Page 403 of 625

7C. 421973 OPEL SERVICE MANUALPLANETARY CARRIER7c.toFigure
712-10 First Gear
Figure
7C-7 Planetary Gears
LONG PINION
HORT PINION
PLANETARY CARRIER7C8Figure
7C-8 Ravigneaux Planetary Gearscariier assembly and output shaft in a clockwise di-
rection. See Figure
7C-11.In the third gear, the ring gear is driven in a clock-
wise direction and the input (front) sun gear is also
driven in the same direction. The long and short
planetary pinions cannot rotate on their shafts in this
situation, thus causing the planetary carrier, output
shaft and gears to rotate clockwise as a solid unit to
provide direct
drive See Figure 76x12,LONG PINIONPLANiTARY CARRIER
X.11Figure
7C-1 1 Second GearIn reverse, the ring gear is held and the input (front)
sun gear is driven in a clockwise direction. This
causes the short planet pinions to turn counterclock-
wise, turning the long planetary pinions clockwise.
The pinions then walk around the inside of the sta-
tionary ring gear, driving the planet carrier assembly
and output shaft in a counterclockwise direction. See
Figure
7C-13.In order to provide the necessary input and reaction
fuhftions to produce the i&iiOus iarlgesg the @al
Page 409 of 625

7C- 481973 OPEL SERVICE MANUAL
INPUT SUNRING
GEAR ASSY.GEARPLANETARY
CARRIERASSY.REACTION SUNtow
GEAR 8 DRUMBAND
Figure 7C-25Planetary Gears
The planetary pinion shafts which support the plane-
tary pinions are secured to the planetary carrier by
means of a lock plate at the rear of the planetary
carrier preventing the pinion shafts from rotating or
working loose. The lock plate is secured to the car-
rier by screws.
The planetary carrier is welded to the output shaft,
therefore, the directional movement of the carrier
delivers the transmission’s torque to the output shaft.
The governor hub is splined to, and driven by, the
output shaft. See Figure 7C-26. A governor body is
bolted to the governor hub. The speedometer drive
gear is also driven by the output shaft, and is secured
to the shaft by a retaining clip.
MECHANICAL OPERATIONThe following information describes how engine
torque is transmitted through the Opel Three Speed
automatic transmission for each selected position on
the quadrant. In every case, with the engine running,
torque is transmitted via the flex plate and converter7G25
cover to
tht? pump member of the converter. The
converter is always tilled with oil from the transmis-
sion’s oil pump, and the converter pump member
transmits the torque through oil to the driven mem-
ber of the converter. Power to the transmission is
then transmitted via the input shaft and third clutch
drum. See Figures
7C-48 through 7C-52.
HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNITS AND VALVESPreviously, the mechanical aspects of the transmis-
sion operation have been described, including refer-
ence to various clutches and the low band being
applied. The following describes, in detail, the hy-
draulic system that applies the clutches and band,
and which controls the manually selected and auto-
matic shifts.
A hydraulic pressure system requires a source of
clean hydraulic fluid and a pump to pressurize the
fluid. Opel Three Speed Automatic transmission uses
a gear type pump which draws oil through a screen
located in the sump. See Figure
7C-29. Since the
pump drive gear is keyed to the converter pump hub,
it turns whenever the engine is operating and turns
the driven gear, which causes the oil to be lifted from
Page 414 of 625

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONlC- 53
Manual ValveThe manual valve is mechanically connected to the
shift lever. Its function is to direct hydraulic pressure
to the various circuits to establish the base hydraulic
range of the transmission.
Line pressure is fed to the manual valve. See Figure
7C-35. In “Park” and “Neutral”, the valve seals line
pressure from entering any of the circuits. At the
same time all circuits are open to exhaust so that the
transmission remains in a neutral condition.
In “Reverse”, line pressure is directed to the reverse
clutch piston, boost control valve and the reverse and
manual control valve. All other manual control cir-
cuits are open to exhaust.
MANUAL VALVE
;i
\2
P RNDILII7D35
Figure
7C-35 Manual Valve
In “Drive” the manual valve directs oil to the gover-
nor, I
- 2 shift valve, 1 2 accumulator valve, and to
the apply side of the low servo piston by way of the
high speed downshift timing valve. The “Reverse”,
“Second”, and “Low” ports are exhausted.
In “Second” the “Drive” circuits remain pressu-
rized. In addition, pressure is supplied to the boost
control valve and to the 2
- 3 shift valve. The “Rever-
se” and “Low” ports are exhausted.
In “Low”, pressure is supplied to the
1 - 2 shift valve
and to the reverse and manual control valve in addi-
tion to the circuits already pressurized in “Drive”
and “Second”. The “Reverse” port is exhausted.
Detent ValveThe function of the detent valve is to cause the trans-mission to shift to a lower gear for additional per-
formance when the accelerator is depressed all the
way.The detent valve is mechanically connected to the
throttle linkage. A spring holds the detent valve in a
retracted position. See Figure
7C-37. Two pressures,
“detent regulator” and “modulator”, are supplied to
the detent valve.
iiiDETENTE2
MODULATORFigure
7C-37 Detent Valve
In the retracted or “part throttle” position, the de-
tent valve directs modulator pressure to the 1 2 and
2 3 shift control valves and to the 3 2 control valve.
In the “through detent” or full throttle position,
modulator pressure is blocked and the passages
previously receiving modulator pressure now receive
detent regulator pressure. In this position, detent
regulator pressure is also supplied to additional ports
of the 1
- 2 and 2 3 shift control valves and the 3
2 control valve.
1 2 Shift Valve
The 1
- 2 Shift and Shift Control Valves determine
whether the transmission is in first or second gear.
See Figure
7C-38. With the shift valve bottomed in
its bore, the valve blocks “Drive” or line pressure
and the second clutch is open to exhaust. The valve
is held in this position by a spring and any modulator
pressure that may be acting against the two end
spools of the 1
- 2 shift control valve.
As the car speed and governor pressure increase, a
force is developed on the end of the shift valve. When
this force is great enough to overcome the spring and
the force of the 1 2 shift control valve, the shift
valve moves, closing the exhaust and opening the line
pressure port to the second clutch port.
Page 419 of 625
7c. 581973 OPEL SERVICE MANUAL
a. NEUTRAL & PARK
- ENGINE RUNNING
Neutral
- Engine Running
Reverse Clutch. Released
Second Clutch. Released
Sprag
- LockedThird Clutch
- Released
Low Band .
.ReleasedIn neutral, the low band and all clutches are released. With this condition, no member of the planetary gear set is
held and there is no reaction member. All gears are free to rotate around their own axis and no torque is trans-
mitted to the planet carrier assembly and output shaft.
Park
- Engine Running
The same power flow conditions in the neutral position are in effect in the park position. Additionally, mechan-
ical linkage actuates a parking pawl which engages with the
splines in the periphery of the governor assembly.
Since the governor assembly is splinad to the output shaft, the parking pawl holds the output shaft locked to the
extension, preventing the vehicle from rolling.7ci48
Figure 7C-48 Neutral and Park Engine Running
Page 420 of 625

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION7c- 59
b. DRIVE RANGE . FIRST GEAROrive Range . First Gear
Reverse Clutch Released
Second Clutch. Released
Sprag Locked
In Drive Range. First Gear, the low band is applied and all clutches are released.
Figure 7C-49 Drive Range First GearThird Clutch. Released
Low Band. Applied
The low band holds the reaction sun gear and drum stationary, which serves as the reaction member of the planet-
ary gear set in first gear. The input shaft drives the third clutch drum in a clockwise direction, which turns the
sprag race and retainer assembly clockwise. The sprags wedge and drive the input
sun gear.
The power is then transmitted through the gear set to the output shaft as outlined in “Principles of Operation”.
The ratio in first gear is 2.4O:l.
Low RangeIn Low Range, the third clutch is applied together with the low band. The input power flow is exactly the
Same as
drive range first gear except that the third clutch is engaged and prevents the sprag from overrunning, thus pro-
viding engine braking when coasting in Low Range.
7c49
Page 421 of 625
7C- 601973 OPEL SERVICE MANUAL
c. DRIVE RANGE. SECONO GEAROrive Range . Second Gear
Reverse Clutch - Released
Second Clutch -Applied
Sprag
- Overrunning
In Drive Range. Second Gear, the low band and second clutch are applied.Third Clutch
- Released
Low Band -Applied
The input shaft drives the third clutch drum and the second clutch composition plates. When the second clutch
piston is applied, the rotating second clutch composition plates are locked
w the second clutch steel plates. Since
the second clutch drum is now rotating in a clockwise direction, the ring gear is driven clockwise. As described in
“Principles of Operation”, the carrier is driven in a clockwise direction. The long planet pinions also drive the
short planet pinions, which drive the input sun gear clockwise, causing the sprag assembly to overrun. The ratio
is 1.48:1.
second Range
In Second Range, the Power flow is exactly the seme as drive range - second gear.7c50
Figure
7C-50 Drive Range - Second Gear
Page 422 of 625
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION 7C- 61
d. DRIVE RANGE - THIRD GEAR
Drive Range
- Third Gear
Reverse Clutch
- Released
Second Clutch. Applied
Sprag . LockedThird Clutch -Applied
Low Band
- Released
In Drive Range
- Third Gear, the low band is released and both the second and third clutches are applied.
In this condition, the ring gear is locked o the input sun gear. With two planetary members connected
inthismanner, the entire planetary system will rotate as a solid unit and provide a direct drive with a ratio of 1 to 1. The
input is split between the ring gear end input sun, and the rarrier is the output member.
Figure 7C-5 1 Drive Range Third Gear
Page 426 of 625

a.Operation of Controls in Neutral Engine Running
Reverse Clutch ReleasedThird Clutch Released
Second Clutch ReleasedSprag LockedLow Band Released
Whenever the engine is running with the selector lever in Neutral, oil is pulled from the sump into the oil pump and is dispensed from the pump under preure.
The pressurized line oil if directed
to the priming valve which bleeds off the air. Line oil is directed to the vacuum modulator YBIYB, to the prexwre regulator valveand
to the manual veIve. The converter is fed through the pressure regulator MIYB. the return oil from the converter being directed through the coalerand back
into the transmisGon’s lubricating system.
Line oil directed
to the vacuum modulator valve becomes regulated to modulator oiland acts on the pressure regulator boosI YBCB. the IDW speed downshift timing
valve. the 1 2 accumulator MIYB. and the detent valve. The modulator oil passes through the detent valve to act 00 the I 2 shift control give. the 3 2 control
valve and the 2 3 shift control valve. Line oil pasres through the manual v&e. and is regulated et the detent preaure regulator valve before being directed to the
Reverseand Low control delve.Summary
The converter is filled. the clutches and
IDW band are released.The transmission is in Neutral.