1983 240D torque converter removal
 

I am in the process (this morning) of trying to remove the torque converter from the automatic transmission on the 240D. I have removed these from other vehicles and they just slid right off. I have been pulling on this thing for about 45 minutes now and have not gotten it off yet. It will spin and moves in/out about 1/4". What am I missing or am I just not pulling hard enough? Oh yea, the tranny is still in the car. The engine is on the engine stand.
thanks,

Jim,

I'm as puzzled as you are. There is a notch fore and aft that must line up with prongs on the transmission shaft, but it should just slide right off. I'm sure you have already checked everything that I could think of, but are you sure there's nothing lying underneath in the bell housing, like a bolt or something.

Why do you want it out?

Good luck,

As you thought the convertor should just slide out. Be sure to support the thing by the front snout (where it centers in crank), so that you are pulling straight.

The only thing that I have seen that screws with this is if the front pump bushing is stuck to the convertor and has spun in the pump causing a groove. Use two large pry bars, one from each side and have some one catch it as you work it out.

Thanks ya'll
 

I got it - seems that I was not persistant enough. I think it helps sometimes to walk away from something like this and then come back to it. I was quite surprised at how rusty the backside of the torque converter was. This car has been sitting up for awhile.

Jim,

I knew you would. I totally understand about walking away from it. For years, mostly with engineering problems, I have found that when I'm stumped to the point of beginning frustration, I have to walk away. Sometimes only two minutes at the coffee pot talking about anything else, the ball game, the price of tea in China, or maybe how one of the girls look in their miniskirt. Anything to shift my thought pattern completely away from it, will often let me get a fresh enough look that I will solve the problem.

The main reason I chimed back in is to remind you to replace the front transmission seal if you decide to finish up this car. Also make sure the sealing surface on the back of the torque converter is smooth.

Have a great day,

Replacement of the seal is the exact reason I pulled the torque converter. I do not see any sense in having an engine out and not replacing this seal. The wife and I had our discussion about it this afternoon and I did the usual tap dancing about the $$ I will be spending LOL. This is going to be a good winter project.

Jim,

Now is a fair time to turn tables on the Missus and use the "female" ploy.

Rather than explaining how much you spent on fixing the beast try remembering ANY time the other half came back from a store, smile and say "But Honey, I saved XXX hundreds of dollars by doing this" :D Then have your cost comparisons between dealer cost (+ labor) vs. PartsShop/FastLane. I can almost guarantee it will work, or your money back*.




*fine print - there are no guarantees!!