What is this metal part that came out of manual transmission drain?

[frogtown]

I drained my 1968 F250 3.03 manual transmission and this broken metal piece was on the drainplug magnet. It's about the size of a nickel. I've searched through schematics and can't figure out where this came from. No gear slippage and shifting fine.

Any thoughts?

Thanks!

2022-01-19_13-28-51.jpg

[DuckRyder]

Weird,

The broken part - does it look as if it was at one time riveted like the other side or was it continuous like a C...

I wonder if it might have been on a fill hose alone point and fallen in? I agree there doesn't seem to be anything like that in the schematic.

[frogtown]

Looks like was riveted on the other side also.

Interesting thought that maybe the previous owner dropped it in there somehow.

[Mercury100]

google ball bearing cage.
This is from a ball bearing.
Do not freak. Start doing a inspection of the transmission from the out side of what you have.
Tail section removable?
Top/side plate removable?
Once you get it open spray the inside with 2-3 cans of brake clean and blow dry/wipe out.
Rotate transmission shafts and you should see where the piece came from.
Might just be one bearing that is starting to fail.
Now ask. Why did it fail?
Contamination kills bearings. Filings from grinding gears. Filings from other failing bearings. Dirt. Water.
Extended oil changes.
Depending on what you find
A complete rebearing of the trans is where I would be thinking.
50 years for these bearings is doing pretty good

[frogtown]

Thank you!! It definitely looks like part of a ball bearing cage. I'll let you know what I find. Thanks again.

[DuckRyder]

HMM...

Yes possibly... not a cage exactly but PART of a cage....

EX:

[1972hiboy]

hmm, If parts of the bearing cages are falling out of the transmission, what does the rest of that bearing or other internal parts look like?