I just won't be satisfied until I figure this one out and understand it. Based on the information supplied in my factory Buick manual, I've been doing some reasearch, and I have come to a conclusion. In the schematic below, I think I have found the exact location of this 6th checkball. I was reading in the theory of operation section, and it says that when the direct clutch is applied to engage 3rd gear, the oil pressure that feeds this clutch comes from the 2-3 shift valve and FLOWS PAST this ball......in other words, it is NOT seated as the clutch is applying and the oil flows around it in order to get to the clutch. That would explain why it is considered to be "non-functional". The only reason I can see for leaving it out would be to result in less restriction from it just being there in the passageway, because the oil just flows around it anyway. This would explain why I could never feel a difference whether that thing was in there or not. :idea2: The only conclusion I can draw as to why it's in there in the first place may be to slow down the release of this clutch so that it doesn't happen too quickly? Maybe I'm way off base here.......any comments from the experts? o No:
TTT Geeze......I thought this thread would spark some discussion. o No: I also learned from reading that there is actually 3 checkballs that slow down the release of the direct clutch, this ball must be one of them.
