On our (new to us) '74 Duster we decided to change the fluid and adjust both the kick down band and the low/reverse band. The manual I got at Advance Auto said to tighten the low reverse to 41 in lbs and back off 7 turns. Yes 7. The kickdown spec was 41 in/lb and then I believe 2 or 3 turns out. I did that and the trans shifts into reverse very hard. I am confident this is wrong. I have not taken the car off the jack stands so I don't know what the kick down is like but I would rather get it right before lowering the car again. The book also has different initial in/lb torque values for '73 and earlier. What is the correct starting torque for both the external kick down adjustment and the internal low/reverse adjustment and how many turns out for each? I guess that is what I get for getting the manual at Advanced instead of a real shop manual. Any help is greatly appreciated since my search on the forum has given a bunch of different answers...THANKS!!!
904 band adjustment
- Thread starter qwk dust
- Start date
-
FROM 1971 book
kickdown, loosen lock nut and back off approx 5 turns.
Test adjusting screw for free turnign in the lever.
..if adapter C-3705 is NOT used , tighten adjusting screw to 72 Inch-lbs.
back off adjusting screw 2 turns. hold adjusting screw in this position
and tighten lock nut to 29 Foot-lbs
low-reverse, same loosening procedure
back off adjusting screw 3-1/4 turns(4 for 318) Hold adjusting screw
in this position and tighten lock nut to 35 foot-lbs
THIS IS FOR STOCK APPLICATIONS, shift kits will change the "back off" numbers
kickdown, loosen lock nut and back off approx 5 turns.
Test adjusting screw for free turnign in the lever.
..if adapter C-3705 is NOT used , tighten adjusting screw to 72 Inch-lbs.
back off adjusting screw 2 turns. hold adjusting screw in this position
and tighten lock nut to 29 Foot-lbs
low-reverse, same loosening procedure
back off adjusting screw 3-1/4 turns(4 for 318) Hold adjusting screw
in this position and tighten lock nut to 35 foot-lbs
THIS IS FOR STOCK APPLICATIONS, shift kits will change the "back off" numbers
dodge freak
Well-Known Member
My trans guy says the kickdown is 2 1/4. You can try 2 but some times thats too tight. You know it when you drive it.
The low band he tells me not to mess with.
The low band he tells me not to mess with.
fishy68
Tyr Fryr's Inc.
That sounds like one screwed up manual. Like some of the Haynes manuals I've seen. I'd take it back and make them give the money back and get a factory service manual. You can find them on e-bay for about $30-40. I've never heard of just torqueing them down to 41 in/lbs. Every spec I've ever read said to torque both to 72 In/lbs then the front band gets backed off 2 to 2-1/2 turns. If you can verify which front servo lever the trans has you can make the adjustment more precise. The ratio of the lever is stamped into it. It will be anywhere from 2.9 to 4.2 The 2.9 thru 4.0 gets backed off 2-1/2 turns and the 4.2 gets backed off 2-1/4 turns. If you can't verify the ratio of the lever just back it off 2-1/2 turns.
The rear band is also dependent on the type. It will either be a single wrap band identified by being one solid wrapped or a double wrap band identified by being slit in 3 parts around the circumference so the inner part can move independently from the outer parts. Most stock trans. had the single wrap band.
If it's a double wrap band back it off 3-1/2 turns. If it's a standard single wrap band back it off 2-1/2 turns.
The rear band is also dependent on the type. It will either be a single wrap band identified by being one solid wrapped or a double wrap band identified by being slit in 3 parts around the circumference so the inner part can move independently from the outer parts. Most stock trans. had the single wrap band.
If it's a double wrap band back it off 3-1/2 turns. If it's a standard single wrap band back it off 2-1/2 turns.
Fishy68, Are you getting the information from a manual for a '74 as it relates to the initial tightening torque? The manual is a Haynes one by the way. I agree. Screwed up. It does appear that the earlier models may have a different initial tightening torque. Thanks all. Any body with an actual excerpt from the real shop manual they could scan?
fishy68
Tyr Fryr's Inc.
Yes that comes from both a factory service manual and a trans rebuild manual written by ATSG. They both say the same thing. I have been rebuilding torqueflites for over 25 yrs. so I'm sure that's the correct setting. I've never ever seen anything different. I guarantee you the earlier ones did not get torqued different. You can also call John Cope at Cope racing transmissions and verify it with him if you like. John's a real nice fellow and I'm sure he wouldn't mind helping. His # is 219-374-0100.
Haynes manuals are a joke. They have some information that is correct but I've also seen alot of screw up's in their manuals. I found this out back in 93 when I bought a new Dakota and didn't want to pay the price for a factory manual so I bought a Haynes manual and it said it was for a 93 like mine but everything they had in it was for the older Dakota's up to 91 before the magnum engine. I had a buddy with a 90 Dak and it was pretty well on for his truck but not mine like it said to be.
Good luck
fishy68
Tyr Fryr's Inc.
Glad to help. I just noticed in an earlier comment you wanted someone to scan and send you the actual page from a service manual that states the procedure. I'll try to do that tomorrow or the next day.
C130 Chief
Mechanical Genius
Alternate method (too late if you have put the pan back on) is 1/4" clearance between tip of arm and servo piston after seating the bands. 72 in-lbs has always been the number for seating the bands. Any manual that says different is no to be trusted.
-
