Low/High ratio gear lever

[alang]

Can anybody tell me which High/Low gear lever is authentic - a metal gear knob cast as one with the stick, or a screw on black 'composite' knob. My 59 Dexta has the latter, but I have also seen the former on Dexta's at shows.
Regards
Alan

[Bensdexta]

According to my Dexta Buyers' Guide (Ford & Fordson Tractors, The Golden Years), in 1960 the Hi/Lo lever was increased in length by 1" and a replaceable knob was incorporated. My late 1961 'New Look' Dexta has a black screw-on composite knob which I believe to be original - at least it's not been changed in the last 35 years.
So it seems your original 1959 stick has been changed for a slightly later one.
All the best,
Ben

[alang]

Ben,
Thanks for the quick reply. Not what I wanted to hear but what I expected.
I have read earlier forums about the shift gate problem and suffer from it myself - maybe this was an earlier attempt to overcome it.
Perhaps someone with the opposite scenario will see this want to swop.
Cheers
Alan

[Bensdexta]

Alan,
I expect you could probably obtain an earlier stick if desired, if you look out on ebay or contact the likes of Ron Greet tractor breakers. Ref the gear change problem, I've heard it's because the lower tip of the lever wears, but that it is quite easy to build it up again with weld and reshape it to fix the problem.
All the best,
Ben

[MikeR]

on the old forum someone posted pics of how to weld up the sticks to get rid of the problem - even i managed it. There is ano post more recent on welding on ears which seems even better if yoiu are taking things apart