How to remove torque converter shaft from trans?

[idosubaru]

Pulled a seized EJ25 out of a 99 Legacy GT today. I slid the torque converter shaft out still attached to the engine and detach it at that clip. The torque converter stayed with the engine, the remaining long shaft slid back down into the trans.

 

I can easily remove it by removing the trans first but I'd rather avoid doing that:lol:

 

I'm thinking maybe there's a set of extra long needle nose pliers that can get down there, but it's in pretty far?

 

Next bet is maybe jacking the rear of the up really high so in effect the trans is "tilted" down, aiding it in sliding forward.

 

Anything else worth a shot?

[davebugs]

Anxious to hear the solution. I usually pass on automatic cars that are locked up for this very reason.

[johnceggleston]

how about a long coat hanger? the shaft is hollow to move fluid so a long wire hook might grab the back lip?

 

http://opposedforces.com/parts/legacy/us_b11/type_45/automatic_transmission/at_torque_converter_and_converter_case/illustration_3/

 

there are 2 "shafts" both are tubes, i think if you pull the thinner one the larger one will come too.

[idosubaru]

how about a long coat hanger? the shaft is hollow to move fluid so a long wire hook might grab the back lip?

thanks john, got that image pulled up.

 

i doubt a coat hanger will work, the space is really thin, it would have to be nearly perfectly straight, but i'll give it a go and see.

Edited May 11, 2010 by grossgary

[Psyko]

it would have to be nearly perfectly straight

Not necessarily. It might be enough to just get a hanger jammed in the middle of the shaft. You just need more friction between the hanger and the inside of the shaft than there is friction between the outside of the shaft and what it is inside of (plus the pull of gravity and whatnot). Shouldn't be hard since they are well lubricated.

 

If that makes any sense...

[johnceggleston]

Not necessarily. It might be enough to just get a hanger jammed in the middle of the shaft. You just need more friction between the hanger and the inside of the shaft than there is friction between the outside of the shaft and what it is inside of (plus the pull of gravity and whatnot). Shouldn't be hard since they are well lubricated.

 

If that makes any sense...

 

good point, a larger hook with spring tension inserted just an inch might work. plus you can still get it out if it is only an inch in.

 

how about a bottle brush, thread it in pull it out?

[Fairtax4me]

How bout a telescoping magnet?

[idosubaru]

How bout a telescoping magnet?

none of the ones i have are even close to fitting, it's a very tight space between the center shaft and outer wall.

 

I tried one small screw driver inside of it and another outside and sort of "squeezing" and it didn't work, ended up sliding further in, too far to get to with a small screw driver.

 

I should have "tilted" the car from the start and these suggestions would work, i need to do that next.

[Gloyale]

Is the clip still in the tube?

 

If so, you could just slide the snout of a TC in there and pop it back into the tube (clip should grab at least some)

 

then just pull the TC back out and the tube should come with.

[johnceggleston]

pull out the center shaft, it should slide right out. when i pulled the TC out of a bad trans i had removed from the car, the whole shaft came out . the fat sleeve and the long thin one, i think, if i remember correctly.

[idosubaru]

Is the clip still in the tube?

clip is still in the tube in the transmission, looks like it's still in place. i thought about that but didn't think it'd clip in place. thanks Gloyale, i'll try that first.

[idosubaru]

pull out the center shaft

okay, i've done that before on others and partially pulled this one out, but there's still an outer shell between that smallest one and the torque converter...it's hard to explain with all these different shafts and such. i feel like there's three - the torque converter shaft, then another, then the smaller one that slides out that you're talkinga bout. but i might be describing it wrong.

[johnceggleston]

anything here look familiar??

 

http://opposedforces.com/parts/legacy/us_b11/type_45/automatic_transmission/at_torque_converter_and_converter_case/illustration_2/

 

 

 

PS: pm sent on a different subject

[johnceggleston]

how did you solve this??

[idosubaru]

No, I haven't gotten to it yet. I bought a new extendable magnet today to try on it, but I'm doubtful it'll fit, I needed one anyway though so maybe. My order of Subaru parts came yesterday so I'm ready to put the car back together, so in the next week I'll get to it.

[idosubaru]

how did you solve this??

got it! i used a steel wire, stuffed it around the shaft and down in there and it pulled it right out. i was surprised it worked.

 

bought the thinnest needle nose and smallest magnet i could fine - neither worked. needle nose still topped out on the outside rim before getting in far enough and magnet was a shade too thick. i was about to grind one or both of them down to fit down in there but thought to try the steel wire first.

 

stuffing the torque converter back in didn't seem like it was going to work either, i tried but quickly saw how tricky it was going to be to line up the spring clip, the ears on the shaft, and the TC. the spring clip was wanting to stay "open" so to speak.