Fellow BlueBird with a Problem with Tranny

[Dave Beatty]

Hello... This is Dave Beatty.

The member with the active problem at this time....

R. Craig
77 FC31
Merritt Island, FL

Craig just called me for advise about a problem with his Tranny that
makes it impossible for him to park his Bird for Fuel or ??? I had
no advise.

Craig said his gear shifter will not move out of the Drive Position.
He has enough fuel to get to a Truck Repair Shop in Fairmont, MD
which is 4 hours away .. 200 miles. He traveling on Hiway 81.

Craig would appreciate any advise to solve the problem.

I will check back in a couple of hours to see what advise is offered
to pass on to Craig.

Thanks for the help.
__________________
Dave and Judy Beatty
1983 FC35SB (BirdCage)
Federal Way, Washington State

beattyd at yahoo dot com

[davidkerryedwards]

Why can't he stop for fuel? Is it because it won't start again
because it is in drive? If so, a remote starter switch attached to
the starter could overcome that problem or the neutral safety switch
could be disconnected or jumped. In either case, he would need to
be careful when starting it in drive.
Are there any other symptoms? Does the squeeze lever on the shifter
still function or is there evidence it is stuck or disconnected?

Kerry
82 FC 35
Denver

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Dave Beatty" <beattyd@...>
wrote:
>
> Hello... This is Dave Beatty.
>
> The member with the active problem at this time....
>
> R. Craig
> 77 FC31
> Merritt Island, FL
>
> Craig just called me for advise about a problem with his Tranny
that
> makes it impossible for him to park his Bird for Fuel or ??? I had
> no advise.
>
> Craig said his gear shifter will not move out of the Drive
Position.
> He has enough fuel to get to a Truck Repair Shop in Fairmont, MD
> which is 4 hours away .. 200 miles. He traveling on Hiway 81.
>
> Craig would appreciate any advise to solve the problem.
>
> I will check back in a couple of hours to see what advise is
offered
> to pass on to Craig.
>
> Thanks for the help.
> __________________
> Dave and Judy Beatty
> 1983 FC35SB (BirdCage)
> Federal Way, Washington State
>
> beattyd at yahoo dot com
>

[John Suter]

The transmission has a lock-up safety position in the
event of problems that allows driving to an Allison or
other repair location. If the transmission is shifted
out of gear, it will not return and towing will be the
only method of movement.

SHIFT THRU NEUTRAL OR OUT OF GEAR AT EXPENSIVE PERIL.


John Suter

--- Dave Beatty <beattyd@...> wrote:

> Hello... This is Dave Beatty.
>
> The member with the active problem at this time....
>
>
> R. Craig
> 77 FC31
> Merritt Island, FL
>
> Craig just called me for advise about a problem with
> his Tranny that
> makes it impossible for him to park his Bird for
> Fuel or ??? I had
> no advise.
>
> Craig said his gear shifter will not move out of the
> Drive Position.
> He has enough fuel to get to a Truck Repair Shop in
> Fairmont, MD
> which is 4 hours away .. 200 miles. He traveling on
> Hiway 81.
>
> Craig would appreciate any advise to solve the
> problem.
>
> I will check back in a couple of hours to see what
> advise is offered
> to pass on to Craig.
>
> Thanks for the help.
> __________________
> Dave and Judy Beatty
> 1983 FC35SB (BirdCage)
> Federal Way, Washington State
>
> beattyd at yahoo dot com
>
>
>
>


__________________________________________________
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[John Suter]

Now that we got the issue posted, usually this "limp
home" feature of the Allison transmission will not
prevent removal from a gear, but, once it is
activated, the transmission will not again return to a
gear for driving. As this is not exactly what you
have described, be cautious as it too may be activated
and once neutral has been selected, the tow truck may
be the only way out.

John


--- John Suter wrote:

> The transmission has a lock-up safety position in
> the
> event of problems that allows driving to an Allison
> or
> other repair location. If the transmission is
> shifted
> out of gear, it will not return and towing will be
> the
> only method of movement.
>
> SHIFT THRU NEUTRAL OR OUT OF GEAR AT EXPENSIVE
> PERIL.
>
>
> John Suter
>
> --- Dave Beatty <beattyd@...> wrote:
>
> > Hello... This is Dave Beatty.
> >
> > The member with the active problem at this
> time....
> >
> >
> > R. Craig
> > 77 FC31
> > Merritt Island, FL
> >
> > Craig just called me for advise about a problem
> with
> > his Tranny that
> > makes it impossible for him to park his Bird for
> > Fuel or ??? I had
> > no advise.
> >
> > Craig said his gear shifter will not move out of
> the
> > Drive Position.
> > He has enough fuel to get to a Truck Repair Shop
> in
> > Fairmont, MD
> > which is 4 hours away .. 200 miles. He traveling
> on
> > Hiway 81.
> >
> > Craig would appreciate any advise to solve the
> > problem.
> >
> > I will check back in a couple of hours to see what
> > advise is offered
> > to pass on to Craig.
> >
> > Thanks for the help.
> > __________________
> > Dave and Judy Beatty
> > 1983 FC35SB (BirdCage)
> > Federal Way, Washington State
> >
> > beattyd at yahoo dot com
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
> __________________________________________________
> Do You Yahoo!?
> Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam
> protection around
> http://mail.yahoo.com
>


__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com

[sfedeli3]

Not sure how his coach is arranged, but mine can stay in drive with
the parking brake on and will not move. Can he just stop for fuel
and leave the coach in drive while fueling? Or- have someone stay in
the coach with the brakes on? There is an Allison shop just south of
Harrisburg PA on I-83. Have him call me at 717-645-4912 if he gets
as far as Central PA. They open at 7 AM and are usually there until
11 PM.

Shane Fedeli
85PT40
Hershey, PA



--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Dave Beatty"
<beattyd@...> wrote:
>
> Hello... This is Dave Beatty.
>
> The member with the active problem at this time....
>
> R. Craig
> 77 FC31
> Merritt Island, FL
>
> Craig just called me for advise about a problem with his Tranny
that
> makes it impossible for him to park his Bird for Fuel or ??? I had
> no advise.
>
> Craig said his gear shifter will not move out of the Drive
Position.
> He has enough fuel to get to a Truck Repair Shop in Fairmont, MD
> which is 4 hours away .. 200 miles. He traveling on Hiway 81.
>
> Craig would appreciate any advise to solve the problem.
>
> I will check back in a couple of hours to see what advise is
offered
> to pass on to Craig.
>
> Thanks for the help.
> __________________
> Dave and Judy Beatty
> 1983 FC35SB (BirdCage)
> Federal Way, Washington State
>
> beattyd at yahoo dot com
>

[davidkerryedwards]

John:
I just read the driver's handbook for the 643 transmission that came
in my coach. It does not mention this feature. Is it a feature of
all Allison transmissions or only certain ones?

Kerry
82 FC35
Denver
-

-- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, John Suter wrote:
>
> The transmission has a lock-up safety position in the
> event of problems that allows driving to an Allison or
> other repair location. If the transmission is shifted
> out of gear, it will not return and towing will be the
> only method of movement.
>
> SHIFT THRU NEUTRAL OR OUT OF GEAR AT EXPENSIVE PERIL.
>
>
> John Suter
>
>

[Gary Miller]

Hi Dave,

Craig has an older coach but I believe he's running with the CAT and
the Allison MT 643. ('77 I belive was the year the CAT was an option)

First, I would check the fluid level. This can be done with the
engine running and I believe there are marks on the dipstick for
engine idling or shut down.

The transmission is controlled by a cable which runs from the shifter
to the roadside of the transmission. It runs right by the exhaust on
the roadside of the engine where (on my coach) there's a really bad
heat shield on the exhaust pipe that doesn't do much good. It's
likely the cable is old enough that the heat is causing it to not
work very well.

What he may find is that if he idles for a while, it might just shift
for him as the cable cools. What I would do is stop and get fuel,
leave the coach in drive with the brake set, and a co-pilot in the
drivers seat just in case, but it's not likely to go anywhere. Once
he finds a spot where he can be assured he's got time to fix the
cable if it breaks, let it idle a while, then see if it can shift to
neutral. If this works, shut down and see what happens after a while
of cooling.

If this is the problem, I would recommend a better heat shield, and
some lubrication for the cable, or perhaps even a new one.

If the cable breaks, it is possible to get under the coach and move
the shift lever on the transmission manually. It is up high and
forward on the roadside. This is certainly a two person job
involving a brakeman and jackstands.

The old Allisons, to my knowledge, do not have any failsafe features
other than automatic shifting for rpm protection regardless of gear
selection.

Good Luck,
Hope this helps,

Gary Miller
83 FC 33
Wauwatosa, WI

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Dave Beatty" <beattyd@...>
wrote:
>
> Hello... This is Dave Beatty.
>
> The member with the active problem at this time....
>
> R. Craig
> 77 FC31
> Merritt Island, FL
>
> Craig just called me for advise about a problem with his Tranny
that
> makes it impossible for him to park his Bird for Fuel or ??? I had
> no advise.
>
> Craig said his gear shifter will not move out of the Drive
Position.
> He has enough fuel to get to a Truck Repair Shop in Fairmont, MD
> which is 4 hours away .. 200 miles. He traveling on Hiway 81.
>
> Craig would appreciate any advise to solve the problem.
>
> I will check back in a couple of hours to see what advise is
offered
> to pass on to Craig.
>
> Thanks for the help.
> __________________
> Dave and Judy Beatty
> 1983 FC35SB (BirdCage)
> Federal Way, Washington State
>
> beattyd at yahoo dot com
>

[Dave Beatty]

Thanks for all the help....

I passed on the info to Craig.

Dave Beatty
83 FC35SB
Federal Way, Wa


John:
I just read the driver's handbook for the 643 transmission that came
in my coach. It does not mention this feature. Is it a feature of
all Allison transmissions or only certain ones?

Kerry
82 FC35
Denver
-

-- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, John Suter
wrote:
>
> The transmission has a lock-up safety position in the
> event of problems that allows driving to an Allison or
> other repair location. If the transmission is shifted
> out of gear, it will not return and towing will be the
> only method of movement.
>
> SHIFT THRU NEUTRAL OR OUT OF GEAR AT EXPENSIVE PERIL.
>
>
> John Suter
>

[Stephen Birtles]

that feature not available on old transmissions only on the newer ones
Stephen 77fc35


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Dave Beatty" <beattyd@...>
wrote:
>
> Thanks for all the help....
>
> I passed on the info to Craig.
>
> Dave Beatty
> 83 FC35SB
> Federal Way, Wa
>
>
> John:
> I just read the driver's handbook for the 643 transmission that came
> in my coach. It does not mention this feature. Is it a feature of
> all Allison transmissions or only certain ones?
>
> Kerry
> 82 FC35
> Denver
> -
>
> -- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, John Suter
> wrote:
> >
> > The transmission has a lock-up safety position in the
> > event of problems that allows driving to an Allison or
> > other repair location. If the transmission is shifted
> > out of gear, it will not return and towing will be the
> > only method of movement.
> >
> > SHIFT THRU NEUTRAL OR OUT OF GEAR AT EXPENSIVE PERIL.
> >
> >
> > John Suter
> >
>

[Stephen Birtles]

that feature not available on old transmissions only on the newer ones
Stephen 77fc35


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Dave Beatty" <beattyd@...>
wrote:
>
> Thanks for all the help....
>
> I passed on the info to Craig.
>
> Dave Beatty
> 83 FC35SB
> Federal Way, Wa
>
>
> John:
> I just read the driver's handbook for the 643 transmission that came
> in my coach. It does not mention this feature. Is it a feature of
> all Allison transmissions or only certain ones?
>
> Kerry
> 82 FC35
> Denver
> -
>
> -- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, John Suter
> wrote:
> >
> > The transmission has a lock-up safety position in the
> > event of problems that allows driving to an Allison or
> > other repair location. If the transmission is shifted
> > out of gear, it will not return and towing will be the
> > only method of movement.
> >
> > SHIFT THRU NEUTRAL OR OUT OF GEAR AT EXPENSIVE PERIL.
> >
> >
> > John Suter
> >
>