Delayed shift to reverse: 75 f350
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Delayed shift to reverse: 75 f350
I have a 1975 Ranger XLT F350 Camper Special Supercab 460 automatic. There is a leak in the transmission that I intend to fix, but my biggest concern is, that when I shift into reverse, it may take several seconds to engage. There is no delay going to forward gears, and there is no slip in any of the gears, including reverse, once it has engaged. Is this just a pump problem, a valve sticking or is it something more serious? I am a reasonably good mechanic (as hobbyists go) but have never rebuilt a transmission.
I have a second 75 F250 that has a good transmission and if the first is going to be too expensive to fix, I would just do an exchange.
Also, this is the first Ford I have owned in almost 30 years. I bought the truck because the 460 has the power to carry my camper. I don't know much about Fords anymore, but am prepared to learn. Any informed advice would be appreciated.
Thanks
wdpratt
I have a second 75 F250 that has a good transmission and if the first is going to be too expensive to fix, I would just do an exchange.
Also, this is the first Ford I have owned in almost 30 years. I bought the truck because the 460 has the power to carry my camper. I don't know much about Fords anymore, but am prepared to learn. Any informed advice would be appreciated.
Thanks
wdpratt
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From: Franklin, GA
I have the exact same problem with my C6 in my 77 F150 4X4. Been that way for over two years now, well, since I bought the truck. The dealership that took my truck in on trade had their "old school" mechanic check the whole truck over for me since it was going to be over a 200 mile trip for me to pick up the truck. He noticed the delay into reverse problem and said there was really nothing that could be done unless the tranny was rebuilt. He also stated that I should just drive it like it is and put up with the inconvienence of the delay because nothing was really being damaged concerning the transmission, just an annoyance. He also didn't elaborate on what the cause was either. Why, I don't know. From what I can gather, more than likely, it is a "sticking" problem. I have been advised that the next time I do a fluid and filter service on the transmission to try synthetic fluid and see if that helps. That is what I plan to do.
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I'lll try the same I guess, when I fix the leak.
I did have a chev 350 turbo a couple of years ago that was acting up. You had to shift manually and the kickdown would not work. A mechanic told me it probably needed a rebuild. I put in a litre of Duralube Tranny treatment and inside of 30 miles, it worked 100%. No further problem. Just a thought.
wdpratt
I did have a chev 350 turbo a couple of years ago that was acting up. You had to shift manually and the kickdown would not work. A mechanic told me it probably needed a rebuild. I put in a litre of Duralube Tranny treatment and inside of 30 miles, it worked 100%. No further problem. Just a thought.
wdpratt
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From: Franklin, GA
I forgot all about the tranny treatments. A filter, synthetic oil, and a dose of tranny treatment may just be what the doctor ordered. I haven't been as worried about my transmission as I have the u-joints and the ring and pinion that is getting slammed everytime the thing decides to shift into reverse.
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From: Anchorage Alaska
automatic trans reverse
i ran a pint of brake fluid in mine for a couple of months it cleaned the valve body nice and returned to good reverse enguagement after a trip around the block been running right ever since, brake fluid also works to fix squealing power steering pumps, i would change it out for clean atf after it starts enguaging right again, if you drive it all the time. i left mine in to get it good and clean.
dont forget to drain the converter after also and put in a new filter.
Ray
AK
dont forget to drain the converter after also and put in a new filter.
Ray
AK
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From: Franklin, GA
Tried the brake fluid treatment this afternoon. Drove to the gas station and back. Put it in reverse a couple of times and went backwards for a hundred yards or so both times. Didn't notice any change in the delay until the third time I shifted into reverse. It's been, oh, I'd say an hour now, and I'm still waiting for it to drop into reverse. Needless to say, I think I toasted reverse. Got to be real conscious of how I park till I can get my hands on a donor tranny so I can rebuild this one. Hope wdpratt has better fortune.
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From: Franklin, GA
Wish I could go back and do the same! Oh well, I ain't saying it won't work. Mine just may have been too far gone to save it with this trick. I talked to a tranny god after I toasted the tranny and he said that a clogged filter can prevent it from shifting into reverse properly. He said that if I was extremely fortunate, all the brake fluid managed to do was clog the filter even more with what it may have dislodged. So I suppose I'll be under it in the morning, in the rain, changing fluid, filter, gasket, and draining the converter. If God decides to get on my side with this one, maybe I'll salvage enough reverse out of it to hold me over until I can find a used one to drop in it while I rebuild the bad one. Good fortune with yours. Can't say good luck, cause most of us used all that up long ago!
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Franklin, GA
Not a biggy. I changed the fluid and filter today and got back what reverse I had to begin with. The brake fluid did exactly what it should have done. It cleaned the snot outta the tranny's insides! She slips a little between forward gears now. Might try tightening the band and see if that does anything for it. When it boils down to it, the danged thing just needs to be rebuilt. I'll get me another temporary tranny to drop in and redo this one right and reinstall it. Thanks for the help
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Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Seattle
quick trick that I have used in all rear wheel drive automatics. Dump in a can of STP engine oil treatment after cleaning the filter. It's stopped trans slipping and helped reverse engagement in several hundred trannies I have used it in (even got reverse back in a Dodge and a Buick that way)
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