Shift kit, now no reverse

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Feb 26, 2011 | 09:50 PM

Lead Head

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From: Rhode Island

Shift kit, now no reverse

We installed a TransGo HD-2 "reprogramming kit" into my friends 96 F-250 460 4x4 E4OD in preparation for future engine modifications. The problem is it didn't work correctly.

All forward gears work (some shifts are harder then stock, but many of the shifts are just as soft as stock, which in itself may be another issue). We drilled the separator plate for the V8, we may try the diesel size next though...1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th + tq lockup all work however.

Anyways, the major problem is that it no longer has reverse. If you shift from reverse to neutral, the RPM seems to go up a little bit as if it were in gear a bit, but give it some gas and it acts like it is in neutral. Obviously something went very wrong.

Feb 26, 2011 | 11:40 PM

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From: Rhode Island

I should mentioned that when we first fired it back up, it did go into reverse. It wasn't until we got back from the test drive that it stopped.

Feb 27, 2011 | 01:23 PM

Lazy K

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My guess would be missing/improperly located check ball or leaking valve body.
I stress that I am no expert and it is just a guess. Hopefully one of the experts will give an opinion soon.

Feb 27, 2011 | 01:38 PM

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From: Rhode Island

I'm going to guess a leaking valve body as well. My buddy called me and told me this morning when he first started his truck reverse worked fine, but by the time he got to work it stopped working again.

I guess we'll drop the valve body(s), clean all the gasket surfaces and re-torque everything.

Feb 27, 2011 | 02:24 PM

Lazy K

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Yes, I think that`s what I would do.
Good luck.

Feb 27, 2011 | 04:57 PM

jk080

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From: North Georgia

If you had the separator plate off there is a good chance that the small metal plate may have been left loose. If this plate is loose you will lose reverse, just something to check.

Feb 27, 2011 | 06:20 PM

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From: Rhode Island

Yup, three bolts on that little metal plate holding the separator plate on. They were just snugged up by hand, were not tightened down. Guessing it was just hemorrhaging fluid everywhere.

We drilled out the accumulator plate to diesel specs while we were in there, re torqued the main valve body and solenoid and boy she sure shifts now. Downshifts go right in as well, where as the first time around putting the kit in it would slush its way painfully into 1st.

Such a rookie mistake missing those three bolts, but whatever. Considering the innards of automatics were uncharted territory to us, I suppose forgetting to tighten three bolts isn't the worse that can happen - especially when the kit has you drilling through parts of the valve body