Automatic kick down lever
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Junior User
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 63
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From: Southern Utah
Automatic kick down lever
I recently put a new 1406 edelbrock carb on my 1977 f-250 supercab with a 460 and C6 tranny. I didn't get the tranny kick down lever adaptor since it had a home made one on that work with the previous carb and I thought I could make it work with this carb. However, it doesn't allow the secondaries to kick in with this adapter on. Will it harm anything if I drive it without the kick down lever hooked up or should I get an adapter right away?
Thanks, Dett
Thanks, Dett
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Okla.
I put a trans pak in my transmition, this lets you shift into any gear at any time. So I just shift it my self. If you are pulling a trailer or a steap hill I would shift it myself. other than that it should be ok.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Spokane, WA
Originally Posted by Purely Ford
It can damage your transmission if it isn't connected
The kickdown lever is nothing more than a convenience factor connecting your throttle to your tranny so when you want to go fast you just put your foot to the floor instead of manually shifting into second. Without it when you put your foot down you just give your engine more gas without downshifting (unless you do it manually). There is nothing about this that will damage your transmission.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: e-burg
ok well i have the same problem but my trans wont shift untill i let my foot out of it. with it hooked up it will shift at 4500 this doesnt seem right to me but nothing has broke yet so im not worring about it
Elder User
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From: Okla.
Shift modulator? vacum leak in the hose that runs to it?
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Portland, OR
I just went to the Lokar set up and i'm in the middle of tweaking the adjustment. I found that if you have a cable or a rod and they kick down too soon, it can produce the 'won't upshift until you take your foot off the gas' effect as well.
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stanz
74 Bronco Sport, 302 Stock
79 F250 Trailer Special, 460 4x4 Extend Cab
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stanz
74 Bronco Sport, 302 Stock
79 F250 Trailer Special, 460 4x4 Extend Cab
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Elder User
Joined: Feb 2002
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From: East Bend, Carolina, U.S
Being that I have seen transmissions damaged by people trying to downshift manually. Based on that alone I would call the downshift linkage a needed part. It is all about who is behind the wheel and how the average driver uses a vehicle. Not everyone can manually downshift into the proper gear or even at the proper speed. You call it a convenience, but it is a calibrated operation of an automatic transmission isn't it? So, how calibrated is the ability of an average driver?
I've driven cars and trucks with the linkages disconnected and they would not downshift at all in some circumstances without being forced to manually. I know that this may seem like no big deal, but how many rpms can your engine be turning when you manually downshift before it is too high? There is a point that is not going to be a shift without a jolt. How many times can a transmission handle them? How many of us really know when to use a manual downshift and when not to?
You don't see the need, but I do. So, we disagree.
Oh, I almost forgot, Ford agrees with me.
I've driven cars and trucks with the linkages disconnected and they would not downshift at all in some circumstances without being forced to manually. I know that this may seem like no big deal, but how many rpms can your engine be turning when you manually downshift before it is too high? There is a point that is not going to be a shift without a jolt. How many times can a transmission handle them? How many of us really know when to use a manual downshift and when not to?
You don't see the need, but I do. So, we disagree.
Oh, I almost forgot, Ford agrees with me.
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 987
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From: East Bend, Carolina, U.S
That is exactly my point. How do you know when to manually downshift? What is the ideal rpm and speed for each gear? I'll keep my calibrated downshift linkages and leave the guessing to those braver than I.
For those who need to know how to adjust the linkage. There must be a very small amount of clearance between the linkage adjustment screw and carburetor linkage at wide open throttle. I recall something around 1/16th inch. If there is no clearance at wide open throttle then you will experience premature downshifting and probably slow upshifting.
For those who need to know how to adjust the linkage. There must be a very small amount of clearance between the linkage adjustment screw and carburetor linkage at wide open throttle. I recall something around 1/16th inch. If there is no clearance at wide open throttle then you will experience premature downshifting and probably slow upshifting.
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Joined: Dec 2002
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From: Quaker Hill ,CT U.S.A.
EVERY ford transmisson that I have driven has a point that the transmission WILL NOT DOWN SHIFT - even if it is manually shifted.
I once put a c6/300I6 into second gear at 85 miles,perhour and guess what ,due to the GOVERNOR the transmission stayed in 3rd gear even though the selector was on 2 . Now you can modify the valve body to make it down shift at any speed but that is a different thread.
You WILL NOT do anything to the transmisson IE(fmx,c4,c6) by driving it without a kickdown.
Again it is a convience device.
I once put a c6/300I6 into second gear at 85 miles,perhour and guess what ,due to the GOVERNOR the transmission stayed in 3rd gear even though the selector was on 2 . Now you can modify the valve body to make it down shift at any speed but that is a different thread.
You WILL NOT do anything to the transmisson IE(fmx,c4,c6) by driving it without a kickdown.
Again it is a convience device.
More Turbo
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 747
Likes: 26
Well if you don't have the kick down lever,just make sure that the lever at the tranny end is tie back(as in not in kick down mode).It is spring loaded,but.....................If it is in the kick down mode,it will be shifting at high RPM's.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 11,945
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From: Spokane, WA
Not trying to argue but I guess my issue here is that you state that "It can damage your transmission if it isn't connected". Then you provide examples of damage caused by people who don't know how to drive. The damage you are speaking of is because of people shifting incorrectly, not people driving a rig with a disconnected kickdown lever. If you put your tranny in neutral, rev to 5000 RPM and then slam it into drive chances are things won't go your way. This is not a problem with the transmission, it's a problem with the operator. If people don't know how to drive or how to shift then they should by a bus pass. No harm will result from driving with a disconnected kickdown lever.