Torque converter wont go back on

I'm faced with a perplexing problem. Got a 91 RS with the 3.1 and I sent the engine and with the torque converter still attached out to get rebuilt.

It all comes back with the torque converter off the engine, I get all parts back on the block ready to install. Grab the converter push it on the spindle and it won't slip all the way back and engauge the pump. It sticks about 1 inch after I slip it on. Tried tapping it farther with a hammer and it only moves it another few 8ths of an inch. Pull it back off and I find halfway down the larger spline on the shaft little groove marks like it has jambed itself down to that point.

I am perplexed. I have never had this happen before on all the trannies I've worked on. They usually just slipped right on and with a little wiggling they finally seat all the way back.

I am checking with the machine shop to see if I got the wrong coverter back by mistake but I doubt it.

Have any of you ever run into this? If so what avenue did you take? I sure dont want to rebuild the tranny or buy a new converter.

Thanks ahead of time.

I sure hope didn't fug it up by hitting it with a hammer. That is a big no no... :)

Did you rotate it while applying pressure. You should be able to put it on until it goes in one level, then you have to rotate it slightly (i believe in the clockwise direction) while applying a little pressure and it should pop down a little farther, and I think you might have to do that one more time to get it fully seated on the input shaft.

If you've tried that and still don't have any luck, I'm not sure what to tell ya... :dunno:

Yes a hammer is a big no no in the torque converter world. So please don't go looking for a bigger hammer. Your torque converter should go on the shaft 3 different times simply by sliding it on till it stops then rotate applying some pressure and when it slides on again then rotate again applying pressure and it should slip on again.

Oh and one more thing. If the converter isn't on all the way on the shaft and you bolt the trans up to the motor and try and crank it say bye bye to the front pump and the 90 to 100 dollars its going to take to replace it. Good luck.

I take it you've done this before caw333??

It was just a few taps with a small hammer. Just to see if it was snagged. But before that I did the whole wiggle turn push almost 50 times before that.

Just a bit puzzled.

Just keep on turning and applying pressure..... It took forever when I got my torque converter. Hope the hammer did'nt do anything.

some are a pain in the azz, did you pour a qt. of fluid in con.vert. first?
check for a small burr, just don't loose your cool :banghead: :banghead:

Well......... 1992RS I never tried the hammer trick but what I did do was bolt the torque converter to the flexplate and tried to stab the trans on to it while the motor was out thinking I could turn the trans enough to get it to seat properly. Please note that this also is a very bad idea. Always put the converter onto the trans first and then bolt to the flexplate.

Well I ended up fiddling with it for hours. Finally pulled the trans and am sending it to some one smarter than me. Hopefully it won't be too painfully costly.

Thx for the help.

It seems in removing the engine with the TC attached due to a seized engine, the TC was fugged up inside plus a seal on the tranny input shaft. I gotta get out of this hobby. It only costs money.

What?? Get out of this hobby!! Now your talking crazy. Just take a couple of deep breaths. So what if you have to eat Ramon noodles for the next month its worth it.

well said caw333

Well it seems when we separated the engine with the torque converter still attached to the fly wheel (Engine was seized) it bent the TC nose enough that it was out of round and would not fit back on the shaft. Long story short, $80 TC. Oh well. It's runnin now. Just have to track down why the Fan is not kicking on.

Check the fuse bro then if thats not it check the wiring might have gotten "pinched" somewhere

Yeah, thats my chore for tomorrow :)