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Old 03-15-2011, 11:39 AM
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wrogers55 wrogers55 is offline
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Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Hideaway, Texas, TX
Cobra Make, Engine: Backdraft #318, 418 CI, 532 RWHP, Mass Flow Injected, TKO600-Road Race, BMW M3 Suspension, Race Springs (Wouldn't do it again, rough on the street).
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You're not going to like this reply.

I had the same 4th gear vibration with my TKO600. Only 4th. I started with all the suggestions you have seen here, making sure no contact with the hole in the body, bell housing and all internals dialed in (what a pain), new TO bearing, new pilot bearing.....absolutely no change, exactly same level of vibration.

Took it all back down and really inspected everything. Found that the nose of the input shaft on the TKO was just a bit to long for my installation. It was pressing up against the crankshaft when it was all tightened up. The crank showed the witness marks and the nose of the input shaft on the transmission is actually pretty soft metal all considering and it showed the same evidence of rubbing, hitting, spinning up against the crank. The marks on the crank, inside the pilot bearing hole were actually larger than the input shaft diameter, meaning it was moving around and not spinning on its center all the time.

I didn't have the slight grinding going into reverse that is a symptom of this condition, but it was there all the same.

THIS IS NOT RECOMMENDED FOR THE LESS EXPERIENCED, SO PROCEED WITH CAUTION!!! After talking with Mike Forte and some nice guy from Australia who had the same problem, I took a 3" zip wheel on a small grinder and cut about a 1/16" off the nose of the input shaft. Taped it all up to protect everything, except the part I was cutting off. Takes a steady hand and some patience....and about 5 minutes. Dressed the cut off end up a bit with a fine file and emery paper and put the thing back together.

4th gear vibration completely gone, I mean completely. I mounted a Steeda Tri-Ax shifter I got from Brent and B2 Motorsports and the thing has been an absolute pleasure since.

I'm not saying this is your problem and it's a huge issue to pull all that stuff out and put it back in. But, that WAS my problem and had to be what was causing the vibration in the direct 1 to 1 gear. I changed nothing else, at least not intentionally.

Really, I hope it's not the cause of your issue and you find something simple. But the TKO600 can run as smooth as any trans in 4th, mine does now and I don't think it's a design flaw that is causing your vibration. Good luck in tracking it down and I would try all the simple stuff suggested first.....and hope...and pray.
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Wayne Rogers in Hideaway, Texas
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