Fleetwood Meadow Posted May 8, 2018 Share Posted May 8, 2018 In my ‘52 Cadillac, Hydra-Matic, I have a problem getting it to shift. The fact is it won’t shift. I just replaced the valve body because the old one had a bent T.V. shaft. When I tried to take it out I snapped the front cover. After I put it in it wouldn't shift anymore; prior to replacing it it would shift 1-4. I was suspicious that it may have been dirty after I installed it even though it appeared very clean so I took it apart and cleaned it. When I took it apart and found that the T.V. couldn’t go in all the way because the piston inside was stuck. I fixed that piston and everything moves freely as it should. There is no dirt or sludge inside it. The bands were also just adjusted. I took it apart again and cleaned the governor and blew air into all the holes under the control body. But I can’t get it to shift into second. I get up to 15-20mph and the governor won’t let it go faster and it doesn’t shift. I’ve driven it with the T.V. rod connected and disconnected and still the same situation. Before I changed the control panel it didn’t have a T.V. rod and shifted 1-4. I don’t know what else to try and really don’t want to have to take the transmission out and rebuild it just yet. It reverses fine and takes off without slipping. I know that everyone on here likes the idea of rebuilding, and I do as well but I am on a fixed budget right now and can't afford to rebuild it and I don't really have the space to do in my garage. What exactly does rebuilding the transmission do that isolating the problem and repairing that specific item won't do, besides remove any chance of an item inside being broken? I appreciate any help. And please don’t say the transmission is trashed like I have seen in every transmission thread I’ve read. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fleetwood Meadow Posted May 16, 2018 Author Share Posted May 16, 2018 I guess nobody has any suggestions.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryB Posted May 16, 2018 Share Posted May 16, 2018 (edited) Would this book be of help? It covers hydra-matics from 1946 to 1956. Written for repair garage use. Edited May 16, 2018 by TerryB (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryB Posted May 16, 2018 Share Posted May 16, 2018 More photos of book Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fleetwood Meadow Posted May 20, 2018 Author Share Posted May 20, 2018 That seems like a very helpful book. It says more in those pictures than the shop manual does. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philberty2g Posted May 24, 2018 Share Posted May 24, 2018 I have a very good shop manual that came with my 1955 Olds 98. There are 114 pages on the Hydra-Matic. ? Let me know if there is a section that interests you. I can send pics with more detail. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fleetwood Meadow Posted May 25, 2018 Author Share Posted May 25, 2018 I worked on the transmission and got it to shift to 2nd gear but it wouldn’t shift to 3rd or 4th. So I took the control valve body back out and found the 3-2 Detent Plug stuck. I fixed that and now it won’t shift out of 1st again. Do either of those books talk about that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryB Posted May 25, 2018 Share Posted May 25, 2018 (edited) See my pics above. I have posted the page for staying in 1st gear. Edited May 25, 2018 by TerryB (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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