Can AOD governors "go bad"?

[jaymac]

The shop said the governor was seized up, and they cleaned it and put it back in and still no good, so they're over-nighting a new one, but I called to try to find one locally, and one guy said he had some but that governors don't really go "bad", they should be able to just be taken out and cleaned, but apparently that didn't work on mine. He said that's usually an indicator of a bigger problem.... WTF.

So what's the real deal - is a governor replacement the solution, or are these guys barking up the wrong tree?

Thanks,
J

 

[crazypete]

You hit the nail on the head. Only if the casing is deformed will it seize consistently after a good cleaning. I usually take parts and spin them in some steel wool to polish them. I unseized my 2-3 shift valve this way and perfect operation since.

Take it out and do the steel wool trick. It doesnt remove any material but makes the existing material smooth as glass.

 

[jaymac]

Ok, so I talked to a few other shops then I talked to mine again.
My guy said that he took my governor out and it was frozen up solid; it wouldn't turn at all, the valve was stuck.
he said he took it apart, checked for burrs and cleaned it and had it moving and spiining freely, then took it for a test drive and it apparently seized up again, as it wouldn't shift again.
So, he's convinced it's a bad governor.
What do you guys think now?

 

[crazypete]

It's not a big dollar item so have em replace it. It baffles me why that is though...

 

[jaymac]

yeah, I'm kinda weary of it myeslf... I'm just scared that they're gonna replace it and then that's not gonna be the answer, and I'm lookin' at a blown intermediate sprag or something larger like that, which would suck, since the guys are leaving for Bike Week tomorrw night...
This sucks...

 

[rd]

Either fix is ok. Some can be fixed, but the replacement is a much surer fix.

After many miles, especially if there is a lot of wear material in the trans and fluid, the governor valve and, or the bore may get scratched or enough crud embeded in it, or the bore gets distorted and it may stick. The bore is as big a problem as the valve. Two much sanding or polishing on either, and the clearance gets too big to work efficiently.

If the bore has some distortion, changing it is best.

Sometimes you can steel wool or polish them with crocus cloth or 6-1200 sandpaper and they will work ok. Did this to an F150 C6 governor for a year. Had two, kept the clean one handy, and changed it when it stuck.

If it can be freed up, but sticks again after a couple shifts, most likely the fluid has too much wear material, ie, fine particles of metal and friction in it, and it just clogs the clean one again. I put a Carquest inline filter in the cooler return line, and after two more clean/swap operations it worked fine from then on out.

 

[jaymac]

so I should definitely have them changed the f&f while they're at it?

 

[crazypete]

If any internals have failed, a F&F change is almost mandatory. I thought that had already been done...it's probably circulating clutch dust(well, it would be goo) through your system. Make sure they drain the converter too.

 

[jaymac]

nah, hasn't been done yet!
It's on the list, though!

 

[rd]

If there is no obvious damage in the trans, just wear particles, (clutch dust, goo, etc) and cleaning the governor at least temporarily fixes it, then there is a chance that a fluid and filter change will help. Make sure you drain the converter if possible. The fluid flow goes from the converter to the cooler and back to the rear of the trans and governor, so any crud in there will get into the governor before it gets filtered by the trans filter.

I have found that putting an inline filter in the cooler return line helps a great deal in keeping this from reoccurring.

 

[jaymac]

I should have them throw an in-line in there, huh?

 

[jaymac]

Update:
I blew the intermediate sprag.
He's gonna take it apart tonight and see if I did any subsequent damage, but at the very least, I blew up the intermediate sprag.
This kicks ass.
:damnit:

 

[jaymac]

OK,
NEW Update:
After disassembly last night, they found out that it wasn't actually the intermediate sprag that blew up. Apparently I smoked the forward clutch packs. The actual smoking of the forward clutches may have been from driving around w/ the governor stuck for a day or 2.
So the governor is seized again, so they're just putting a new one in, and they're replacing the forward clutch packs. They're not sure whether the gov. originally seizzed because of old contaminants that might have been in the old cooler or what the story is, but they're replacing it and completely flushing everything in the tranny and in the cooler when they replace everything this time...
Sucks, but if it does the trick, then I guess it's all good!
I'm supposed to get it back sometime tomorrow, so I'll let you guys know if it's actually fixed or if it's still f'ed up w/ a new discovery!!
J

 

[mustangjoe87]

i blew my overdrive pack a few years ago, i was pissed. AOD's are expensive to have rebuilt. now i have a 5 speed in it and the aod is for sale

 

[jaymac]

So, I got the car back and everything is A-OK. I have njot driven it heard, nor am I really going to until 150 miles, then I'm going to change the F&F, but for the time being, all is well in AOD-ville...