1941 Hydro matic transmission linkage

Caddy41girl · March 27, 2015, 10:05:48 AM

Hoping for a little help, went for my first road test with my newly rebuilt 346 motor and new brakes but the transmission will not shift out of first gear. First thing I notice after taking a peak under the hood, at the linkage, is that the rod that comes from around the distributor down, linking to the rod that runs back towards the transmission, is hitting a hose. The rod has a slight bend in it and I thought that someone had put it on upside down because the bend is toward the top. Have taken it off and turned it around which does make it clear the hose but now there is two much tension on the top, when I try to hook it back up to the bracket on top. I do not see another way to move the hose, so I don't think that is an option. If I bend the linkage to make it work, I am afraid it will throw everything else off. Which way is correct, bend at top or bottom? Or do I bend the hose? Does anyone have experience with this issue?

TMoore - NTCLC · March 27, 2015, 10:27:50 AM

I am not the expert here, and cannot take a look at my car right now, but others with correct info will be along shortly.

From your pictures, it LOOKS like the TV rod is hitting the over-flow line from the carb - if so, then that line is not in the correct position - it should come off the pass. side of the carb, and go down and hug the bell housing of the transmission (secured to the bell housing with a clamp on one one of the center bolts) and continue to hug the bell housing down to the discharge point. Then, the throttle linkage adjustment is very much a fine tuning thing.

Here is the portion of the manual with the procedure to adjust the linkage - see if any of this helps, and with others input, you should be okay if the transmission is in good shape otherwise.

Caddy41girl · March 27, 2015, 10:51:25 AM

It looks like it is in the picture, but it is not hitting the overflow, it is hitting the oil hose as seen in picture 1. In the picture I have the linkage turned so that the bend is at the bottom, where it does not hit the hose but I am not sure if this is correct. It was turned with the bend at the top when I got the car.

Steve Passmore · March 27, 2015, 11:16:37 AM

The bend is supposed to be at the top and have a specific angle. This rod was completely missing on my car but made no difference to the way it changed gear up or down so I can't see this as being your problem. As there is no kick-down with these the rod supposedly tells the transmission the throttle position and based on that position the correct gear is selected. Doesn't work on mine even though I have replaced the rod.
I think its your oil pipe thats the issue here. Mine does not attach at that position.

Caddy41girl · March 27, 2015, 11:41:17 AM

Great, I don't see a way to reposition the oil line. Can you send me a picture where yours is located? Could it have something to do with my car being automatic instead of a manual transmission?

TMoore - NTCLC · March 27, 2015, 01:12:42 PM

The bend goes at the top (see the .pdf attached earlier) - using that as your map, there should be no interference with the aux. oil filter line.

Steve Passmore · March 27, 2015, 03:32:59 PM

I don't have the oil filter on my Hydromatic car but you could connect to the middle gallery position if its in the way, it doesn't have to be the back one. One of my other cars with a filter has it from the front.

Doug Houston · March 28, 2015, 07:57:32 PM

This is about time I put you wise to the design of the transmission linkage. It was a tad complicated, and the adjustment of the TV (throttle rod) is very critical.

I hope that that original linkage was kept in the car when the transmission was rebuilt.

I have four '41 Cadillacs, three of which have Hydra-Matic transmissions, that I rebuilt myself. The transmissions are postwar models, which I prefer for their performance.I also have a '41 Oldsmobile with a 1950 transmission in it.

Please e-mail m,e, and I can send you the page from the Cadillac parts book. I am in he Michigan section of the membership book.

Caddy41girl · March 29, 2015, 10:35:33 AM

Thanks for your reply Doug, I have one book, but I believe it shows the manual transmission instead of the automatic. I think the automatic were more rare in the 41? Most of the info I find is for a manual transmission, is the linkage different? You can post an attachment on here of the page, please. I believe that my car is all original and I don't think that anyone has messed with the linkage. My transmission guy looked it up in a book he has and said that what the book says is crap? Is this the case? I am going to look it over again today, hook the linkage up the way it was and see about moving the oil hose. I hope this helps. The thing that I am not sure of is when I move the oil hose away so that the linkage is not hitting it anymore, will have have the shift out of first that I am looking for, I am skeptical that the linkage is the problem. I hope it is that easy.

jackworstell · March 29, 2015, 11:27:57 AM

....Was the transmission rebuilt as well as the motor ?

Jack Worstell #7558

Caddy41girl · March 29, 2015, 11:32:18 AM

No the transmission has not been rebuilt, yet......

I am hoping I don't have to do that.

Smedly · March 29, 2015, 01:15:34 PM

Is the linkage set up the same on a 46?

Steve Passmore · March 29, 2015, 01:18:25 PM

Quote from: Caddy41girl on March 29, 2015, 10:35:33 AM
I am skeptical that the linkage is the problem. I hope it is that easy.

As I said, my transmission changed up and down even without the linkage, just would not kick into a lower gear. I don't believe its your problem.

Heres a link to the Auto manual.

http://www.modifiedcadillac.org/documents/1940s/1941/

Caddy41girl · March 30, 2015, 07:36:41 PM

What do you boys think of this new oil line!!? Have not taken it for another drive yet to see if this changed anything but sure do like how this looks!

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1941 Hydro matic transmission linkage