727always in 3rd

[terrible one]

I'm having a problem with my 727. It's a new rebuild but sat around for a bit over a year before I put it in the car and put it to use.

As far as I can tell, the damn thing is taking off in 3rd gear and won't downshift. If I put it in D and take off it is immediately in 3rd . . . if I take off, get it up to around 4000 RPM, and let off the throttle, it absolutely will not downshift. So basically when in D, 3rd is my only gear, from WOT to idle.

But, if I manually shift the car, say start at 1 and shift to 2 and then D, it works fine. So, manually shifting, I've got all of the gears . . . 1 is 1, 2 is 2, and D is 3. But aside from that it only wants to be in 3rd gear.

I've played with the kickdown a bajillion times and I'm pretty sure that's got nothing to do with it. All said and done I left it adjusted what I think is correctly . . . the lever is all the way closed at idle and as soon as the throttle opens the lever at the trans starts to move and at WOT it is almost as far back as it can go, no slack.

Does anyone have any ideas? Oh, and is it okay to drive just manually shifting it for now?

[lisiecki1]

does it have a manual valve body? it sounds like it


is your kick down hooked up?

[terrible one]

As stated, the kickdown/ throttle pressure cable is hooked up and adjusted and should be working properly. The trans doesn't have a manual VB as far as I know . . . it wasn't sold to me as such at least. Bought it from member RD here

[lisiecki1]

how firm does it shift when you manually shift it?

if it doesn't have a manual valve body then something is probably stuck in the valve body....maybe john kunkle will come in here and help you out, my 727 book is at the house so I can't trace the shift circuits right now

[John_Kunkel]

Sounds like a governor problem, hook a test gauge to the governor test port on the tailhousing and check the pressure at a standstill in Drive...anything over 2 psi is a problem.

A VB problem is a remote possibility, both shift valves would have to be stuck to make it take off in 3rd. (or loose VB bolts)

[terrible one]

Thanks guys. So I guess the "governor test port" is a good place to start. Now I just need to find out what that is, where it is, and how to check the pressure. 

[ACUDANUT]

 Did you ask RD about it ??

[terrible one]

Did you ask RD about it ??

Yeah, sent him a PM. 

[John_Kunkel]

The hex pipe plug next to the speedo adapter in the pic below is the governor pressure test port, it's 1/8" NPT so just screw in a fitting to adapt your gauge to it.

[terrible one]

Thank you John I will test it ASAP (undoubtedly after Christmas though) and get back with the results. What if it is over 2psi? Will I have to pull it (groan) to mess with the governor if need be?

[ACUDANUT]

Let us know what RD says.