Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) ATS Transmission Band Adjustment Problem

[JR2]

Last week I was helping a buddy service his ATS transmission and he wanted to adjust the bands on it. While we had the pan off and the filter off we found a slight problem. The ATS transmission valve body has a metal shield with ATS's phone number and "ATS Transmission" cut into it covering the rear band adjustment area. Its not covering it completely, but enough that we could not get my torque wrench on the adjustment stud. Is this normal?? The plate appears to be made of stainless steel and we did not want to bend or cut it for fear of messing up the valve body.



Have any other ATS transmission guys seen this plate in there valve body?? How did you adjust your bands?? I know the obvious solution is to get a very small crowfoot adapter for my torque wrench so we can reach in from the side to make the adjustment, but at 9 pm on Sunday it's hard to find one. We opted to skip the band adjustments till he changes his fluid again.



Thanks,



JR2

 

[DRAG DIESEL]

Hey John,



That is totally normal for the separator plate have the name and number cut into the plate because they are laser cut just for the valve body. I use a crowsfoot too to loosen and tighten the rear bands. I don’t’ worry about the torque spec, I just make it tight. The big thing to watch is the adjustment. I have never had to adjust the rears on my trans; I have just done it for friends. Hope this helps!

 

[y-knot]

That sounds odd, you don't care about torque specs just make sure it is tight??????????? I see why you only do that on your "friends" trucks.



The spec changes slightly from model to model, but the right way is to tighten the rear band adjusting bolt to on all models to 72 in-lbs, then back off 2 turns. The back off spec is what changes, some models are 2 1/2 turns others 1 7/8 turns. Then tighten the rear band adjusting screw to 25 ft-lb.

As you can see, the bolt never is tight. Do yourself a favor in the future, if you have a specific question concerning a manufacturers spec, call the manufacturer, in this case ATS, and get the straight poop.

 

[StakeMan]

http://www.atsdiesel.com/PDF/Ram 47RH_RE Band Adjustment A1-sm.pdf

 

[JR2]

Stakeman,

That is a great doccument and all, but the problem is that a torque wrench will not fit between the plate and the adjustment screw on the rear band. The pictures in that doccument (figures A3 and A4) don't ever show a torque wrench on the adjustment bolt. All they show is the "close enough" method, which in my mind is kind sad.



Anyway thanks for the instructions, that will help us with the other band we will get the rear band with a crows foot if we can find one or we will cut that name tag out so we can do it the right way.