Hello,

I realize that I am not a regular, poster to this section, but I was wondering if you could give a guy a hand here.

I have a TH400 in an old plow truck.

Here's what it is doing, if I start it cold it moves and drives fine. Fluid level is up. I can drive it around for 500 feet and then it kicks into a nuetral like state and wont move, in any gear.

I let it sit for about a half of an hour, start it up and it drives fine for a short distance and does it again.

It does not seem to be temp related because I let the truck thoroughly warm up and then it acts the same.

It's almost like the fluid isn't returning to the pain fast enough and after a few feet it doesn't have enough to move?

Is this just a clogged filter?

Thanks for any help you can give me.

ROB

Are you checking the fluid while the engine is running?

Yes I am. It also has been making a mild "geardrive" type of sound when it it in neutral and when in park. I know that sounds great, but not when I want to plow! It is a new development. I have come to the conclusion that I will have to pull it out and deal with it.

Thanks, ROB

I guess the part that is weird to me is that it works fine, until something inside changes and then it stops.

pull the pan and check the pickup tube that connects to the filter. Mine fell off and no go because no fluid is pumping to the converter. Might be a quick fix.

either tube fell out of filter like was suggested or o-rings are hard on tube and if neither of those filter is plugging up.no matter what start off dropping oil pan and if there is material in there then it is rebuild time.

Thanks for the help. It does make sense that if it sits, the oil builds up in the pan, and then when it is driven the oil is pumped through out the transmission.

I will have to drain the fluid anyways, so I think I will start with that.

Thanks for the help. It is helpful to know that I may not have to pull the transmission right now.

I'm building another plow truck, but I don't want to be without one until I get it done.

I will keep you posted.

Just a quick update. I hope someone can learn from my mistakes!

I got off the phone with a friend who is a rebuilder and discovered that the forward clutches are done. The modulator was unplugged and I didn't see it I guess since I go slow.

He was quite surprised that I had used it for as long as I had.

Thanks for the input and help.

Have a good Monday!