Converting Allison 754 from 2nd gear start to 1rst gear start

[RickB]

Good Morning fellow busfreaks,

Anybody know what this conversion entails? and how much it may cost to accomplish?
I can manually start in 1rst but I would like it to start in first gear full time.

Any thoughts?

Thanks, Rick

[JackConrad]

Based on my very limited automotive automatic transmission repairs made will working on Chrysler products many years ago, I would think this would involve a few modifications in the valve body of the transmission.  Is your 754 a CR (close ratio) or DR (deep ratio)?  Jack

[TomC]

If it is a mechanical HT754CR, you'll have to change the valve body ($$).  If it is a ATEC (electronic) transmission, a simple reprogramming can be done.  They do 2nd gear start for smoothness for the passengers.  Good Luck, TomC

[makemineatwostroke]

Rick; 1st gear is a manually controlled gear and is not on the hydraulic system control of the transmission    have a great day

[RickB]

Make mine a two stroke I was hoping you would chime in here, thanks for the input, you and many others were very helpful with the guy with the massive transmission leak last week. Well it's a HT 754 CRD.
Make mine a two stroke do you mean by saying that first gear is not hydraulic that it can't be made into a first gear start?

If it can be done, does anybody have a ballpark figure of how much it would cost?

[TomC]

As stated before, you'll have to change the valve body.  Most HT754CR's were 1st gear start.  First and second gear on the HT754CR is the same as the HT740.  The difference is the HT754CR has two gears in between 2nd and 5th compared to one gear between 2nd and 4th on the HT740.  Both have the same top gear. Good Luck, TomC

[makemineatwostroke]

Tom; not all 754 can be changed if he has to shift his out of 1st with the lever before it will start the shift pattern it is best if he leaves it alone.A serial number will help and I can check the Allison site for him.FWIW there were 8 different models of the 754 made over the years     have a great day   

[luvrbus]

MY 754CR's in the Terex off road trucks would only shift to 4th and 5th gears automatically the rest had to be done manually       good luck