I have a fmx that has been setting empty for a few years (inside).
The prob is the first time we put it in it would shift into gear (any) but you had to rev it up a little. Then it would be ok for a while but the next time it would be real "jurkey" but then it would be ok.
The 2nd time we took it out when you put it in drive it would go backwards, then it would act like it was in low and reverus at the same time.
Then it went into drive ok. Next time out it went into drive fine but would not shift out of frist.
So I dropped the pan and there were a lot of metal shavings and other gunk. The filter was also packed full of crap.
Do you think a new filter and new fulid could take care of this? I don't want to pull the valve body off this thing if I don't have to, it does not look like fun at all.
Thanks

 

Metal shavings? Put a fork in it, it's done. At the minimum, it needs to be taken apart, cleaned, inspected. New filter and fluid is waste of money as the valve body has more of the same in it, and...and, those metal shavings...where did they come from?

 

There was not alot of metal in it. I just changed the fluid in my 97 f150 last year (200,000 mi) and it had more in it. I still drive it and is ok. I was more concerned with the not shifting thing, and if the pluged filter had anythig to do with it. If I do have to pull the valve body and clean it, is there a book or somthing out there that will talk me thru it. I have a chiltens but it does not show the fmx, only the c4 and c6.
Thanks

 

It doesn't shift. The filter was plugged. I stand by my recommendation that it be taken apart and diagnosed. Hey, go ahead and swap the filter and fluid--you have nothing to lose but those costs, and maybe you can prove me wrong and have a working trans to boot. Good luck.

 

Thanks, I am sure you are right, I am just not a trans guy and I don't like that tranny anyway and don't want to sink $ into a rebuild. It was a back up for my sons race car. I think I will look into getting the C4 fixed and back in.
Thanks

 

I can speculate where the shavings can come from, not to say they did, just a possibility. In a C6 (yea, I know they are not the same) I rebuilt, it started to fail to go into second. It would just run up in 1st and if you let off, it would just kinda free wheel but would not enguage 2nd. I tore back into it and found that the band had failed at the bracket that the piston pin engages on the band to clamp it. That causes the edge of the band which is metal that the lining glues to, to **** a little and "dig" into the drum that the band applies to. Lots of shavings and a real nightmare. In a sense, 2nd gear is somewhat an Overdrive (through a sun gear) of 1st gear. If the band does not clamp the drum, the sun gears dont work and walla, no 2nd gear.

Now, back to the FMX---The FMX actually has 2 band/drum assemblies, so my guess is that something similar has happened to yours. My discription may be a little off, because its been a while since I rebuilt an FMX, but the band/drum thing is accurate about shaving off metal. Of course, it could be worn clutches plates, down to metal, which is grinding against steels. I think 85e150--- is right on. I really see no choice but to tear it down. Whatever is wrong now will be far worse if you continue to run it. LOL

 

I think you guys are right. We are going to try and get the C4 ready for this week. But now that I have pulled the bell housing and looked at the # on it I have another concern. The date code tells it was built in 1971 and the # on it is RF-C5AP-7976B1.
Now I am not sure what I have.
Any help would be great. NOw I will try and find out what that # is.
Thanks.