Any good RTV-d transmission pan removal methods?

[ksagis]

Anybody have any good tricks for removing an AOD transmission pan that was installed by PO with a copious amount of some kind of RTV? It’s stuck on pretty good. (I found this tool on Amazon)

And any advice for cleaning up the gunk after getting the pan off?

 

[ba123]

I like using a small putty knife (flexible think one). It's the only thing that won't mess up the surfaces.

Start at one corner, wiggle, tap, wiggle tap...do all the corners you can and then start to go in more and more and eventually pry a little after you've gotten all you can.

Then, when you put it back together, get the Lubelocker gasket.

Ford AOD Transmission- LLT-FAOD

Ford AOD Transmission

www.lubelocker.com

Edit: Just looked now and that tool looks good as well, essentially the same thing but might be easier if you need to get something anyway. but $26 for that little thing, what?

Putty knife, $8:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Anvil-1-5-in-Flexible-Steel-Putty-Knife-X15F-ANV/309996600#overlay

 

[ntsqd]

I was going to suggest that Lisle tool. Used correctly it will get the pan loose w/o damaging the seal surfaces. Notice that the corners of the blade have a large radius instead of a sharp corner. That's not an accident.

Roloc gasket remover wheel for getting the rest of the RTV off. Until you've used one it's hard to believe how well they work. Like these, but NOT at that price!!! When I use one of those wheels I'm extremely careful about what the discharge direction is and that the 'rear' of the wheel is not making contact.

 

[Broncobowsher]

Watch out for the debris when cleaning. Keep it out of the transmission. Quick way to a stuck valve. Silicone is nasty, a bit of it can extrude through some holes and then plug others completely. Or wedge itself in a gap and keep things locked up.

 

[EPB72]

yep putty knife as ba123 said

Clean up carbide scraper on trans case a new razor blade edge perpendicular to case surface works as well ,, some carb cleaner and brass wire brush works.

Pan you can be a little more aggressive , if pan has the grooves on the sealing surface wire brush works,,

I’m not a fan of cleaning etc,,, But fwiw Mopar has a ATF RTV that works well and 99% of it comes off with the pan very little stays on the trans case , But I’d stick with a gasket

 

[ksagis]

I’ve generally used RTV if the sealing surfaces look janky, is that good practice with LubeLocker gaskets too?

 

[ksagis]

I’ve seen some stuff on using WD40 and Xylene to break down RTV but not sure how I feel about getting weird chemicals on case area and close to valve body. Any opinions?

 

[ba123]

I would not get wd40 anywhere near your trans.

The Lubelocker gaskets rock. Only thought is that sheet metal pan you have might not be ideal but go with the cork one and you'll be fine if you'd rather stay less expensive. Cork works on the AOD just fine. The one that comes in the Wix filter works as well but not as well as cork, imo.

You do NOT need RTV on it. You just need to retorque.

 

[ksagis]

I already have a lubelocker gasket in hand, is it the best option to go with? And install dry (no RTV) even if sealing surfaces aren’t pristine (cleaned but maybe minor nicks, etc)?

 

[ba123]

Ah, yes, best gasket ever for this sort of thing. Absolutely go with it and it is reusable. If it happens to leak, make sure you torque evenly in a cross pattern at 10 ft lbs. Evenly tighten first and then keep going through as evenly as possible until you get to 10 ft lbs.

Then re-torque a week or so later.

And sealing surfaces don't have to be pristine, just as good as you can get them. Think of it as sort of dried rtv that you're just crimping down for the seal. It's so well done, imo. And yes, install it DRY!

 

[ksagis]

yep putty knife as ba123 said

Clean up carbide scraper on trans case a new razor blade edge perpendicular to case surface works as well ,, some carb cleaner and brass wire brush works.

Pan you can be a little more aggressive , if pan has the grooves on the sealing surface wire brush works,,

I’m not a fan of cleaning etc,,, But fwiw Mopar has a ATF RTV that works well and 99% of it comes off with the pan very little stays on the trans case , But I’d stick with a gasket

Is it key to use brass since softer?

 

[ba123]

Brass wheel on a Dremel works great. Just don't go too high of speed and careful if you do that on the transmission surface. Might be ok if you mask everything off but you don't want to get anything in there. You could do some painters plastic, stuff it all in there and try to tape but might be tough. On that stamped steel pan, do whatever you want but brass is the safest. And wear eye protection if you do the dremel...those little brass things can fly at you.

 

[ksagis]

I have definately picked some brass and steel whiskers out of my skin when using dremel tools!

 

[EPB72]

I have definately picked some brass and steel whiskers out of my skin when using dremel tools!

Brass tooth brush type brush . Can use spray brake clean or use spray carb cleaner and spray a little on brush directly .. but first scrape as much as possible off trans case as I said above the carbide scrapers work great for this with little effort . If your working on stuff regularly there worth getting ,,, I’d keep rotary tools away from the trans , the pan on the bench then ok

 

[ba123]

Prob best. And prob don't need any more than a carbide scraper for the trans surface anyway.

 

[ntsqd]

The plastic wheel that I linked above works better than any brass brush that I've ever used. Easy order of magnitude better and much faster with almost no chance of being able to hurt the trans case.

For seriously dinged aluminum castings I've been known to use J-B Weld putty or Devcon Aluminum Putty to fill in the gouge(s) and then file it flat.

 

[ksagis]

Brass tooth brush type brush . Can use spray brake clean or use spray carb cleaner and spray a little on brush directly .. but first scrape as much as possible off trans case as I said above the carbide scrapers work great for this with little effort . If your working on stuff regularly there worth getting ,,, I’d keep rotary tools away from the trans , the pan on the bench then ok

I’ve never heard of carbide scrapers, is this what you mean:

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/...MI1rrWvebqlwMVGkl_AB2TswpREAQYASABEgKeqfD_BwE

 

[ba123]

I was going to suggest that Lisle tool. Used correctly it will get the pan loose w/o damaging the seal surfaces. Notice that the corners of the blade have a large radius instead of a sharp corner. That's not an accident.

Roloc gasket remover wheel for getting the rest of the RTV off. Until you've used one it's hard to believe how well they work. Like these, but NOT at that price!!! When I use one of those wheels I'm extremely careful about what the discharge direction is and that the 'rear' of the wheel is not making contact.

I missed that post and YES!!! Those are great, I have some of those too. Totally forgot about them.

I’ve never heard of carbide scrapers, is this what you mean:

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/...MI1rrWvebqlwMVGkl_AB2TswpREAQYASABEgKeqfD_BwE

Yes, those are great and don’t do damage.

 

[EPB72]

I’ve never heard of carbide scrapers, is this what you mean:

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/...MI1rrWvebqlwMVGkl_AB2TswpREAQYASABEgKeqfD_BwE

Yes .. I’ve had a set for 7-8 years mine are MAC but pretty much the same..

 

[ksagis]

Thanks for everybody’s replies, ordering tools and hoping to get to it the weekend after this weekend.