Motor wont spin after putting it back in.

[Rogue_Wulff]

Am I understanding this correctly? You Installed the flexplate and converter to the engine while the engine was out of the truck? Then put the engine back in?

 

[86rangerxlt]

Yes that is exactly What I did

 

[Rogue_Wulff]

The converter should be installed into the front of the trans, and fully seated, before lowering the engine into place. I'm betting you have damaged the front pump of the trans. Had you not forced the engine to turn, you may have gotten away with seperating the engine/trans, and getting the converter fully seated, then bolting them back together.
Just to clarify, when pulling either the engine or trans with an auto trans, the converter should stay with the trans. Otherwise, severe transmission damage can occur.

 

[86rangerxlt]

Well now I know. Just did it again put the converter in the bellhousing on the spline and I can spin it. Put the flexplate on the motor installed motor. And bolted up the bellhousing to the motor then it wont spin if I loosen the bolts at the bellhousing it spins. Would a damaged pump cause this?

 

[kcm1582]

Sound like you broke the transmission pump.

 

[86rangerxlt]

how hard is it to replace the transmission pump? and where can i get it? or would i be better off getting a new trans? or having somebody else replace the pump?

 

[kcm1582]

If I remember right you have an A4LD in that, and the pump comes off with the bellhousing, and you need a special pump alignment tool to reinstall it. you might also have to change out the top shim for proper clearance to the new pump. But it has been a while since transmissions class when we rebuilt one, so hopefully someone else can put in a second opinion.

 

[86rangerxlt]

i think i might just pull the transmission and take it to a shop. or ill see if i can find a rebuilt transmission for a decent price and see if i can trade them mine with some cash on top.

 

[Duane867]

Your only gonna get around a $100 max (core charge) for your old trans and it'll be $1200 plus for a rebuilt trans. unless you find some one who happens to have a rebuilt one for cheap.
IF memory serves the input shaft ( shaft that runs from the TC through the trans pump shaft ) is removable by hand. That's no biggie at all that it came out. Its made to.
The fact that it did points to it wiggling out during removal and installation so many times. It happens.
I would say given the information already posted and the events that took place you have posted all you've done here was bent the flex plate. The pump is probably fine.
It is MOST DEFINITELY worth the effort to buy a new flex plate and try the install once again.
If the input shaft wont seat all the way in the transmission when you try to reinstall every thing again then the OD planets the shaft seats into may be twisted a bit.
Use a pair of vise grips ( align the teeth on the grips with the splines on the shaft ) and give her a couple gentle taps with a hammer on the vise grips until it slides in.
I could have my wires crossed here and I am thinking of an entirely different transmission but this sticks for some reason.
I am sure some one with transmission rebuild experience will chime in and correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[86rangerxlt]

i did get a new flexplate and i found the spacer after a lot of searching. turns out the previous transmission shop hit the spacer with a screwdriver to bevel it and basically attach it to the flexplate when the bolts are supposed to keep it on. but even after the new flexplate/spacer torqued down to spec in a star pattern to make sure its even the motor doesnt turn freely. basically i put the flexplate on the motor. then the torque converter in the bellhousing. then installed motor bolted up the bellhousing to the motor (making sure the tcc was ready to bold up to the flexplate) bolted it to the flexplate in a crisscross pattern once again to make sure it was aligned properly. also torqued to spec. and basically as soon as its all done with bellhousing bolts tight it takes almost 100 ft lbs of torque to turn the motor at the front of the crank and its just a little. but as soon as the bolts are loosened it turns freely with little effort (also the plugs have been removed to make it easier.) i think ive seriously messed something up.

 

[Duane867]

So your saying the motor would not turn freely with only the flex plate installed ? No trans or TC just the flex plate and spacer ?
Then after hooking it all up again it wouldn't turn then either ?
I'm having trouble figuring out at what point it stop turning freely.
I think your missing a shim some where if it only does it when its bolted up and buttoned up.

 

[Rogue_Wulff]

When you put the converter back in, did you turn it as it was going in to align the splines and pump drive? The converter should sit back far enough that it can move freely even after the bellhousing bolts are torqued down. If you can't make the converter studs "rattle" in the flexplate holes, it's not right. I am assuming this one is like every other Ford, and has studs in the converter. I've never worked on this model trans, so I don't know.

When putting a converter back in a trans, it can take 2-3 full turns, while wiggling it around, to get everything seated. It really sounds like something is still not fully seated.

 

[Rogue_Wulff]

So your saying the motor will not turn freely with only the flex plate installed ? No trans or TC just the flex plate and spacer ?

I think your missing a shim some where.

The way I read his post, it appears the engine will turn over easy by loosening the bellhousing bolts.

 

[Duane867]

Then dude is missing another shim or its as you said not fully seated.
You will feel it bump back when you slide the input shaft on the trans in the converter 3 times I believe. Minimum two.

 

[86rangerxlt]

well i took the torque converter out and pulled the smaller imput shaft out it was stuck inside. took it to a shop and shops now rebuilding the torque converter its busted.