Body of Evidence
- Subject: Removing B1-accumulator retainer
- Units: A750E/F, A760E/F/H, A761E
- Vehicle Application: Toyota
- Essential Reading: Rebuilder, Diagnostician
- Author: Jeff Parlee
Tool simplifies removal of B1-accumulator retainer
Many times you can make a difficult task much easier by using the correct tool. Removing the B1-accumulator retainer on the A750E/F, A760E/F/H and A761E valve bodies can be very tough.
The retainer holds a spring-loaded cup-style plate that has little clearance within the bore (figures 1 and 2). The plate must be compressed into the bore about 3/16 inch without cocking to remove the retainer. If the retainer plate is not pushed in squarely, it will jam in the bore. The retainer is about 3/8 inch wide and goes across the middle of the bore, making it impossible to push on the middle of the retainer plate.
The solution is a tool that you can make quickly and easily in the shop. All that you need is an accumulator piston from the valve body of one of these transmissions: A750E/F, A760E/F/H, A761E, U140E/F, U151E/F, U240E, U241E or U250E. All these accumulator pistons are the same (Figure 3). It is not unusual for the accumulator piston and bore to become scored and need to be replaced with an aftermarket piston. The damaged piston can be used as a tool and works just as well as a good one.
Start by grinding the outside diameter at the open end of the piston down to about 0.900 inch. Next, make two parallel cuts, with a hacksaw, at the open end of the piston, each 1/4 inch from the center of the piston. The cuts should be about 3/8 inch deep. With the hack saw, connect the bottom of the two cuts and cut about one-third into the outside diameter. Next, grab the tab between the cuts with pliers and break off the tab on each side. File or grind off any sharp edges (Figure 4).
Using the modified accumulator piston to push against the retainer plate will push the plate in squarely, and you can do it with one hand (Figure 5).
Jeff Parlee is director of product support at ValveBody Xpress.