Kick Down Cable Awareness

[94SRUNNER]

I realize what I am posting here has been discussed before, but I wanted to create a quickly accessible thread for guys who are having transmission shifting issues.

While changing the oil yesterday, I decided to take a look to at the kick down cable also know as the throttle cable. I noticed that the cable out of spec. So by using the below link I was able to bring the cable back into adjustment.

80-series Throttle Adjustment - Land Cruiser Tech from IH8MUD.com

The link above refers to the A442F transmission but it is applicable to later models, such as my 97'.

Now as noted in the link provided the marker on the throttle cable is set from 0-1mm, given that our trucks are as old as they are I decided to over compensate and am in the range of 1-2mm.

I had adjusted it last March, but I was apprehensive to adjust the cable any more than 1mm. While it seemed to help the shift response it wasn't quite where it should have been. I put up with it for a while and yesterday I decided to pay it some attention.

The whole process took about 5 min from start to finish. I did not have a chance to drive it until this morning but the difference was immediately noticeable!

 

[greentruck]

Pete,
I gotta keep this one in mind for when it warms up in the garage -- or at least gets warm enough to run the Mr. Heater Buddy for my fingers to unstiffen

 

[VanGo]

Pete,
I gotta keep this one in mind for when it warms up in the garage -- or at least gets warm enough to run the Mr. Heater Buddy for my fingers to unstiffen

Mike,

Go for it! Pete was looking out for me the other day; remembering some of the shifting issues I had been describing to him in an earlier converstation,he called me after determining the corrections he made to the KDC (throttle cable) worked. After re-reading the link he sent later I milled it over a few times and decided to go after the adjustment. With 2-14mm box end wrenches in hand, step ladder, and new found knowledge, I was able to make the adjustment, finishing, literally, less then 5 mins later. Test drove the rig and noticed that my shifting issues were corrected, both on stop and go traffic and highway speed assessments, no hard shifting, or down shifting, searching, etc.... I was smiling ear-to-ear. Thanks for doing your homework Pete.

Van

 

[greentruck]

You're further south than I am, Van. I'm going to keep the fingers warm. I've got Reynaud's syndrome bad in my left pinky. The little bugger turns white and becomes a stick once that kicks in, as it randomnly does in cold weather.

I may have to call on some transmission advice and expertise soon, but don't want to hijack this thread. In the latest storm, we had about four inches of snow -- on top of four inches of sleet. I waded in several places where I went into reverse and got the growling sound from the 343F

After doing some inconclusive research in the MUD to try to narrow it down, I decided to wait until I get the time to dawdle in reverse in something other than snow. Part of the problem is I've not really done any serious 'wheeling with the 80 yet. Don't want to run into this problem on Engineer Pass, if you know what I mean. Just gotta find someplace where I can experiment with backing uphill, over obstacles, etc.

The trucks runs well otherwise, but feels like it might be just a bit more crisp on the shift. So I kind of want to try the cable adjustment as a warm-up to dealing with whatever else turns up. Probably totally unrelated to the grind, but always good to be sure everything's in adjustment first.

Frankly, as my very first auto tranny vehicle in 40 years of off-roading, the thing worries me even when it's working right

 

[94SRUNNER]

Mike...really this is easier than it may seem. I did mine yesterday and the temps were in the low thirties. Took very little time.

It is worth a shot to help what ales you and your transmission.

The beauty of it is, it costs nothing....only a few minutes of your time.

 

[2km5]

Just wondering what kind of tension you have in the cable to make it shift well. I've adjusted mine to spec 1mm and the cable had a lot of slack. The shifting especially 1-2 was hard. After reading some threads, sounds like the cable may be stretched a bit with age. So I adjusted again over this past weekend to a point where the cable is now about 5 mm from the stopper, but has little slack. Shifting is still very harsh. Could you estimate the slack you have in the cable to get smoother shifting?

 

[Tools R Us]

Just wondering what kind of tension you have in the cable to make it shift well. I've adjusted mine to spec 1mm and the cable had a lot of slack. The shifting especially 1-2 was hard. After reading some threads, sounds like the cable may be stretched a bit with age. So I adjusted again over this past weekend to a point where the cable is now about 5 mm from the stopper, but has little slack. Shifting is still very harsh. Could you estimate the slack you have in the cable to get smoother shifting?

On the later trans, the cable connects to a progressive pressure regulator in the valve body, so adjusts system pressure, raising it with throttle opening. Basically it adjusts shift harshness, tighter adjustment makes more clutch/band clamping force, firmer shift, looser allows more slip, smoother shifts. It has nothing to do with shift points, etc, that is controlled by the ECU. Adjust it where you prefer, it's not rocket science.

https://forum.ih8mud.com/80-series-tech/349909-improving-transmission-shifting.html

 

[2km5]

I guess I'll loosen up the cable to give it more slack, basically a droop in the cable. It just doesn't look like that would be a proper setting according to the FSM. I have a '94.

 

[VanGo]

Kevin-

Thanks for weighing in on this topic.

 

[1ststatecruiser]

I realize what I am posting here has been discussed before, but I wanted to create a quickly accessible thread for guys who are having transmission shifting issues.

While changing the oil yesterday, I decided to take a look to at the kick down cable also know as the throttle cable. I noticed that the cable out of spec. So by using the below link I was able to bring the cable back into adjustment.

80-series Throttle Adjustment - Land Cruiser Tech from IH8MUD.com

The link above refers to the A442F transmission but it is applicable to later models, such as my 97'.

Now as noted in the link provided the marker on the throttle cable is set from 0-1mm, given that our trucks are as old as they are I decided to over compensate and am in the range of 1-2mm.

I had adjusted it last March, but I was apprehensive to adjust the cable any more than 1mm. While it seemed to help the shift response it wasn't quite where it should have been. I put up with it for a while and yesterday I decided to pay it some attention.

The whole process took about 5 min from start to finish. I did not have a chance to drive it until this morning but the difference was immediately noticeable!

Before finding this thread I thought I had a bad transmission , adjust it to 2mm today and no more skipping on 2nd gear. It stays longer now on 2nd gear, no more slip. Thanks ihmud .

 

[Eicca]

My first thought when I saw the thread title was "Oh boy, campaign time! I want a T-shirt."

The little bead should be about 1-2mm from the stopper, and once it's within that spec, you can tighten the cable just a little more to give the transmission a slightly more "sport mode" feel.

 

[Michael Hanson]

Thats if the stopper is there. Mike

 

[cahill]

Thats if the stopper is there. Mike

What do you use as a reference if the stopper is gone? I have been messing with mine a few times since taking of the throttle body for EGR work and don't feel like I have it quite right. If it is too tight will that affect how sensitive the accelerator (gas pedal) is? Mine seems to accelerate with a little lunge from a stopped position and I'm thinking it may be too tight.

 

[Eicca]

The accelerator is only too tight if it's affecting your idle speed (which is actually a good way to tune it, I tightened mine right to the brink of raising my RPMs. Very responsive, feels great.). The kickdown won't affect the throttle because of the way it's connected to the linkage.

 

[Kaveeks]

I have a '94 and went to adjust my cable just now to find out the cable is broken from where it connects to the throttle plate.

I searched and found this thread, but it was closed:
(i dont know why)
https://forum.ih8mud.com/80-series-tech/309321-kick-down-cable-replace-broke.html

Anyways, I need to fix this but can't do it right away. Is it okay to drive like this? I suspect I have been for awhile, but does it do any harm?

Also, how would I go about replacing this cable and where can I get one?

 

[Kaveeks]

any thoughts?

 

[94SRUNNER]

You should be able to order a new one from any of the vendors here on Mud.

As for driving it with it broken, I am not 100% sure. But if it has been driving alright I would continue but with caution. I am sure someone will chime in with a solid answer.

 

[RolandFJ40]

I have issues where my 96 LX shifts from 1-2 and it seems slow, causing a little difference in rpm's. When it finally catches I hear a clunk. Is this the fix for that? I'm curious which area I need to look at for the adjustment. Any pics?

 

[94SRUNNER]

@RolandFJ40, take a look at the original post. There is a link with pictures.

 

[thedoughboy]

Down Shift at Freeway Speeds

Been trying to figure this one out. When my rig, '95, is loaded climbing a hill I need to smash on the gas pedal to get it to downshift. Oftentimes, it only downshifts for 1-4 seconds.

What cable do I need to adjust?