Author Topic: 4L60e Torque converter in a Bind  (Read 1736 times)

Offline jfkelley

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4L60e Torque converter in a Bind
« on: March 11, 2023, 07:14:48 PM »
Before I mate the transmission to the engine I filled the TC up with ATF..I put the torque converter on turned it until it three times until I heard three clunks ..I have no idea how it got in a bind but between installing it on the engine and putting the engine in it binded up ..Put break over bar on harmonic balancer gave it a couple cranks and heard a Dong!! My heart fell into my stomach ..Idk what happen but but TC spins freely now ..hope I didn’t f up anything up ..Like to hear your thoughts on this ? Thanks in advance
1976 Chevrolet Scottsdale 4x4 ,K10 33” BF Goodrich All-Terrain .. in the middle of an LS swap LM7/4l60e/NP241C

Offline MIKE S

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Re: 4L60e Torque converter in a Bind
« Reply #1 on: March 11, 2023, 08:28:24 PM »
At the minimum. I would pull the front pump and inspect. If you broke the gears you may not have damaged the housing or stator. If you start it now and the gear is broken you will need a lot more.

Offline jfkelley

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Re: 4L60e Torque converter in a Bind
« Reply #2 on: March 11, 2023, 10:04:05 PM »
I measured from flywheel to TC Tab and got .136. After the clunk ..I read that it needs to be between 0.60-.0.185 ..States I’m within specs ..What do you guys think ? I slowly turn the engine over and I don’t hear any clunking or any noise from that area.
1976 Chevrolet Scottsdale 4x4 ,K10 33” BF Goodrich All-Terrain .. in the middle of an LS swap LM7/4l60e/NP241C

Offline JohnnyPopper

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Re: 4L60e Torque converter in a Bind
« Reply #3 on: March 11, 2023, 10:35:53 PM »
Before I mate the transmission to the engine I filled the TC up with ATF..I put the torque converter on

on what?

turned it until it three times until I heard three clunks ..I have no idea how it got in a bind but between installing it on the engine and putting the engine in it binded up

You installed the TC on the engine? On the spring plate?

..Put break over bar on harmonic balancer gave it a couple cranks and heard a Dong!! My heart fell into my stomach ..Idk what happen but but TC spins freely now

Did you hear a 'ding' before the dong? jk

We really need more info... ;)

..hope I didn’t f up anything up ..Like to hear your thoughts on this ? Thanks in advance
1957 Apache 3100 235 Inline 6, 3 on the tree
1973 C-20, 3+3 454 4BBL TH400  Water Injection
1978 K-10, 350 4BBL TH350 NP203 M.M. Part time Kit/Hubs
1980 C-10 under construction

Offline jfkelley

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Re: 4L60e Torque converter in a Bind
« Reply #4 on: March 12, 2023, 12:12:57 AM »
Sorry Johnny - I was typing too fast and didn’t include enough info

Before I mate the transmission to the engine I filled the TC up with ATF..I put the torque converter on

on what? 5.3 / 4L60e / NP241C  doing LS Swap

turned it until it three times until I heard three clunks ..I have no idea how it got in a bind but between installing it on the engine and installing the engine into the truck it binded up

You installed the TC on the engine? On the spring plate? “installed TC onto to transmission shaft “

..Put break over bar on harmonic balancer gave it a couple cranks and heard a Dong!! My heart fell into my stomach ..Idk what happen but but TC spins freely now

Did you hear a 'ding' before the dong? jk lol maybe it was a Ding ! 😉

We really need more info... ;)

..hope I didn’t f up anything up ..Like to hear your thoughts on this ? Thanks in advance
1976 Chevrolet Scottsdale 4x4 ,K10 33” BF Goodrich All-Terrain .. in the middle of an LS swap LM7/4l60e/NP241C

Offline VileZambonie

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Re: 4L60e Torque converter in a Bind
« Reply #5 on: March 12, 2023, 11:16:29 AM »
At least you heard the dong before you felt it  ???

The torque converter should have spun freely when the engine was mated to the transmission. If not and you had to use a breaker bar you most likely damaged the pump. At this point there's only one way to know.
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Offline jfkelley

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Re: 4L60e Torque converter in a Bind
« Reply #6 on: March 12, 2023, 12:29:17 PM »
The TC was not mated / Bolted  to the Flex plate when I turned the Engine by using the Break-over bar
1976 Chevrolet Scottsdale 4x4 ,K10 33” BF Goodrich All-Terrain .. in the middle of an LS swap LM7/4l60e/NP241C

Offline bd

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Re: 4L60e Torque converter in a Bind
« Reply #7 on: March 12, 2023, 01:46:54 PM »
Did you feel the TC fully engage the pump as you rotated it - did the TC suddenly drop an additional ~1/2" toward the transmission as you rotated it?  Did you then use a retaining strap to hold the TC snug to the transmission as you mated the transmission to the back of the engine?
Rich
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In other words... if people learn by making mistakes, by now I should know just about everything!!!
87 R10 Silverado Fleetside 355 MPFI 700R4 3.42 Locker (aka Rusty, aka Mater)

Offline VileZambonie

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Re: 4L60e Torque converter in a Bind
« Reply #8 on: March 12, 2023, 05:57:50 PM »
The TC was not mated / Bolted  to the Flex plate when I turned the Engine by using the Break-over bar

Was this a reply to my post?
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74 GMC, 75 K5, 84 GMC, 85 K20, 86 k20, 79 K10

Offline jfkelley

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Re: 4L60e Torque converter in a Bind
« Reply #9 on: March 12, 2023, 06:17:18 PM »
Yes sir
1976 Chevrolet Scottsdale 4x4 ,K10 33” BF Goodrich All-Terrain .. in the middle of an LS swap LM7/4l60e/NP241C

Offline VileZambonie

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Re: 4L60e Torque converter in a Bind
« Reply #10 on: March 12, 2023, 06:57:45 PM »
I think you are misunderstanding what I wrote then. What I am saying is when the transmission and engine are bolted together, the torque converter should have spun freely.
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74 GMC, 75 K5, 84 GMC, 85 K20, 86 k20, 79 K10

Offline jfkelley

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Re: 4L60e Torque converter in a Bind
« Reply #11 on: March 12, 2023, 07:28:14 PM »
I apologize I understand now ..
1976 Chevrolet Scottsdale 4x4 ,K10 33” BF Goodrich All-Terrain .. in the middle of an LS swap LM7/4l60e/NP241C

Offline JohnnyPopper

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Re: 4L60e Torque converter in a Bind
« Reply #12 on: March 13, 2023, 03:38:21 PM »
Sounds like you did not key the TC to the pump or whatever it keys to at the input shaft before you mated the engine.

In turning the engine over the 'dong' you heard was pry the TC dropping into the key, and now it turns freely.

I guess you could risk starting it before inspection, but if you have it out, may as well take a look.

1957 Apache 3100 235 Inline 6, 3 on the tree
1973 C-20, 3+3 454 4BBL TH400  Water Injection
1978 K-10, 350 4BBL TH350 NP203 M.M. Part time Kit/Hubs
1980 C-10 under construction

Offline VileZambonie

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Re: 4L60e Torque converter in a Bind
« Reply #13 on: March 14, 2023, 06:25:32 PM »
The engagements are the input shaft into the turbine, the stator into the stator support, and the neck of the converter into the fluid pump.
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              ⌠¯¯¯¯¯'   [☼===☼]
              `()_);-;()_)--o--)_)

74 GMC, 75 K5, 84 GMC, 85 K20, 86 k20, 79 K10

Offline JohnnyPopper

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Re: 4L60e Torque converter in a Bind
« Reply #14 on: March 15, 2023, 08:54:54 PM »
Thanks for the schooling VZ... ;D

Per earlier comment, with it not bolted to the spring plate, can you move the TC in and out by 1/2 inch?

As in sliding it to and away from the plate?
1957 Apache 3100 235 Inline 6, 3 on the tree
1973 C-20, 3+3 454 4BBL TH400  Water Injection
1978 K-10, 350 4BBL TH350 NP203 M.M. Part time Kit/Hubs
1980 C-10 under construction