TCI vs Hughes

[ChrisCairns]

I bought a used 400 with a brake as a spare and decided to put it in right now and keep my old one as the spare. The used one came with a Hughes solenoid for the brake and my old one has a TCI solenoid.

When I took out the plug in order to bolt on the Hughes solenoid there wasn't a valve thingy behind the plug. I took the old valve thingy out of my original tranny and it appears to work....fits in and slides nicely....and the Hughes 'noid bolts up nicely.

Does anyone know if the valve thingy I switched from one tranny to the other will still work properly with another brand of solenoid or doesn't it matter?

Thanks.

 

[chris718]

some external brake valves dont travel as far as others so try it out and if the brake dont work ,you know what it is .as for solenoids you can flip em over and measure the stroke from one to the other to verify travel.also some use a spool valve and no spring so be careful,or contact the manufacturer .

 

[ChrisCairns]

Thanks.

It appears as if the Hughes 'noid needs a spring as there isn't anything except the spring on the valve to force the plunger back once the power is cut upon brake release.

I'll try it like you suggest...thanks again.

 

[MeanBuicks]

Chris, I don't know about the Hughes but I can fill you in on the TCI Trans-Brake. The TCI TH-400 solenoids are set for a 0.200" stroke. The TCI brake valve utilizes a spring to push the solenoid plunger back when the button is released.

 

[ChrisCairns]

>Chris, I don't know about the Hughes but I can fill you in on the >TCI Trans-Brake. The TCI TH-400 solenoids are set for a 0.200" >stroke. The TCI brake valve utilizes a spring to push the >solenoid plunger back when the button is released.

Ahh, good information Greg.

I went out and checked the stroke on the Hughes. It has a large plate on the outside that is on the end of the shaft so I was able to get some feelers between the round plate thingy and the body.

It came out to exactly 0.180".

I'll just have to try it.

And what a time I had putting this damn new used tranny in...lol.
I put the tranny in last night....it wouldn't seat against the block and I saw that I had welded too close to where the bellhousing mates to the block when I changed the midplate for my new header clearance. I took it out and ground down the weld. Put it back in last night at 10 PM and went to bed.

This morning I attacked it again. Noticed the other side of the mid plate also interferred....lol. I missed that last night in my tired state. So out it comes again...grind away the weld and put it back in. Looks good now.

We'll see when I get to the track.

Thanks for your help.