hey all,i have a '63 cutlass with that questionable roto-hydramatic5.ive been reading all the questions&answers,most about shifting problems too
late,too soon,hard downshifts,etc.most answers,t.v.linkage,carb.to tran adj.must be exact! well my problem is that it willnot shift at all!it will go
into&drive in every gear position,even reverse works correctly,but will
not shift out of low.there is a difference tho between starting out in L or
S then starting out in D.when in L or S,when u let off of acc.pedal it drags
u down like a down*****but in D & u let off acc.pedal it like free rolls like u
put it in N.so it acts like it wants to shift.yes ive been trying&trying to adj
the T.V.linkage & i think?its not that because i thought it was to mainly
correct shifting times & NOT to make it shift if it doesnt at all.but i did
think it might have been so far off that i wasnt going fast enough for it to
shift,but ive tried going as fast as i can that it should have shifted.so my
next step is that i ordered the filter&gasket from fatsco& will be here in a
week,so as soon as i get it i will be drpping the pan.when i do,is there
something i should or can do before i just change filter&fluid while the pan
is off?please tell me i can try something,anything,before i put it back to
gether,doesnt help,&have to pull tranny?ive heard&read a few things like
a sticky valve in C.V.A.or in the Governor or a bad Governor.what can i do
while pan is off to fix one or both of those?can it be something else i need
to try or do?please help,i dont want to pull tranny until ive tried anything
possible.put on your thinking hats & get back with me.make me a happy
camper&real happy olds owner!thanx,Don 330 652 7336 old.n.bold

 

Can't answer your question but your post is near impossible to read. I would suggest cleaning it up in case some that might know sees it.

 

This is very true. If your car isn't shifting properly I suggest making sure your TV linkage is set properly. This is a very precise adjustment and can't be "guessed at." You might also want to change the fluid and filter. When you drop the pan if there is any clutch material in the fluid then you know you have a more serious problem.

 

T.V. is one thing, but if it won't shift from 1st gear, it sounds like something is varnished and sticking. A gummy valve body or governor is a possibility... Wanna sell it?

 

Try a quart of K & W Trans-X. Don't overfill it, you may need to drain out a quart to fit in the K & W. Follow the directions on the K & W, warm it up a couple of times, at least. If it still won't shift you'll probably need to pull the valve body and/or governor. Can be done with the transmission in the car, but it's a pretty nasty job that way. Good luck. (I hope the K & W works!)
DW

 

hi Danny,thanx for response,i was at Advance Auto Parts friday & had it in my hand
along with the Lucas & ??,after reading all labels i opted for the SeaFoam Trans Clean
er.so its been in since then & have tested a few times&no good.so i guess if it wont
hurt anything,ill try the K&W today.so u say it is possible to work on C.V.A.&Governor
with trans in car,do i have to do more than remove the pan?can i just clean them or
do they need to be replaced?clean with?also when adj.the T.V.linkage,my manual says the 1st step is to remove lower T.V.rod from the lever on side of trans&use a
BT-33-2 guage to set lever position,i dont have 1 so i need to know what the length
of that guage is.it says to hold lever rearward&use guage to line up hole in lever&hole
in guage&other end of guage lines up to a hole in frt.corner of block just above the
trans pan.i need to know that distance to start out in adj.linkage.if u can find out
please let me know!when i get my filter&gasket this week&drop the pan,ill probably
have more ???s for you.thanx alot,Don

 

hi & thanx for your response.thats what ive been hearing.so as soon as i get my filter
& gasket,i will be

 

hi,thats what i was thinking too.so i did order a filter&gasket&as soon as i get it i will be dropping pan.when i do,can i get to the C.V.A.&Governor to clean them to free
sticky valve?can i just clean them or do i have to replace them?can i do all this w/o
removing trans?is there anything else i can or should do while pan is off?then when i
do adj.T.V.linkage,my manual says 1st step is to disconnect lower T.V.rod from lever on side of trans&hold lever rearward&use a guage BT-33-2 & line up holes in guage &
lever &line up other end of guage with a hole in side of frt.corner of block just above
the pan.i dont have that guage so i need to know the length of guageBT-33-2 or the
distance between the hole in lever when held rearward& that hole thats in the frt.
corner of engine block(the marking spot for other end of guage)if you can find that
out please let me know asap.also give me your # because there is very good chance
i may be selling it.thanx,Don 330 652 7336 (Ohio) old.n.bold@hotmail.com

 

I have used other lucas products in my truck with good results. A junk trans is a junk trans though, so don't expect miracles.

 

hi&thanx for response.thats what i was thinking & now hearing alot.also that it can be a sticky valve in C.V.A.or Governor.while i have pan off,can i get to them with
trans is still in?can i just clean them or replace them?is there anything else i should
or can do while pan is off?i wont be doing it til i get my filter&gasket from fatsco.its
suppose to be on its way&be here fri.when i go to readj.the T.V.linkage,my manual
says the 1st step is to disconnect the lower T.V.rod from lever on side of trans&
hold lever rearward&use guage BT-33-2 to line up the holes in lever&guage&other
end of guage in its spot(a hole in frt.corner of engine block just above the pan)if
holes do not line up,bend lever til they do.my problem,i do not have that guage or
can not find out what that distance is!i need to know that or length of guage so
i can correctly adj.T.V..i read your other comments&thats how ive been doing it
until i find out about the guage.lever back ,closed throttle.lever forward,W.O.T.,
but i want to know that 1st lever adj. before i go thru other steps in manual.if you
can find that,please let me know asap.thanx,Don 330 652 7336 old.n.bold@hotmail

 

About the only thing you will be able to do with the transmission pan off is change the filter and remove the valve body. I doubt removing the valve body will fix your problem. However, if you decide to remove the valve body be very careful. There are small 1 way check valves in the valve body that are essentially small bearings. When you drop the valve body these will be resting on top of it. DO NOT LOOSE THESE! Also, make sure you don't tilt the valve body when removing it or they will spill onto the floor. If they do and you don't know where they go you are screwed!

Once you get the valve body off you can note the position of the check valves and remove them. Then using a pan of diesel fuel immerse the valve body and clean it. Gently work the valves back and forth while the valve body is immersed. After it is completely clean you reinstall it. You can use a little bit of petroleum jelly on the top of the valve body to "stick" the 1 way check valves in place when you reinstall it. Ultimately, this might be more trouble than it is worth.

 

I vote for the gov-i-naa for the problem. You will need to drop the driveshaft and extension housing to remove and check. Or you can check governor pressure from a port to see if it does anything at different speeds. ROTO = REMOVE OFFENDER THROW OUT!

 

i know i should throw it away&really was going to put a 4sp.standard in it,but when i
heard,"$1850 for everything except the transmission,shifter boot,pedal rubber,&some-
thing elsecant remember).then i heard u have to change rear ends.so at least$2000
or so in parts,labor?maybe another$2000.just dont know if i want to put that much in
it.or a what a 200R4 & ADAPTER?how much?i guess really i want to keep it original &
if i get it fixed i plan on babying it so it will stay together.a 4sp.on the floor with con-
sole,AWESOME,just a little too much.i figure ill keep my eyes open a get one already
done&sell mine.anyways i got my filter coming so,im going to try whatever i can&if it
still not shifting then ill go from there.so thanx for all your replies&since mosteveryone
pointing to a sticky valve in C.V.A.orGovernor i just have to try messing around withit
when i drop pan& start with it youll probably be getting more ??s.Don

 

thanx again,it is probably definatly going to be a big pain,especially lying on my back!
but financially i have to try anything 1st.since when removing the C.V.A.you have to
be so carefull,maybe i should change filter&mess with the governor instead?ihear that
i then will have to remove driveline&tailshaft case.which would be the most likely to
fix the problem,maybe?if when itry everything possible&nothing helps,then i have the
other decission to make:adapt to better auto. trans,go to 4sp. standard,but i really
want to keep it original.well thanx for help&probably will be hearing from me when i
drop the pan!thanx,Don( just got a knock on the door,just delivered my filter!oh boy!)

 

I looked through my GM special tool cache for over an hour tonight, but did not find a BT-33-2. I have no idea how to set it w/o that tool. Sorry.
Danny

 

thanx Danny,i appreciate that.i got my filter today so ill be dropping the pan 1 day here this week&be trying to find something fixable i hope.maybe when im ready to
adj. it again ill hear something.i measured it yesterday& it looks like between 4"-5"
Don

 

I will check my motors manuals and transmission manuals to see if there is any measurements defined.