Now that it's working properly , quit messing with it . I learned that in about early 1977 ,but forgot it and screwed around on my push ****on 727 for about 2 years before I got it right again .
Torqueflites do not feed the torque convertor in Park. You are supposed to check fluid in Neutral for that reason. They are also very sensitive to throttle pressure. Throttle pressure controls both shift points and transmission operating pressure. If I remember correctly, this ranges from 55 - 90 psi in all drive ranges (it is much higher in reverse). Back in the 80's Freightliner was using the 360 with an RH transmission in the light medium duty truck. I did a lot of training on the engine and transmission. I can't find my service manual on the R series 727's, but the correct procedure to set throttle pressure was to set it at idle; the same as any aluminum case Torqueflite. You wanted the throttle linkage to begin to move the instant you opened the throttle. If you set it that way it will always have full pressure at WOT.
I went to bed last night wondering if should back off the stop a tad in case I moved it too far. Perhaps your advice is best and leave it be. Thank you. I am, obviously) still chasing the bugs out of it. Every component was new or rebuilt. It is essentially a brand new vehicle and as such it still needs tweaking here and there, like this transmission issue. My end gaol is to have a dependable, easy to drive truck for my wife to enjoy. She was out there several times yesterday taking pictures of her truck. That made me quite happy. I used this transmission because it was a MOPAR unit and that made sense to put it behind the Desoto engine. I could have used something I was familiar with but that would have been too easy. I did not know to check the fluid level in Neutral. I should warm it back up and recheck it today. Thank you for that, the amount of knowledge on here is quite amazing. Before I made my adjustment to the TV cable there was the slightest bit of slack, a paper match's thickness perhaps between the stop and the throttle linkage on the carb. I can clearly see the amount I moved the stop. I am a detail fanatic and I had used silicone to glue a small, rubber vacuum cap over the exposed end of the TV cable that extended past the stop (as the cable ends are sharp and unsightly). TV cable evident in the picture below. You can "clearly" see the clean cable which now extends past the stop. The stop still have black RTV on it from the cap I glued on, and the cable has the same residue remaining. The clean bit is the total adjustment I made to the cable. I have zero knowledge of this transmission. In fact, prior to my research and purchase I didn't know it existed. I have also never had a car with a TV cable prior to this. To say I was out of my comfort zone is a huge understatement. I do not have gauges to read the pressure in the transmission. I suppose I could acquire them and download enough information to conduct the test. In your opinion, should I still have the transmission professionally serviced to make sure my adjustment will not eventually do irreplicable harm to the transmission? In your personal opinion as one trained to service these?
If the fluid isn't real dark or smells, I wouldn't worry about it as long as you didn't make the slip shifts for prolonged periods. The amount you moved the cable is significant and most likely your initial problem. Based on the way your wife drives, I don't think she will have any trouble. The only thing I might do would be to adjust the front band. That's what was slipping on the 1-2 shift. The reason I would adjust it is that it is easy to do. The part that was slipping on the 2-3 shift was the front clutch. Not much you can do about it since it requires transmission dis***embly. However, I doubt that you seriously hurt either one.
The 46RE started with the 96 model year. Yes, you need to check the ATF +4 transmission fluid when its warm, with the motor running, transmission in neutral. The correct cable adjustment is supposed to be with the carb throttle set at the idle position, and remove all the slack in the cable, without causing the throttle to be moved from the idle stop. I screwed with the one in my 49 truck for a while before I finally got it right. They are picky ******s. Too loose causes the slip between gear changes, too tight causes delayed (higher rpm) up shifting through all the gears. Mine is a complete factory set up, the final resting place on mine was with just a touch of free play in the cable, with the throttle at the idle stop. The ability to adjust is because each 46RE has its own setting it likes. I would not be concerned about hurting that trans, they are pretty tough. I blew the trans cooler line off my 46RE 2 times (2 hose clamps on a rubber hose on a steel line didn't keep from blowing the hose off!) and dumped all the fluid out of it (I found out the cooler line was off when the truck quit moving). Then I screwed around with the cable for another year. Over that time frame, I have put 24,000 miles on the 46RE. Its still going strong.
I plan on adding some much-needed miles on it in the next week now that I have it shifting better. I wish to thank the HAMB and all that contributed on this thread. I know late model tech is not popular on our site but building, driving and enjoying our creations is. I was hesitant to post this thread asking for help because of the potential for being flamed but I wish I had done so earlier. Thanks to all who responded and ***isted. This is why I pay to support the site as an Aliance Member. Thanks again all.
@Bandit Billy , you are one of the good guys here. I thank you for providing input on things over the years. The TF did change over the years, and it was push ****on in HAMB era, but the general operation is the same. It may have been linkage back then and a cable for yours, but it's the same causes and fixes. Be glad you didn't have to fix that 1/16" change in a bunch of adapted rods! If you have any other OT questions, there's a place for them, too. If I can help I will, or at least search for some loose thread for you to tug on!
The Jalopy Journal
