[DeTomaso] ZF problems - need advice please

[Mike Thomas]

If it was shifting fine before, it sounds more likely that the clutch is not
fully disengaging, rather than a problem in the transmission itself.

Things to check:
1. Is your clutch master reservoir full?  If not, top it off (to about
1/2-3/4" below the lip.
2. Is there any seepage of hydraulic fluid at the top or bottom of the slave
cylinder?  If at the top, make sure the fluid line and/or bleed nipple are
tight.  If at the bottom, when the car is warm, have someone get in the car
and press the clutch down and hold it.  While they are doing this, watch the
slave cylinder on the bellhousing.  If while holding the pedal down, the
slave starts to slowly collapse and the lever arm on the bell starts to come
back straight up, you are leaking fluid from the seals in the bore.  If you
find this, you'll need to pull the slave and rebuild or replace it.  If you
have a later model car with the clutch effort reduction kit, a long throw
slave is a good idea.
3. Somewhat more difficult to check: under the dash, just above the
accelerator, is the lever arm and plunger for the clutch master cylinder.
The plunger will be under a rubber bellows-style boot.  Try to crawl under
there with a flashlight and see if there is any fluid leaking down from
around the boot, or reach up in there and see if you can feel fluid.  If
damp, you need to remove and rebuild/replace your clutch master.

Check these and let us know what you find.

Good luck
Mike Thomas
Panteras Northwest
Yellow '74 L #6328



-----Original Message-----
From: detomaso-bounces at realbig.com [mailto:detomaso-bounces at realbig.com] On
Behalf Of Matt Enzed
Sent: Wednesday, July 13, 2011 11:35 AM
To: detomaso mailing list
Subject: [DeTomaso] ZF problems - need advice please


Ever since I got my Pantera, the ZF has always been problematic shifting
into reverse, especially once  it has warmed up.  Since I don't use reverse
much, I didn't get overly concerned with it, and the only thing I did for
the ZF was to change the

 gear oil once (last summer).  I used Valvoline 80W gear oil, not the
recommended RedLine product, and did not see an improvement.  If anything,
things got slightly worse.
Recently I started to have problems getting into the forward gears as well
(once the ZF is hot). 
 When the transmission is cold, there are no problems. Also, when the car is
warm, I have to turn off the motor to get it into reverse without grinding
the gears.  Do you guys have any advice, short of pulling the ZF and sending
it off for a complete rebuild, which I understand is very  expensive? Should
I change the fluid again, and use redline this time?

 		 	   		  
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