I'm having a 'sometime' problem with my subject stock F-250 - hoping
someone may have some ideas about a fix.

in March 2004, the problem occured the first time at 80,500 miles on
the vehicle - and I'm the original owner, so know the entire history.
I was making a right turn from a full stop - right rear wheel spun
just a bit (may have been a small patch of ice under the wheel) -
noticed the OD Off light flashing, and shifts - both up and down were
'harsh' - that is 'jerky'.  Took it to Ford garage, they said had set
some kind of fault - I didn't find out the number - but they reset it,
and said checked out OK.  I asked what might cause the problem, they
hemmed/hawed - thought could be lots of things, but didn't really know
- suggested flush transmission/torque converter - which they did -
total $216 P/L.

In May 2004 - same problem again at 82,250 miles.  This time, problem
started when I made a left turn from a full stop going up a slight
grade - seemed to kind of 'hang on' in gear before shifting at about
40 mph after about a quarter mile - then the light began flashing, and
the jerky shifts again.  Again to Ford garage - found EEC test code
1728 - Slip Fault.  Cleared the code, road tested - checked OK.  Best
suggestion this time was could be some sort of a seal problem in the
torque converter - but best to just drive, ans see if I could make the
problem recur.  Cost $155 - all labor/tax - no parts.

Just today 27 Mar 2005 at 89,508 miles, same problem again - was
making a left turn into my development from full stop, and light
started flashing - shifts jerky/harsh again.  I'll call Ford again
tomorrow for an appointment - they've said won't hurt to drive until I
can get it in for repair - but it's really harsh on the shift..  The
Ford X-mission/drive-train guy sounds like he's competent enough, and
doesn't want to just start replacing parts which may not be the
problem, but it's small town, so really hard to know.  

As for me, I'm mid-late sixties, retired, and kind of a ho-dad driver
- you can tell the vehicle is low mileage, and I'm really easy on it -
no jack-rabbit starts, etc.  Only towing is a 22' boat for short
(20-25 miles) 2 or 3 times a year.  Maintenence kept up well - for
instance - damnable Cam Position Sensor just replaced at 88,500 miles.

Any ideas anyone??  Will appreciate any thoughts as to what might be
the cause.  Frankly, only pattern I see is seems to happen just after
starting from a stop, maybe something to do with a turn, or maybe
something to do with relatively low speed shifting.  I'll update this
with the code they find when I have it.

Thanks

Cap'n C