Tranny woes...Shift point problem

[typhoonzz]

Ok, So Jim Sloan and I installed a 2800 locking converter about two weeks ago... Simple swap. Now the problem I'm having...It will only shift through gears at 4500-5000 rpm. :banghead: Doesnt' matter if it is partial throttle, full throttle... That is the only place it will shift. Then when you slow down, it won't shift back into 1st unless you manually shift it all the way down. I've played with the TV cable and it makes no/little difference. Tranny fluid is at the right level....Had a little too much in there but drained some out and that didn't make a difference.
Can anyone here please please please help :angel:

 

[Wes]

Re: Tranny woes...Shift point problem

Not totally sure but it could be a stuck valve in the valve body. Did it start doing it right after the converter install? Was the converter new or used?

 

[Blake]

When you first started the truck was there any banging/clanging that lasted about 5 seconds? If it did, your TC died on startup. Pieces of the TC will be getting pumped into the tranny.

There has also been some recent discussion concerning 9/11 converters but it applies to any converter. If you have a converter that has an extremely loose stall, it will raise shift points. When I say loose stall, I mean, you order a 2800 rpm but it is really like a 4000.

If you didn't fill it up will tranny fluid and let it soak into the clutch material, it may have chewed up the friction/clutch plate.

When you installed the TC, did you have the TC seated all the way? After the TC is in the tranny, take a straight edge across the bellhousing surface. The measured distance between the edge of the straightedge and the mounting pad surfaces on the TC should be 1" to 1 1/8". If it wasn't that deep and you used the bellhousing bolts to pull the tranny to the engine, you may have damaged the pump.

Not saying any of this happened, but at least give you some things to think about.
Blake

 

[Blake]

Forgot something. Make sure your manual lever is in the right position. The detent on the floor shifter should match the manual lever underneath on the tranny. Sometimes during reinstall, the bracket for cable mount for the manual shift lever gets tweaked and causes a miriad of problems. Just because you are in "Drive" on the floor shifter, doesn't mean the manual lever underneath is complete engaged properly.
Just something else to think about.
Blake

 

[leroy]

I'm pretty sure it's not an installation problem, since I've done quite a few tc and transmission installations.

The tc was used, stored with atf in it, and was known to stall around 2800.

I thought it was just a tv cable adjustment, but apparently not, since Gabe has tried adjusting it. Sounds more like a governor or valve problem now, but seems to be very coincidental.

I'll try to get down there this weekend to see if we can figure it out.

Jim

 

[jwaller]

I would say a piece of debris from the stored converter made its way into the gov and stuck it...pull the gov and see if the little valve inside moves when you extend and retract the ears.

 

[Blake]

ATF draws a lot of moisture if it is exposed(not a big deal if you had a cap on the stem of the TC). If it was a used unit there is most definitely a chance of crud(or lots of crud making it out of the TC). Might be a good idea to put in a filter in the return line going back to the trans also. The fluid goes through the TC and then straight to the cooler and then back to the trans. The filter might save you some trouble if your cooler has any more crud in it from the TC. Your new one may have been fine but the old one that you took out may have dumped some crud in the cooler. It's amazing how sensitive transmissions can be.
Blake

 

[E-Rue]

ill bet ya a romp with b-dubb's mother that the valve in
the guvnor is stuck cause some crap got in it.

mine did the exact same thing.
it ended up being a single grain of sand.

e

 

[typhoonzz]

Thanks for the tips guys
Jim is going to be here tomorrow morning and I'm sure we'll figure it out....

 

[leroy]

Update:

We removed the governor, cleaned it and reassembled. It shifted better, but wanted to start in 2nd gear. We removed it again, cleaned, reassembled, new fluid and filter. It seems to be working pretty good now. The valve seemed to be a little sticky, but no visible dirt or debris.

Gabe still needs to tweak the tv cable a little. The stock adjustment procedure about breaks your neck on shifts.

Thanks.

Jim

 

[typhoonzz]

Yeah, the shifts were hard enough they knocked the typhoon logo off the glovebox
Thanks for the help Jim, gonna have to go play some more tonight and see how it runs...

 

[jwaller]

it can't be the least bit sticky...it must be totally free....you have to remember that when you play with this thing it's ~ room temp...how well you think it's goin to work when it's heated to 150-200 deg.....and things expand....it must be totally free to slide up and down..with no help bumping or anything..

 

[Blake]

Wally rocks. I like reading stuff about guys actually figuring stuff out.
If it is still wanting to start in 2nd, make sure your shift linkage at the tranny is perfect. The little bracket on the side of the pan may not be adjusted just perfect if you are running one of the cast aluminum pan. May take a little grinding to make it fit just right. It'll shift kinda "funny" also if this isn't just right. Good luck.
Blake

edit: forgot something. Try that lubegard stuff if you haven't already. If your governor was sticking, no telling what else is sticking.

 

[E-Rue]

not droping back into first gear is still a symptom of a sticking govnor. mine did that as well. listen to walley world, IT HAS TO BE TOTALLY FREE!

when you take it out to clean it, knock the pins out of it and take the valve out. after you clean it, it should move easily. if it doesnt you might have scored it, or the wall, with debree. (mine had a single grain of sand in it) if its clean and still wont move freely, try to find a bad spot on it and hit it with some super fine sand paper or something. that stoopid little valve can drive you into the coo-coo house if its not happy.

good way to test it is to hold it vertically, by the gear, and squeeze the arms in and out. if the valve doesnt rise and fall with no assistance, the govner isnt happy.

e