Well, Its out again....

[cathynkeith]

Most of you know about my transmission troubles, well today I went on a 40 mile round trip, everything was fine then I stopped to get gas, got back on the road and hade no 3rd or overdrive. No heat, no smoke, no noise, just no go.

Limped it 6 miles home in second, its leaking fluid do not know where yet, too hot. Talked to trans shop they are picking it up tomorrow.

[spartman]

Sounds like you need to go with a stick shift.

[averagef250]

Transmission shops are going to ban you! They must really hate you by now.

I'd say I can't hardly believe it, but I'm the same way. Just my driving style or something kills automatics in no time. I have never worn out a clutch or broken a manual from abusive driving.

[xxxtina63]

Yeah, automatics are the devil. I've burned up so many of them I've lost count. Only worn out a clutch due to the miles. I'm a stick boy for life.

[Supermike]

I feel your pain... I had mine rebuilt and after driving it for a few weeks or so, I took it back in to the shop (rebuild has a 12/12 warranty). The truck was basically double-shifting through second into third, and was making a rattling noise. It also seemed to be popping out of park and into reverse, although the tranny shop says that was "normal" for old trucks.

Anyhow, took it back in on the 4th. They told me on the 8th I could come get it, but when I called they said it was still doing it and were going to have to rebuild the governor (I'm not that familiar with trans talk). I then called them yesterday, and they said it would be ready by noon today. But when I called today, they said it was still doing it and they may have to go all the way back through the tranny!

I guess these old cruise-o-matics (mine is a 67, assuming it's an MX or FX?) must be a beast to work on. Kind of interesting that with all the modern technology, this must be stumping the trans builder.

[averagef250]

What it really is is the builder didn't know what he was doing when he built it and now that it's not working correctly he's shooting from the hip trying whatever he can think of to fix it.

[Supermike]

That's what I'm afraid of... I don't get it, though... this place has been in business forever and came well recommended. How could they not know? Is it possible they tried to use FMX parts in my MX tranny? Would they fit well enough to fool them?

I really hope they didn't $%# up my transmission... it's not like they can grab one off the shelf somewhere to replace it with if they did!

I'm getting worried...

[averagef250]

I've been in that shop's shoes. What do you say when a guy comes in with a tranny you've never touched before or don't have any books on, but it LOOKS easy?

I can't speak from mountains of experience with auto's, but building a good number of manuals, I've had ones that have kicked my *ss. Popping out of gear when EVERYTHING is perfect inside, bearing noise when all the bearings are perfect. That one really throws me for a loop every time. A customer calls with "My transmission is toast, the truck will barely even drive, I've got it out and I'll carry it right in". They show up, I give it a quick once over and it feels fine, it passes the "nothing catastrophicly wrong" test with flying colors. I pull it down and everything is perfect inside! Nothing whatsoever is wrong! Synchro clearances are perfect, bearings are like new, bearing clearances/preloads are spot on! Put new stuff in and the customer's happy as can be, Never hear back from them.

It happens. If it's a good shop they will make it right. I've replaced whole transmissions because they just wouldn't work right.

[Jake11]

Ain't no splainin it. The devils in the details.

[RTG_RACING]

What kind of trans is it?

[Supermike]

Mine is a '67 3-spd Cruise-o-matic... "MX-HD", I think... (I know it's not a C4). According to the 1967 Ford Truck shop manual, those were the only two auto options in the F100.

Anyhow, I took my newly aquired shop manual in to their shop this morning to see if it would help them. Thankfully, they were not offended. They told me they were trying, and had just sifted through a ton of books they had and found an original repair manual on these. They also said they had contacted "an old guy who built these forever" and he told them about some kind of helper spring you could put in the governor. They said he was sending them one and were going to try it out.

The problem, apparently, is that they get it together and it shifts fine at first, but when it cools down the governor sticks. The truck then basically skips 2nd and double-shifts from 1st to 3rd. This happens every time they've taken it out and put it back together.

[cathynkeith]

Well back to mine, my problem turns out to be that the kick down was not properly adjusted, seemed ok to me but its hard to tell, I never knew how this trans should shift, and with 4.11 gears and a 7500 rpm motor. Well, I thought it worked ok, anyway, should be ready by tuesday if the rain ever stops, can't test drive it in the rain.