I wired up my T-56 reverse lockout switch yesterday and cannot tell if it is working. I don't really know how it should work but common sense tells me that when the switch is powered I should be able to shift into reverse only. And when the switch is not powered I should NOT be able to shift into reverse. What is actually happening is that I shift into all gears when the switch is not powered and into 2nd, 4th and reverse when it is powered. This seems a bit strange to me! Now I have not tried to do any shifting while driving, all of this has been done on jack stands. Does the input and/or output shafts have to be rotaing for the reverse lock out function correctly? Or is the mechanism broken? I know that the solinoid works. Any tranny experts out there who can help me?

Joseph

here is how it is "supposed" to work (at least on a late model f body) when the car is moving, reverse is locked out. So if it is wired properly, you should not accidentally shift into reverse when going forward. I do not know how this can work without a computer though... it needs some kind of switch to tell it whether or not the car is in motion.

What year car do you have by the way? You have a website or any pictures or helpful hints for an install?

Joseph,

Do have the wiring diagram from the Feb 1999 CHP?

The computer normally activated this solenoid which is located directly under the shifter. At 5 mph or greater the solenoid has NO power.

The solenoid on top of the trans is the skip shift.

I have the mag if you would like to look at a virgin copy. Which day works for you and Nancy?

Carl

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Click here to see see my car and hear 5-speeds. http://www.geocities.com/casanoc

Right, that's what I thought. I have the a switch to give the reverse lockout soliniod 12 volts while it is depressed, I.E. whrn I want to shift into reverse. My concern is that this is a used "rebuilt" tranny which may have a damaged reverse lockout mechanism. I tested the solinoid out of the tranny so I know that it works. The thing that has me worried is that I CAN shift into reverse without powering the reverse lockout solinoid. This is when the car is not moving. Is this normal? I think I should NOT be able to shift into reverse without powering the solinoid. When I do power the solinoid I can only select reverse. I would hate to test the reverse lockout while the car is rolling down the road. I spent too much effort to get this tranny in only to damage it trying to find 5th gear.

Carl, I left a message on your machine today and will try you again tonight. I asked Nancy about this weekend and she said Saturday works for us.

Brad, I have pictures of installing the tranny into my 69 Camaro which includes a diagram for making the hydraulic clutch bracket and how I modified TH-400 x-member. If you are interested I could send you them all.

Joseph

[This message has been edited by Joseph (edited 10-23-2000).]

I found this link today. Has a little info on the lock out.
http://drivetrain.com/gmt56inst.html

Hope it helps..

Mark



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Mark
1992 Firebird 355/Six Speed
1991 RS 350 / 700-R4
1987 Toyota Pickup 383 / 500 + HP 10.963 @ 119.95 Slicks / 11.997 @ 114.23 Radials
http://personal.lig.bellsouth.net/~racer383/

Thanks Mark for the link. I read through the part about the reverse lockout but still confused. This is the part that has me;

"If it is not desired to enable the solenoid, the Neutral to Reverse shift can still be completed at the vehicle speeds less than 5 mph by overriding the lockout assembly with the emergency "crash-through" feature. The lockout assembly plunger is spring-loaded and a high side effort on the shift lever compress the spring, overcoming the lockout."


It maybe me but I am still not sure if my tranny is working properly or how the reverse lockout is designed to operate. What is a "high side effort?" Can a broken "crash through" feature effect the reverse lockout above 5 mph? It suspect that my "crash through" is working because I can select reverse while the car is not moving without powering the solinoid. If the car computer only powers the solinoid below 5 mph and one can still shift into reverse via the "crash through" feature then why have the reverse lockout at all? I mean does the "crash though" feature become inoperable above 5 mph? All these questions only proves how truely ignorant I am!
CarlC suggested that I take the shifter off the tranny and have a look inside. This would require cutting the shifter hole larger or removing the tranny. Both options are not appealing but if need be I guess I'll cut the shifter hole so I could have a look. In hind sight, and I have been having plenty of those unpleasant situations lately, I should have tested this when the tranny was out of the car.

Joseph

the switch is very simple. all gears are available except reverse. when you engage the switch it unblocks the reverse gate. no power to switch, no reverse, power to switch, reverse operates. you can wire it to ignition if you don't plan on putting it in reverse while crusing down the freeway.

My lockout is not connected and my reverse is fine.

Mark

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Mark
1992 Firebird 355/Six Speed
1991 RS 350 / 700-R4
1987 Toyota Pickup 383 / 500 + HP 10.963 @ 119.95 Slicks / 11.997 @ 114.23 Radials
http://personal.lig.bellsouth.net/~racer383/

Some transmissions work well without it and others won't work with out it. You got lucky. Mine will not go into reverse with out some serious slaming around or power to the lockout switch.

[This message has been edited by Jeffro (edited 10-25-2000).]