TKO 600 stuck in gear

[Pylons]

so I'm still waiting on my kit, but I have all my powertrain stuff sitting in my shop staring at me

I've started to review the documentation for it...looking through the Tremec stuff, they suggest you verify that nothing got stuck/damaged during shipping by turning the input shaft by hand and going through the gears

initially I couldn't turn the shaft by hand, but freed it up with a little convincing

I can't seem to get the shifter to do much of anything though

Turning the input shaft is turning the output in the opposite direction...does that mean it's in reverse?

The shifter will move toward the driver's side fairly easily (and will move back to where it started when I let go...before I could turn the shaft, I assumed that meant it was in neutral). The shifter doesn't seem to want to budge in any other direction though.

Thoughts on getting things freed up?

[lsxsean]

Call up tech support and see what they have to say.

[Jester]

I purchased a new TKO600 for my build. These transmissions are quite stiff to shift when new. They are shipped without transmission fluid so you need to keep that in mind. Initially when I tried running though the gears, the shifter fork got stuck and the transmission would not shift. I called Tremec and they told me to take the shifter plate off and check that the shifter sliders are properly aligned for the shifter fork lever. you may want to call them or search the net for proper shifter alignment instructions. As it turns out, the Tremec tech was correct and the transmission shifter sliders became misaligned with the shifter fork. I believe (if memory is correct - several years ago now) I had to manually align the shifter sliders so they were in a straight line (neutral) and I inserted the shifter fork and reinstalled the shifter plate. I used a slot screw driver to carefully slide the shifter sliders back the the proper neutral position (aligned in a straight line from left to right).

if your shifter lever can move from side to side and when you turn the input shaft the output shaft does not move (you may need to hold the output shaft to keep from rotating) you are in neutral and there is no misalignment. if as you describe, the shifter moves side to side but when rotating the input shaft the output shaft moves in the opposite direction, the transmission would seem to be in reverse - suggesting the shifter fork is misaligned with the shifter sliders - similar issue as I had.

This is an easy fix - good luck

[Pylons]

I purchased a new TKO600 for my build. These transmissions are quite stiff to shift when new. They are shipped without transmission fluid so you need to keep that in mind. Initially when I tried running though the gears, the shifter fork got stuck and the transmission would not shift. I called Tremec and they told me to take the shifter plate off and check that the shifter pins are properly aligned with the shifter fork lever. you may want to call them or search the net for proper shifter alignment instructions. As it turns out, the Tremec tech was correct and the transmission shifter pins became misaligned with the shifter fork. I believe (if memory is correct - several years ago now) I had to manually align the shifter pins so they were in a straight line (neutral) and I inserted the shifter fork and reinstalled the shifter plate. I used a slot screw driver to carefully slide the shifter pins back the the proper neutral position (aligned in a straight line from left to right).

if your shifter lever can move from side to side and when you turn the input shaft the output shaft does not move (you may need to hold the output shaft to keep from rotating) you are in neutral and there is no misalignment. if as you describe, the shifter moves side to side but when rotating the input shaft the output shaft moves in the opposite direction, the transmission would seem to be in reverse - suggesting the shifter fork is misaligned with the shifter pins - similar issue as I had.

This is an easy fix - good luck

In searching around some more, I think this is likely the issue I've got. I found a few other threads (FF and otherwise) that describe the same symptoms and solution.

So which plate would I remove and which parts am I looking for (newb to tranny internals)?
http://filebox.vt.edu/users/bhertwec/FactoryFive/TKO-500.jpeg

[Jester]

You need to remove the plate that the shifter comes out of

Best to call Tremec and they will walk you through it

[Pylons]

Jester was on the money with the issue:

Here's how it looked when I popped it open: shift lugs in the reverse position, but shifter in the neutral position:
http://filebox.vt.edu/users/bhertwec/FactoryFive/Pins_in_reverse_shifter_neutral.jpg

I merely slid that far one back into alignment with the other 2:
http://filebox.vt.edu/users/bhertwec/FactoryFive/Pins_neutral_shifter_neutral.jpg

then I could select all gears.

next question: what is that pile of gray goop and should it be there?

[mike forte]

Hi Pylons,
This shifter realignment is not all to common but common enough that when you called today I knew the symptom as this fix.
I'm glad I could help....
Mike Forte
Fortes Parts Connection

[CraigS]

Leave the grey grease in there.