VS2 Shifter solenoid wiring

Sipapu · September 28, 2013, 04:58:11 PM

Hi all! It's been a while since I've been on. I completed my trip from Oregon to Florida in record time of 3.5 months. I think I'm lucky to have made it at all - several things gave up when I finally got here. Bad weather has prevented me from getting to work on her until now (GM T8H-5305a).

The photos attached are of the solenoid that makes the shifter arm on the transmission go into forward or reverse. These are new solenoids from Luke. One mounts on each side of the shifter arm. The ones I replaced were severely corroded and wired together somehow that just doesn't make sense - I don't know how they worked at all.

Common sense tells me that each solenoid should have a power side (from the driver's toggle switch) and a ground, but that is not how it was wired and my attempt at wiring this way caused the wiring to overheat - all the way to the ignition switch! I have 2 wires coming from the engine compartment electrical box - one from a relay marked 'Transmission Relay' - (I think, but there are only 2 relays on the back wall of the electrical diagram and 3 in the actual box); the other wire comes from a newer, clear plastic relay or switch and is just marked 'receptacle' on the diagram (or not marked at all). I am assuming these two wires are the power side?

Finally, my question: How is this wired? It did have one of the wires from the engine compartment going to one solenoid and the other to the second solenoid. If this is correct - should I then find a ground for the other side of each?

I hope this makes sense to someone - and thanks in advance. I can't find any wiring diagram for this in any of my books.

Rick

tekebird · September 28, 2013, 05:16:33 PM

VS service manual?

luvrbus · September 28, 2013, 06:05:13 PM

It is fairly easy #22 breaker has a wht/blk wire going to the shift lever switch,then a dark grn #18 goes to the transmission relay (soleniod) then a brn/wht to a plug from there a black wire to the neutral solenoid

There is a blk/wht that goes from transmission relay to to a breaker for the rear start be sure it is wired correctly for safety reasons if the rear start is wired wrong or in the start postion they will not engage in forward or reverse

good luck

Sipapu · September 28, 2013, 06:41:48 PM

Quote from: tekebird on September 28, 2013, 05:16:33 PM
VS service manual?

I have the GM Coach Maintenance Manual - is that the same?

Sipapu · September 28, 2013, 06:54:31 PM

Quote from: luvrbus on September 28, 2013, 06:05:13 PM
It is fairly easy #22 breaker has a wht/blk wire going to the shift lever switch,then a dark grn #18 goes to the transmission relay (soleniod) then a brn/wht to a plug from there a black wire to the neutral solenoid

There is a blk/wht that goes from transmission relay to to a breaker for the rear start be sure it is wired correctly for safety reasons if the rear start is wired wrong or in the start postion they will not engage in forward or reverse

good luck

I have my book open and trying to follow you - but I'm having trouble...

#22 breaker has a wht/blk wire going to the shift lever switch - #22 junction or breaker? In the engine compartment, I only have 8 breakers
In my photos - is that called a shift lever switch? There are 2 of them - sorry, maybe I'd better read this tomorrow when I can look again. I'm dumber'n I look.

luvrbus · September 28, 2013, 07:18:42 PM

The VS2 manual won't do you much good for the wiring that is is a OEM responsibility I'll dig my Gm manual out Sunday and try to help you out.

If it starts from the front and won't engage take a close look at the rear start it is a simple circuit if it has the original wiring

Sipapu · September 28, 2013, 08:18:13 PM

Quote from: luvrbus on September 28, 2013, 07:18:42 PM
The Vh2 manual won't do you much good for the wiring that is is a OEM responsibility I'll dig my Gm manual out Sunday and try to help you out.

If it starts from the front and won't engage take a close look at the rear start it is a simple circuit if it has the original wiring

Thank you! Much.

treeplanter · September 28, 2013, 08:26:26 PM

Did you try reversing the solenoids, had a similar problem on my 5305A.

John316 · September 28, 2013, 08:49:40 PM

Rick,

Glad to hear you are back. Would you do us a favor, and type up a quick trip report? I am curious as to your final total for what you have spent on your bus, how long things took you, where you were broke down, who were the major players in getting you going. Were you happy with your purchase, or do you regret it?

That kind of thing. I would read it for sure!

Thanks,

John

Sipapu · September 29, 2013, 06:39:30 AM

Quote from: treeplanter on September 28, 2013, 08:26:26 PM
Did you try reversing the solenoids, had a similar problem on my 5305A.

I haven't re-wired enough yet to reverse it. I tried to duplicate the original wiring with a photo I took (I'll post below), but it was badly mangled and just couldn't make sense of it. These are new ones from Luke, but who knows - I may have fried them. I tried putting 12v and a ground directly from a battery to see if I could get a 'click' or anything, but they also have an air component that is required (when installed).

Sipapu · September 29, 2013, 06:43:44 AM

Quote from: John316 on September 28, 2013, 08:49:40 PM
Rick,

Glad to hear you are back. Would you do us a favor, and type up a quick trip report? I am curious as to your final total for what you have spent on your bus, how long things took you, where you were broke down, who were the major players in getting you going. Were you happy with your purchase, or do you regret it?

That kind of thing. I would read it for sure!

Thanks,

John

Yes, I will. I am still happy to own the bus. When running, it is a joy to go down the road. The mistakes were (mostly) mine. I think you could take Technomadia's methods as a how-to, and mine as a how-not-to. Both in the purchase and rebuild. I will start a new thread on this later today.

Sipapu · October 05, 2013, 05:43:25 AM

Quote from: luvrbus on September 28, 2013, 07:18:42 PM
The VS2 manual won't do you much good for the wiring that is is a OEM responsibility I'll dig my Gm manual out Sunday and try to help you out.

If it starts from the front and won't engage take a close look at the rear start it is a simple circuit if it has the original wiring

Luvrbus, where you able to find anything for me? I am at a loss trying to wire this thing. Any help would sure be appreciated.

luvrbus · October 05, 2013, 05:54:00 AM

Only thing I can find is for the T6H -5310A -5309A I don't know if it is same maybe one of the GM guys can tell us if it works I can mail the schematics to you

Sipapu · October 05, 2013, 08:39:01 AM

Quote from: luvrbus on October 05, 2013, 05:54:00 AM
Only thing I can find is for the T6H -5310A -5309A I don't know if it is same maybe one of the GM guys can tell us if it works I can mail the schematics to you

Yes, please - rick@abstractusa.com . If I could see any wiring diagram for the shifter ram on any model, I think I could figure it out. Thank you!

Sipapu · October 08, 2013, 05:55:19 PM

In re-reading this, I wasn't too clear. I have the two original wires coming from the rear electrical compartment. I'm reasonably sure that one each goes to one side of each solenoid (skinner valve?), and these are connected to the 3 position toggle switch in drivers area (f n r). But where does the other side of each solenoid connect? I tried to ground this side, but almost burnt up the wiring. I am at a complete loss. If anyone knows the correct names for the air shifter? And two solenoids?, I can narrow my search a little.

Thanks!

Rick