behind nut. Mark Williams makes a set of splined couplers to get around this problem. One could then couple the two trans' with a stock or modified trans/transfer case adapter. Ford TC adapter for a 435 will bolt up to 540 series trans. and most transfer cases, should be easy to make adapter plate to brownie, might have to deal w/ front bearing of brownie.

Ed

 

For those thinking of putting a 540 series trans. together with a brownie of some sort-the rear bearing of 540 series is retained by the output shaft nut, so output must be attached around or Behind nut.

Ed

The rear bearing is not retained by the output shaft nut. It is retained by the rear bearing retainer, thats why its called that. Theres no nut on the input shaft for a reason because its bearing is retained by the front bearing retainer. If you run a 540 with its retainer with no yoke or nut the bearing wont fall out. The rear retainer and the snap ring on the bearing contain it. You could put a groove and snap ring on the shaft behind the bearing but if shaft is moving through bearing sleeve theres a more serious problem. You dont preload a ball bearing. The nut holds the yoke on, thats it. Im having a complete output shaft made with GM 32 spline output. No nut. Eggman made a 2" adapter to bolt either a NP203 or NP205.

 

Hey Red, looks similar to a 2xt power torque industries unit I had. They went out of business in the 80's. I would bet the hotshot is a predecessor or successor to that unit. Mine didn't have fins but looked similar in other aspects.

 

Seems like I recall with no rear retainer the output shaft can move fwd under deceleration which is no big deal except using engine compression to control speed on a long grade-I live in the Rockies, overheats trans oil.

Ed

 

Reminds me of a Mitchell Gear Splitter?

 

Agreed, fins made me think the same. Case is iron though.

 

Guy in Montana had a 5831 for a good price. Included 4 gate shifter/clevises/mounts/yokes. Sent it from Bozeman Fastenal. Cheaper prices than brown or purple/green. Probably best gear condition Ive seen in the half dozen Ive bought. Its a Spicer and the case is slightly different than the Watson 5531 I have but the gears look the same. Going to disassemble and see if shafts and tooth counts are the same.

 

Seller stated it was a 6000 series. Went to Fastenal and this is what was there. Little large.

 

Red you're really getting into these things. Yeah, the 8341-D is pretty serious big truck part. I believe gear ratios are 2.40, 1.22, 1.00, and .81 OD. Put it in extra low and you could get down and crawl.

 

Im trying to keep a few good ones on hand. 5000/6000 are the sizes I like. No OD is useless to me.

Anybody interested in a 8341-D? Effing huge, good for medium duty to semi.

 

Do you still have the manuals for Brownie transmissions? I sure could use any information you have on them.