To By Pass the Transmission Kickdown or Not?

[Tom Katzenberger]

Guys,

Is the consensus to by pass the transmission kick down and down shift by hand when needed or to leave the vacuum kickdown in place?

Thanks,
Tom K.

 

[RF_Burns]

Manny said always downshift manually because manual downshift uses a higher line pressure which will help prevent clutch slippage.

So I have disconnected the downshift wire.

 

[Christo]

My 2 cents: https://www.gmcmotorhome.org/threads/a-different-approach-to-transmission-kickdown.1974/#post-17279

 

[Tom Katzenberger]

Christo,

Very good idea. I will be scratching my head with the information you provided. My cruise control has been long gone , and I am left with the modulator and the electric solenoid on the transmission. I will have to see what's involved to manually activate the kickdown from the driver station.

I like the idea of the switch and perhaps a rocker switch.So I do not have to hold it while i'm doing an extended climb.

If not, I'm not opposed to simply manually shifting.

I don't think that's too sense worth.I'm gonna give it 50 cents of a thought provoking idea.

Thank you for sharing,
Tom K.

 

[LQQKatJon]

Leave the kickdown working. You can still downshift manually. And if you dont mash the pedal down, probably not an issue.

A gmc motorhome mechanic I know. (Worked on them for years). Claimed that the tranny’s that had the most black burnt fluid always were the coach’s that had the kickdown switch disabled.

 

[Tom Katzenberger]

Beings, it has been previously removed.How hard is it to reinstall the system? The modulator is on the transmission and the switch is still in the hole. Other than that I have nothing.

Thanks,
Tom. K.

 

[RF_Burns]

Is the accelerator pedal switch and and wiring connector still in place? The wire running from the top of the engine to the transmission is Orange in colour. I'm thinking they are likely still there... somewhere.

Usually the pedal switch connector or the wire at the transmission is pulled to defeat it the kickdown.

 

[Tom Katzenberger]

Bruce,

I will have to look tomorrow to see if the pedal switch. The orange wire is definitely not there. The transmission solenoid is in place, as is the kick down Modulator. If the pedal switch is there , is it as simple as reconnecting the orange wire from a 12 V power supply through the pedal switch and down to the solenoid and reattaching a vacuum line to the modulator?

Thanks,
Tom K.

 

[RF_Burns]

Tom, The vacuum line always needs to be attached to the modulator as it controls how the transmission shifts.

For the kickdown to work, yes you just need a 12V supply to one side of the kickdown switch. Then run a wire from the other side of the switch down to the terminal on the passenger side of the transmission.

 

[Tom Katzenberger]

Bruce,

Thank you,

I will reattach the vacuum line , and if the switche is still on the pedal , I will recreate a new orange wire to the solenoid.

I really appreciate everyone's health as always.

Take care all and stay healthy,
Tom K.