In changing the TH350 selector shaft seal, I inadvertently pulled the park rod out of it's socket and don't understand how to put it back in. Do I have to lift the paw and just stick it in there? If I do that, it seems floppy (compared to how it was before it fell out). Please help ~ thanks! It's really hard to get a photo up in there, but here's a try...
If you move the selector to the park position, does it lock the drive shaft? If it does, you have it in right. If not, try again. Most of the time you can shove the tip in and the pawl will move enough for the rod to go in. If not, you need to use a long screw driver and move the pawl a bit towards the center of the transmission.
So, the end of the rod always stays under the pawl? ...the larger diameter on the tapered end pushes the pawl up more than it is when its on the small diameter section - is that how it works?
Yes, if the parking pawl isn't lined up with a gap in the gear, the spring on the rod compresses which will force the pawl into the gear when the driveline moves enough so that the pawl can move into the gear.
I know it’s too late but for future reference, they make a tool to pull that seal and install it without going through all that. Just have to pull the nut and lever off the outside.
Thanks... I'm aware that tool exists, but I like to pull the selector shaft out and make sure it doesn't have any grooves or burs on it. I had to remove the pan anyways to change the filter