Hard engagment, shuttering from A4LD

[87Ranger4wd]

I just bought an 87' ranger 4x4 with a 2.9 and an A4LD auto trans. When you go to shift it into D, OD, or R it shutters for a second then slams into the selection and goes. It also has a rough time with P and N. Sometimes when i set it to P, it will back up very very slowly and sometime in N, it will still pull forward slightly.

I haven't gotten under it yet or anything, just curious if anyone had some starting points. I keep hearing Band adjustment on the forums, which i think i understand how to do. and I keep hearing linkage adjustment which i do not know how to do.

Any other ideas?

 

[pcollins]

sounds like the shifting cable is out of adjustment.

 

[87Ranger4wd]

is there a post somewhere on how to readjust it?

thanks

 

[pcollins]

copied from explorer forums:

The procedure for adjusting the cable at the transmission is something like this:
Shift System Adjustment, Ranger, Explorer and Aerostar

1. Place transmission shift select lever in the OD position.

2. Hang a three-pound weight on the end of the shift select lever.

3. Raise the vehicle on a hoist.

4. Release lock tab on the top side of the cable by pushing down on the two tangs.

5. Disconnect the shift cable from the transmission lever.

6. Shift the transmission into overdrive. On Ranger and Explorer vehicles, move the transmission lever all the way rearward (counterclockwise) and then forward three detent positions. On Aerostar vehicles, move the transmission lever all the way forward (counterclockwise) and then rearward three detent positions.

7. Reattach shift cable to transmission lever.

8. Completely push down the lock tab on the shift cable, making sure it fully engages, locking cable in place.

9. Make sure shift cable is clipped to floorpan.

10. Lower vehicle down from hoist.

11. Adjust shift indicator pointer while transmission is still in the OD position.

12. Remove the weight and check for proper engagement of all gears, including park

A stretched cable will keep the transmission from shifting to the correct detent stop but if you feel the transmission is slipping while in gear, there's a good chance the clutch bands or shift solenoids may need servicing in the transmission.

 

[Viper Command]

when you say shutter, your feeling bad shaking and knocking right???

the cause for shuttering is lack of pressure to the forward drums,
shifter out of aju.
no O rings on your filter
low fluid
cloged filter
shift slector flute worn-leaking
warped valve body
leaking valve body

there is one other thing thats not pressure related, the forward and rear one way bearings. this means full rebuild.

if it was your bands you would have no movement, reverse band is not ajustable so therefor its not your bands.

 

[87Ranger4wd]

Is the lift just to make it easier or do i really need to have the thing in the air to do this properly?

 

[pcollins]

it just makes life easier.

 

[87Ranger4wd]

maybe this is a dumb question, is the 3lb weight attached to the top side of the shift lever (in the cab) or hanging from the bottom of the lever (underneath the truck)?

 

[pcollins]

in the cab to keep the lever from moving

 

[87Ranger4wd]

My truck has the shifter on the floor, i found the original post on the explorer forum, seems like those instructions are for column shift. does that matter?

 

[Robert_1967]

then take a bungie cord and tie it back so it will hold it in OD and wont let it move in to N



Robert

 

[87Ranger4wd]

i spoke with a friend who knows rangers/broncos/explorers really well. He said my 87' should use a linkage for the automatic, not a cable. I checked a Haynes manual and it mentions tangs for the linkage and all that but its very unclear without pictures. Does anyone know of a link to a more detailed adjustment for this generation vehicle?