terry march
Member
Can anyone explain to me whats the purpose of these parts and how they work and do they have anything to do with idle?:coo:
Idle stator and stator detent switch
- Thread starter terry march
- Start date
On switch pitch equipped cars, those parts control stall speed. The torque converter is in high stall at idle, low stall off idle, and back to high stall at throttle openings above 60%. The stator detent switch also downshifts the transmission at full throttle (passing gear). The higher stall at idle makes for a smoother idle, and higher torque multiplication at larger throttle openings.
firstofeight
Experienced Member
What
deleted. sorry
deleted. sorry
On switch pitch equipped cars, those parts control stall speed. The torque converter is in high stall at idle, low stall off idle, and back to high stall at throttle openings above 60%. The stator detent switch also downshifts the transmission at full throttle (passing gear). The higher stall at idle makes for a smoother idle, and higher torque multiplication at larger throttle openings.
What if they are deleted? I know this post is old but maybe someone can give me an answer. I bought a car and have the connector that from transmission to carb but all carb components are aftermarket and no connection on new carb. So do i need to find a way to connect it in order to have passing gear? Any help would be appreciated.
Bruce Roe makes an electronic control box for the switch pitch. You can contact him at bcroe@juno.com The switch pitch function is very simple. There are two flat connectors on the left side of the transmission. One is horizontal, the other vertical. The horizontal one is the switch pitch (stator) control. Apply 12 volts, you get high stall, take it away, you get low stall, so disconnected, you are stuck in low stall. The vertical connector is the kick down. Apply 12 volts, the transmission down shifts, take it away, it up shifts. You can hook up a simple momentary or toggle switch to conduct 12 volts to either connector. Make sure you still have the switch pitch transmission. If you are not the original owner of the car, you can't be sure what was replaced or converted. I have included some pictures of Bruce's electronic control box.
Here is another option for the kick down activation,
https://www.amazon.com/20297-Kickdown-Switch-Kit/dp/B000CIGDGU
Here is another option for the kick down activation,
https://www.amazon.com/20297-Kickdown-Switch-Kit/dp/B000CIGDGU
Attachments
If you switch is there, follow the "How to wire the Switch Pitch on a Buick Transmission" link at the top of this page.
Here's some on Ebay:
Buick kickdown switch
Here's some on Ebay:
Buick kickdown switch
Okay I was unable to upload any pictures because I'm not too familiar with this site but I do have a th400 transmission I do have the connection but there's nothing to connect it to so my question is do I try to buy one from eBay or do I try to get the one that has been built by Bruce Roe? Would like your opinions on both options
Last edited:
How many spades are on the plug coming out of the transmission? You do not have a switch pitch if there is only one. In that case, there is only the detent for downshifting. It needs a power switch that is activated by 3/4 throttle. There are any number of switches for this. Your best bet would be to adapt one from a similar car found in a junk yard.
2 spades at transmission and wire goes to the carb area but not connected to anything. It is an aftermarket eddlebrock carb and my guess is that when they converted it they didn't know or try to reconnect it. They also have an electric choke on the carb that they didn't bother to connect. Just kinda thrown together.
Two spades = switch pitch. So, you will need the detent that shifts the gear down and switches to high stall under heavy acceleration. There should also be a switch on the back of the accelerator rod by the firewall. This switches the converter to high stall at idle so it does not creep in gear. The wiring was different year to year meaning you will have to adapt the wiring from another year or find the switch and wiring from your year. Maybe try Ebay or put an add in the classifieds here?
Idle Stator Switch and Converter Detent/Passing Gear Switch:
