hard shift from TH400
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,271
Likes: 1
From: PA
hard shift from TH400
about half the time i shift from park or neutral to either first or reverse i get a nice smooth shift. the other half of the time it bangs into gear. i cant seem to be able to tell if it does it more cold or warm. is something failing or clogged ? or is my tranny fluid just real cold.....and what sort of damage will these hard shifts do ? sorry i am a TH400 noob.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,748
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From: Titusville FL
My TH400 will shift hard into Reverse if the idle is a bit high. I usually won't shift until I have brought the idle down by reving it after it has warmed up. That will usually limit the harsh shifts when going into reverse. Not sure if that helps, but wanted to share my experience. 
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,271
Likes: 1
From: PA
My TH400 will shift hard into Reverse if the idle is a bit high. I usually won't shift until I have brought the idle down by reving it after it has warmed up. That will usually limit the harsh shifts when going into reverse. Not sure if that helps, but wanted to share my experience.
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Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,271
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From: PA
Only 1000 at cold idle. 700 warm. It usually shifts hard when cold at 1000. It still does it sometimes when warm at 700. It just seems sporadic. If it always did it when cold and never when hot I would get it. If an occasional hard shift when I need to drive before the engine is warm is ok then I won't worry. I was just getting worried something was starting to fail and giving me warning signs.......
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Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,271
Likes: 1
From: PA
PO said it had a mild shift kit. the thing is it seems like its not consistent. sometimes i get a hard shift when my idle is lower....sometimes i get a smooth shift when the rpms are higher. maybe im just paranoid.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,593
Likes: 103
From: Southern Indiana
yes.
One reason it might do that is the time before you might have shifted into reverse and set the rear that way and then going into first completely reverses everything.
but the snubber bushing is shot if it hasnt ever been changed.
if your going to keep the car forever get the poly bushing.
One reason it might do that is the time before you might have shifted into reverse and set the rear that way and then going into first completely reverses everything.
but the snubber bushing is shot if it hasnt ever been changed.
if your going to keep the car forever get the poly bushing.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 201
Likes: 3
Th400
Hey Boltnut,
Mine shifts hard almost all the time and has been doing it for the last 27 years. Hasn't quit working yet. never been out of the car. I have my fast idle on cold mornings (below about 35 degrees) set at about 800 rpms. I try to let the engine warm enough to be able to kick it down off of fast idle before I put it in gear. during the summer months when the nights are warm, when I start the car for the first time that day, my fast idle will usually catch but just barely then usually comes off fast idle as soon as I touch the gas. Or it will drop off fast idle fairly soon after start up. Winter time fast idle is about 800rpms, winter normal idle is about 650, with about 550 in gear. Summer fast idle is about 700 with 650 to 600 normal idle and about 550 to 500 in gear. The shift into drive or reverse from nuetral or park is pretty hard except when the engine is at or near its lowest idle point. But even then it is harder than you would feel in a '90s or later car. Like I said, 27 years its been acting that way.
Mine shifts hard almost all the time and has been doing it for the last 27 years. Hasn't quit working yet. never been out of the car. I have my fast idle on cold mornings (below about 35 degrees) set at about 800 rpms. I try to let the engine warm enough to be able to kick it down off of fast idle before I put it in gear. during the summer months when the nights are warm, when I start the car for the first time that day, my fast idle will usually catch but just barely then usually comes off fast idle as soon as I touch the gas. Or it will drop off fast idle fairly soon after start up. Winter time fast idle is about 800rpms, winter normal idle is about 650, with about 550 in gear. Summer fast idle is about 700 with 650 to 600 normal idle and about 550 to 500 in gear. The shift into drive or reverse from nuetral or park is pretty hard except when the engine is at or near its lowest idle point. But even then it is harder than you would feel in a '90s or later car. Like I said, 27 years its been acting that way.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,271
Likes: 1
From: PA
yes.
One reason it might do that is the time before you might have shifted into reverse and set the rear that way and then going into first completely reverses everything.
but the snubber bushing is shot if it hasnt ever been changed.
if your going to keep the car forever get the poly bushing.
One reason it might do that is the time before you might have shifted into reverse and set the rear that way and then going into first completely reverses everything.
but the snubber bushing is shot if it hasnt ever been changed.
if your going to keep the car forever get the poly bushing.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,271
Likes: 1
From: PA
Hey Boltnut,
Mine shifts hard almost all the time and has been doing it for the last 27 years. Hasn't quit working yet. never been out of the car. I have my fast idle on cold mornings (below about 35 degrees) set at about 800 rpms. I try to let the engine warm enough to be able to kick it down off of fast idle before I put it in gear. during the summer months when the nights are warm, when I start the car for the first time that day, my fast idle will usually catch but just barely then usually comes off fast idle as soon as I touch the gas. Or it will drop off fast idle fairly soon after start up. Winter time fast idle is about 800rpms, winter normal idle is about 650, with about 550 in gear. Summer fast idle is about 700 with 650 to 600 normal idle and about 550 to 500 in gear. The shift into drive or reverse from nuetral or park is pretty hard except when the engine is at or near its lowest idle point. But even then it is harder than you would feel in a '90s or later car. Like I said, 27 years its been acting that way.
Mine shifts hard almost all the time and has been doing it for the last 27 years. Hasn't quit working yet. never been out of the car. I have my fast idle on cold mornings (below about 35 degrees) set at about 800 rpms. I try to let the engine warm enough to be able to kick it down off of fast idle before I put it in gear. during the summer months when the nights are warm, when I start the car for the first time that day, my fast idle will usually catch but just barely then usually comes off fast idle as soon as I touch the gas. Or it will drop off fast idle fairly soon after start up. Winter time fast idle is about 800rpms, winter normal idle is about 650, with about 550 in gear. Summer fast idle is about 700 with 650 to 600 normal idle and about 550 to 500 in gear. The shift into drive or reverse from nuetral or park is pretty hard except when the engine is at or near its lowest idle point. But even then it is harder than you would feel in a '90s or later car. Like I said, 27 years its been acting that way.
Good to hear ! Like to know the occaisional hard shift isn't really tearing stuff up !
