Re: Repairing Ultramatic

Posted by Ross On 2009/10/6 22:00:32

51 Packard: They started attaching the band struts to the bands with the advent of the Gear Start in mid 54. The bands and struts can be substituted early for late and late for early with no probs. The ones with the separate struts are a pain to assemble, as you know, but should never fall out once installed. I am sure that your bands are not adjusted properly or that the little rollpin that keeps the struts from slipping side to side is missing.

Get your struts back into position (making sure the rollpins are there) and bolt the valve body back up into place as per the manual. There is an adjusting screw for each band that sticks out the side of the case with a big ol' locknut on it. Back off the locknut a bit and hold it still while you turn the adjusting screw in. This should go in about a couple of turns at least till it begins to get stiff as it tightens the band. Turn it in to 20 ft lb (or a two finger pull on the end of the wrench), then back it off 1 3/4 turns and lock it with the locknut. Do this for both bands. With a thin screwdriver you should be able to reach around the valve body and actually work the little levers that tighten the bands as a final check. That should be the end of band struts falling out. Its not a fun job on your back but it ccan be done.