[65comet]

I was looking to get a TKO 600 trans but have read a LOT of posts all over about shifting problems and the factory apparently refusing to recognize anyones complaints. With that many people having trouble, they don't look very good now. The thing is, most of the stuff I've read is 2-3 yrs. old. Has Tremec fixed this problem ? or are a lot of folks still cussing their shifting ? I don't want to spend 2000 on a trans that needs a 500.00 smoothing out to work right.
Are they a problem ? and what other 5 spd. overdrives are out there that can handle that torque level could be a good option. Thanks

[ieatdrt]

I just installed the TKO-600, but I haven't driven it yet. Have these shifting issues been apparent from the get go? If so, I'll let you know how mine pans out. Also, as far as alternatives go you can try the Richmond 5 speeds. They are capable of handling whatever you want to throw at them.
RICHMOND 5 SPEED TRANSMISSIONS

[Colt 45]

I have a 500,and so far I'm happy with it.Have had no problems,in fact I love the way mine shifts.

[65comet]

From what I understand, it's a hit & miss problem. Some TKO's work fine, others seam to have shift problems from the start and never get ironed out without internal work. I've done quite a few searches just for peoples feedback on them and have heard enough about the same problem to make me hold out for more info. There are even shops that have spoken out and developed their fix for the factory shortcomings and they say the TKO's are hit or miss for having a problem. Many of them work fine, but too many don't.
I hope you guys got some good ones.
I'm looking into the G force trans but it's more money still than the TKO, but they're modified T 5's and wouldn't need a tunnel job to fit.
Still looking.
Any moretakes on the TKO's ?

[Colt 45]

I hope so too!

[badloser]

I have a tko in my 95 and it sometimes is hard to put into first gear but then shifts ok.

[rj8806]

I'm not sure by what you all think is a shift problem, no one has defined it?

Back in the summer of 2005, some TKO's came thru that had some issues going from 2nd to 3rd consistently. It was determined that the shift lugs on the rails, while still within tolerance, they were on the high side of the tolerance when it came to the chamfers on the lugs. The wider chamfer was causing an over shift that would result in not being able to slam 2nd to 3rd. It was corrected by the next batch of TKO's that we received. Those units that were actually sold, were corrected by a simple shift lug change using custom matched lugs where the chamfers were on the "low side" of the tolerance.

Tremec has always acknowedged that the limit for a smooth quality shift was 6000rpm (as they come straight out of the box). In my opinion, most of the shifting issues we see these days are caused by the lack of clutch dis-engagement. The end user not setting up the clutch adjustment properly. Most of you should know by now that the general rule of thumb is to have 1/4" gap between the face of the bearing and the fingers on the pressure plate when the pedal is at the rest position. This ensures that the bearing/linkage has enough throw to properly dis-engage the disc. The other half to the equation is not well known and that is setting the air gap.
Air gap is simply, the distance between the disc surface and the flywheel surface when the pedal is pushed to the floor. IN other words, push and hold the pedal to the floor and have someone else slide a feeler gauge between the disc and the flywheel surface to measure the air gap. Diaphram style pressure plates (plate with 20+ little fingers as compared to a Borg & Beck style with 3 fingers) require an air gap of .030". If you push the pedal down and cannot slide a .030" feeler gauge between those 2 surfaces, then the air gap is incorrect. This will result in a hit or miss when it comes to smooth shifting. To adjust the air gap, simply adjust the bearing clearance to fingers on the plate. ADjust the bearing further sway from the fingers(when the pedal is at the rest position) to lessen the air gap and adjust the bearing closer to the fingers to achieve more air gap.
Once the clutch is setup properly, shifting a TKO should be smooth and consistent.

It is also a huge misconception as to which fluid to use in a TKO. Tremec states that either standard ATF Dexron 3 or GM Syncromesh MUST be used. The GM stuff will actually give you a better shift quality over the ATF. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCE CAN YOU USE SYNTHETIC fluid EVER. The syncors and blocking rings are made up of a carbon fiber based material and the additives in the synthetics will destroy them. That means no Amsoil, No Royal Purple, No full synthetic PERIOD. Tremec spent alot of time and money on testing fluids in TKO's and the results were all the same when it came to synthetics. EVERYONE of them, eventually, destroyed the syncros and blockers and turned them into a pile of goop.

I have been doing tech support for TKO's and T45's and T56's for over 4 1/2 years now. If you have any questions regarding them, please let me know.


Richard
Tech Support
Tremec TKO, T45 & T56 Transmission Systems