Torque converter won't spin

[lebon29]

How come when I have my engine completely bolted to the tranny my torque converter won't budge but when the bolts are backed off just a hair it's fine

 

[donniekak]

Is it seated completely in the transmission? Are the mounting pads hitting the flex plate? What condition is the crankshaft bushing in?

 

[lebon29]

The bushing got put in backwards so I used a grinder and grinded inside out to the size of the shaft and yes it's all the way into the tranny

 

[SaulHudson]

Why didn't you remove the bushing and put it in the right way?

The TC should be about 9/16" into the tranny when installed correctly. Measuring from bell housing edge to TC.

 

[hotrodssnova]

Pull the bushing and put in correctly. They are machined on a lathe for a reason

 

[lebon29]

I dont know I didn't think it was a big deal and plus I couldn't get mine out it was really in there

 

[SaulHudson]

You'll be amazed the results you get when you do things correctly.

 

[1990TSIAWDTALON]

You should have 3 indexes on the TC before it is seated and when we measure that distance it is usually about 9/16" from the lip of the trans to the TC mounting pad when correctly indexed. The last index is the one that alot of people miss, thinking they got it all. It will make a definate "clunck" when the last step is in correctly and only goes in every half turn of the converter. The last one is the one that engages the front pump. Good luck.

 

[lebon29]

It's about an inch in and how far in does that bushing go in

I have the bushing in the right way and it still doesn't spin and its all the way in

Can someone please help with a good answer?

 

[donniekak]

I'd have to see it to make a for sure diagnosis. It could be lots of things. Do you have the dowels for the trans, proper flex plate, converter seated properly? I'd get a new converter bushing. Also I seat the converter fully outside of the car, and mark with a pick in the aluminum the depth on the inside of the bell housing.

 

[lebon29]

I have the dowels and the right flex plate I can't even see anything that would be grabbing it to make it not spin

If I back the bolts out just enough to fit another starter plate in there it spins just fine

 

[SaulHudson]

The correct measurement is about 9/16ths not 1 inch. To the pad.

 

[lebon29]

So I'm to deep or what

 

[1990TSIAWDTALON]

Cant be in TOO deep. It won't go in any further after engaging the last step, the front pump. Keep looking, something is in a bind.

 

[lebon29]

What do you guys think about running 2 starter plates? Cause I talked to another guy and he had the same problem and he did that and it fixed the problem

 

[bryanwheat]

You don't need 2 starter plates. You need to make sure that the bushing is installed straight and not damaged in any way. There is something that you didn't do right, throwing another starter plate in there is not the answer.

 

[hotrodssnova]

Did you remove the flex plate during this repair?
Edit. ...did you slip the crank bushing on the tq to test fit before installing into crank? Also some small amount of grease on the tq snout might help.

 

[1990TSIAWDTALON]

Didn't happen to be able to put the flexplate on backwards did/could you??? Just thinking outside the box.

 

[lebon29]

Flexplate is on right the bushing is just fine and and I put grease on the tq input shaft and in the bushing. Everything is back together the same way it came off and it worked fine then

 

[1990TSIAWDTALON]

But you have no wiggle room when you unbolt the converter? It won't spin free after freeing it from the flexplate, hmmm something seriously bound up. It should have a 1/8-1/4" of room to rotate it when not bolted to everything so I know this has been asked but have you tried to put the converter into the bushing in the back of the motor without the trans on to see if it binds in the darn bushing? Its about all I can think of that would hold it up.

On my son's 97 Talon it would spin to line up the bolt holes and had some wiggle room when it was indexed, not a lot but enough that you could tell it wasn't connected to anything.

Is it a stock flexplate or a Kiggly? And isn't there a "spacer" or something that goes on with an auto and is it in the right place, not between the flexplate and the crank but on the outside of the flexplate, if I remember right we have one but I don't remember which order it went in, he did it all himself after I indexed his converter.

Just some other things to check. We are trying to help resolve your issue.

 

[lebon29]

Ya I tried taking it outta the tranny and putting on the motor and it spins fine. When the bolts are turned out like one or 2 turns each just so there's a crack between the tranny and engine it's totally fine spins perfect I'm also in 3/4 of an inch from the mounting pad but nothing is wrong with my pump behind the torque converter

 

[1990TSIAWDTALON]

Man....You have me stumped at the moment. But I will keep racking my knuckle head.

 

[lebon29]

Alright thanks I appreciate it

 

[hotrodssnova]

Could you have the transmission cocked to one side? You don't have the starter in the hole do you?

 

[1990TSIAWDTALON]

I think he has had it bolted up by his replys that if he loosens up the trans bolts just a turn or two the converter will spin. I wonder if he has tried turning the engine over with it bolted up. OP, have you tried spinning the motor over while this is all assembled and seeing if it is still so tight that it wont turn and about the pilot bushing, the torque converter fits in it and will turn and it goes all of the way into the bushing? I know you had it in but not quite enough and wondering if it is the problem still.