kickdown problem on '57 Tqf (related to runaway 2-3 upshift ?)

[Philippe Courant <accf-club@xxxx>]

 her's my second Torqueflite problem :
I never have a "forced kickdown downshift" since i rebuilt the Tqf (i 
don't know if the car kickdowned before as it was not running..)
The car downshifts well if i slow down but if i push the gas pedal to 
floor the car remains in 3.

I've tried to lenghten the throttle rod, result has been that trans. 
upshifts at higher speed. Now the 1-2 upshift occurs at 15-20 mph (with 
light throttle) and the 2-3 at 30-35 with light throttle. If i put 
heavier pressure on pedal the shifts occur at higher speeds (as 30 and 
50 may be, i don't test often because the runaway 2-3 !!).

Note that if i uphift manually with buttons i've also the 2-3 runaway.

I've looked at various manuals about kickdown linkage. About "forcing 
kickdown" they say: "depressing the pedal past the detent "feel" near 
wide open throttle. What is this detent feel ? What must i "feel" ? 
(The FSM talks about a kickdown detent plug on stem of kdwn valve which 
supplies the resistance necessary for a detent "feel". but i don't know 
how works this plug which slides on the kdwn valve stem). Does this 
imply that i must feel then overcome a hard point at end of accelerator 
pedal travel ?
I've also read somewhere that "accelerator pedal must permit a 
transmission kickdown without compressing the floor mat" (if not adjust 
pedal-to-bell crank). Perhaps (even if i set up the pedal at 118°) my 
pedal doesn't permit to go in kickdown range ?

Surprisingly i've read on the IML page someone (Peter) who had the same 
problem than me !! 
(http://www.imperialclub.com/Repair/Transmission/kickdown.htm). Don't 
know if Peter has solved the problem and how...

Thanks to all for the messages.


-- 

Philippe COURANT (Pau, France)- Webmaster des sites ACCF et C-I-F
Imperial 1957 Crown convertible
Buick 1996 Roadmaster wagon

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