Binding flexplate and torque converter
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Model: Cherokee
Binding flexplate and torque converter
2004 WJ 4.0 Automatic. I know this is the XJ side, but I'm having no luck on the WJ side... I'm putting in a new-to-me engine. Everything has gone pretty smooth so far, until the re-install.
On Saturday, we dropped in the new engine, lined up the bell housing, threaded the 4 main bell housing bolts, bolted the engine to the engine mounts, and then torqued down the bell housing bolts -- in that order.
But when I went to turn the engine so I could bolt the flexplate to the torque converter, I found that it was bound up. I reached in the starter hole and tried to turn the torque converter, and found it wouldn't spin. I have put in transmissions before and I know that IF the torque converter is not seated all the way, it would bind and could even end up cracking the pump. I didn't remove the torque converter when I pulled the engine, so I assumed it remained seated and I didn't mess with it... But now I wonder if somehow when I removed the engine I could have unknowingly pulled the torque converter forward. SO I decided to pull the tranny back and see what is up.
I first loosened all of the bell housing bolts, so that the engine and tranny were separated about 1/2". I found that the engine could turn now, however, the torque converter was still stuck. So I put a tranny lift under the tranny, undid the the drivelines and crossmember and pulled the tranny back about 2 1/2". I can now turn the torque converter freely, but it sure seems to be set all the way back in the bell housing. I cant even fit my pinky finger between the back of the torque converter and the inside of the bell housing. Furthermore, it appears that the gap between the front of the torque converter and the flexplate is larger than the gap between the bell housing and the block; like with the bell housing and the block bolted together, the torque converter still wouldn't meet the flexplate. So my question is, is there anything else that can cause binding like that, IF the torque converter is all the way seated after all?
I hoped to keep everything lined up, and not have to fully drop the tranny yet, but today, I think I will... So I can inspect the flexplate and take the torque converter out to check the front pump, and make absolutely sure it is seated all the way. Anything else I should check? any possibility the flexplate is bent or something? Geez I wish I knew more.
On Saturday, we dropped in the new engine, lined up the bell housing, threaded the 4 main bell housing bolts, bolted the engine to the engine mounts, and then torqued down the bell housing bolts -- in that order.
But when I went to turn the engine so I could bolt the flexplate to the torque converter, I found that it was bound up. I reached in the starter hole and tried to turn the torque converter, and found it wouldn't spin. I have put in transmissions before and I know that IF the torque converter is not seated all the way, it would bind and could even end up cracking the pump. I didn't remove the torque converter when I pulled the engine, so I assumed it remained seated and I didn't mess with it... But now I wonder if somehow when I removed the engine I could have unknowingly pulled the torque converter forward. SO I decided to pull the tranny back and see what is up.
I first loosened all of the bell housing bolts, so that the engine and tranny were separated about 1/2". I found that the engine could turn now, however, the torque converter was still stuck. So I put a tranny lift under the tranny, undid the the drivelines and crossmember and pulled the tranny back about 2 1/2". I can now turn the torque converter freely, but it sure seems to be set all the way back in the bell housing. I cant even fit my pinky finger between the back of the torque converter and the inside of the bell housing. Furthermore, it appears that the gap between the front of the torque converter and the flexplate is larger than the gap between the bell housing and the block; like with the bell housing and the block bolted together, the torque converter still wouldn't meet the flexplate. So my question is, is there anything else that can cause binding like that, IF the torque converter is all the way seated after all?
I hoped to keep everything lined up, and not have to fully drop the tranny yet, but today, I think I will... So I can inspect the flexplate and take the torque converter out to check the front pump, and make absolutely sure it is seated all the way. Anything else I should check? any possibility the flexplate is bent or something? Geez I wish I knew more.
