Corvette Servo in: STUCK IN FIRST!

[derek_silverado]

I dunno why? I installed everything by the book! What would be the cause of it stuck in first gear? It reverses fine, goes through first smooth, but it sure isn't coming out!!! Would that little spring at the end of the pin keep me in first gear? if it didn't seat well? Every damn time I was trying to put the assembly in it kept falling off its little seat, keeping the servo from going in, but when the servo went in I assumed that the spring wasl seating.

I'll break it back down tonight after work but wanted some insight first.

Thanks,
Derek

[ocwave]

hmm... is there still movement on the piston? there should be 1/8 - 1/4 of an inch play. did you make sure to clean the surfaces? did you install it facing the correct way? silly questions i know, but if all you did is replace the stock 1-2 servo with the vette servo, im lost as to why it wont shift out of 1st.

[retorq]

Maybe there is a clog on the pin?? Or maybe something got put in backwards and it's blocking the fluid holes?? If I remember right that little spring really doesn't have a full "seat" inside the tranny case. I recall when doing my rebuild the Superior kit said to grind off 1/4 an inch of so from the inside of the 2nd apply piston, the spring they used was stiffer then stock. Is the servo the only thing that changed?? When I did mine I did the mods the shift kit had mentioned (grinding) and upgraded to the Vette servo at the same time. Mine 1-2 shift is awesome.

[derek_silverado]

Yes, I put it on, and without the cover on, I can still push the servo in and out a little. With the cover on I can still do it, mostly by prying agaisnt something to compress it. I even went to this site http://sethirdgen.org/servo.htm
to help feel in some information gaps and it says to instal things certain ways and I did so. I'm gonna have to get another O-ring b/c I'll have to tear the servo cover o-ring to get it out I'm sure. Where will I find an o-ring exactly the same size?

Thanks,
Derek

[cxpcman]

sorry to ask but ..somebody can explain the benefits of the corvet servo vs. the stock one .. i dont know nothing about trannys :crazy: so if somebody can explain me will be great

[derek_silverado]

Ok, I think to help in this process maybe som1 could check my theory here:

Ok, here is how I reassembled the servo.

1. I took the piston itself and put the spring around its little nub, but the cover over that, and put the retainer on it.
2. I then slid the piston into the piston housing, making a "male the female connection, respectively. (piston slid in piston housing.) The ridgy side (http://sethirdgen.org/images/servo7.jpg) (check link for picture) was facing the outside of the transmission.
3. I then ran the pin through, slid the spring over the pin at the back side of the piston housing, put a washer on it, and then the retainer.
4. I then put the 4th apply piston into the bore of the servo cover, with this side facing outward (http://sethirdgen.org/images/servo6.jpg)
5. After that, I slid the assembly, minus the cover, back into the tranny, minues the 4th apply piston and servo cover.
6. To finish, I put the cover and 4th apply piston together back in and wrestled with the snap ring until it installed.

Was that the correct procedure?

That is pretty by the book.

[ocwave]

Originally posted by derek_silverado
Yes, I put it on, and without the cover on, I can still push the servo in and out a little. With the cover on I can still do it, mostly by prying agaisnt something to compress it. I even went to this site http://sethirdgen.org/servo.htm
to help feel in some information gaps and it says to instal things certain ways and I did so. I'm gonna have to get another O-ring b/c I'll have to tear the servo cover o-ring to get it out I'm sure. Where will I find an o-ring exactly the same size?

Thanks,
Derek

those directions looked good

dont tear it! if you just pull and turn, it should come out ok. those o-rings looked strong to me when i installed mine. if you have to get new ones, you could try the dealership i guess. its an OEM part. if i were you, id just break down and get the complete transgo shift kit. the kit replaces some of the springs in the piston and gives you new o-rings. its about 100 bucks...

[derek_silverado]

The corvette servo firms the 1-2 shift.
Start a thread for any more questions on it. I would like my topic only discussed in this thread.

Not trying to be a butthole, I just don't want the thread to get hijacked.

Thanks,
Derek

Thanks for the advice, but I don't want to step into this thing any deeper until I have this fixed. Also, I'll be getting a proflash soon on performance mode that will increase line pressure.
Electronically upped line pressure + vette servo + shift kit = too much for me.

[ocwave]

true - you dont want line pressure with the transgo...

so instead of the dealership, try a local trans shop, its a basic o-ring on a 60 trans, the should have one laying around.

you'll have to post what the problem was after you re-install it... im very curious

[derek_silverado]

I'm gonna check it out tonight, but it will be a PITA, b/c its gonna be dark outisde and my truck isn't special enough to earn a garage spot, heh. I'll see if my dad will make room in the garage for me to work on it.

Thanks for the advice. I installed everything as I just told you, so I have no idea how it could be stuck in first!

[cxpcman]

sorry man .. i ask afriend about your thread and he say the problem is maybe the spring that is not applying enough presure to the servo plate, that try to get a new one. well just my 2 cents

[retorq]

Maybe the pin isn't sitting in the band right?? Try giving it a wiggle and what not when reassembling.

[ocwave]

Originally posted by cxpcman
sorry man .. i ask afriend about your thread and he say the problem is maybe the spring that is not applying enough presure to the servo plate, that try to get a new one. well just my 2 cents

you shouldnt have to change the springs when you change to a vette servo. i havent tried the servo with the stock spring, but vette servo + stock springs should = more holding power


Originally posted by retorq
Maybe the pin isn't sitting in the band right?? Try giving it a wiggle and what not when reassembling.

that could be

[Bryan Stirn]

I received my vette servo today i dont see any spring with the kit. Should there be?

[ocwave]

Originally posted by Bryan Stirn
I received my vette servo today i dont see any spring with the kit. Should there be?

nope, just 2 circle looking things. the springs are already in the tranny, reuse them

[derek_silverado]

Here is an update:

While I was at work my dad called me and asked if it was suppose to change the shift point, to which I replied, "No, just 1-2 fimness." He said he drove it and it shifts out of first at like 4200 RPM under normal throttle. Why will it shift, but so late?

And btw, thanks for all the help you guys are providing. It's much appreciated!

[ocwave]

when you have the snap ring on and its all put back together, exactly how much can you push the piston in? (using leverage of course) are you sure you didnt forget a part? and everything is facing the correct way?

[derek_silverado]

WEll, I just took it all out and am going to drive it in a second. I installed everything according to the kds performance instruction sheet, which was basically only good for the exploded veiw it had, which I followed to a T. I used that website I linked to before to determine the directions of the 4th apply piston and piston housing. It was actually pretty simple. I think the problem is that the pin sping wasn't seated. I am about to go drive it, and I hope, beyond all other hopes, that the spring not being seated was the problem.

I wouldn't recommend anyone doing this by thereselves. There are certain times where you just need three hands such as when you need to pry the tranny and depress the cover to install the snap ring. The snape ring took me 30 minutes to get on b/c I was trying to push the pry bar with my head to depress the servo cover, hold the snap wring, and hold the screwdriver to push it in the groove. Talk about a PITA.

I'm gonna go drive it (or should I say try). Wish me luck.

Update:

Shifts great! I'm pretty sure that the pin spring not seating on its nub in the housing was the problem the first time. When I was installing the servo both times, the spring kept falling off the nub. This time, I covered the thing in all purpose grease. Turned out it stayed on this time, or at least I assume it stayed because the thing is shifting well. What other shifts does the servo control? Just the 1-2 shifts. It feels like it firmed 2-3, but maybe it's in my head.... but it for sure firmed the 1-2 to make a nice shift.

[ocwave]

im glad you got it all figured out! were you able to reuse that red(?) o-ring? or was it blue.. i forget...

im pretty sure it only effects the 1-2 shift. there is another servo (the 3-4 interm. servo) in the tranny, behind the pan. i still need to change that one out... but that one is expensive.... like 80 bucks i think.

when i installed my 1-2 servo, i had the transmission out of the truck. i did the transgo, vette servo and torque converter all at the same time. it was easy getting the snap ring out when you have all the space you want.

[retorq]

The O ring I think was blue or green. :D

That servo assembly has the 4th apply servo. That's the first one on the outside. Looks like a std disc.

[ocwave]

really? whats the servo in the tranny called then? that plastic looking thing that i should have replaced, but didnt...

[retorq]

Not sure, maybe it's the 3-4 accumulator maybe?? Those were the ones that were supposed to be plastic but weren't??

[Beaver Customs]

New converter? What are you stalling at now

[ocwave]

Originally posted by retorq
Not sure, maybe it's the 3-4 accumulator maybe?? Those were the ones that were supposed to be plastic but weren't??

yep thats it! i need one of these.

http://www.kdsperformance.com/acpifoavaboh.html


Originally posted by TBI_Believer
New converter? What are you stalling at now

:think:

[Beaver Customs]

I thought you posted that you had put an aftermarket stall converter in your truck. What is it's stall speed is what I'm asking.

[ocwave]

Originally posted by TBI_Believer
I thought you posted that you had put an aftermarket stall converter in your truck. What is it's stall speed is what I'm asking.

ahh... yes, i did. 2600 rpm. i love it. for someone wanting a little more off the line, i think a 3000 stall speed would be ideal.

i got the yank truck thruster 2600 because ill eventually be running 35" tires and i might be looking at a boat to tow. with all that weight, i thought a 3000 stall would have been an overkill. for a DD street machine, i would go with the yank 3000.

the 2600 stall is the best performance mod ive done. tuning is a very close second.