727 Shifting question...

[haueter66]

My 727 seems to shift ok if I shift directly to drive.  If I place it in first and shift using the slap stick it does not shift, it just stays in first.  If I bump all the way to neutral and then back into drive it goes to drive and seems ok.

Any thoughts?  I am thinking maybe an external adjustment on the linkage?  Im up for any suggestions.

[Ghoste]

Could be any number of things from low fluid level to sticking governor weights or low line pressure or a linkage adjustment.
Is the fluid level okay?  Is the kickdown set correctly?  How many miles are on the trans?  Is your filter old?  How is the line pressure?  Check the easy stuff first, all the adjustments and so forth.

[haueter66]

it is a fairly new rebuild with basically no miles.  Fluid level is ok.  I have the lokar cable for line pressure control... it seems to be adjusted properly. 

What I was thinking is, this is not the original tranny... is it possible that the shift lever on the tranny is wrong?  Lke if its not the right length maybe when I shift to a certain gear its not lined up on the tranny?

[John_Kunkel]

When it won't upshift from 1-2 try lifting the throttle slightly, if it will then shift you probably just need to adjust the Lokar cable.
Adjust the cable so that the transmission lever isn't as far back at WOT.

[haueter66]

Ok.  I will try that!  I am also going to put a return spring on the cable down at the tranny.  It seems that the pressure lever is not returning all the way at no throttle. 

Can I eliminate the shift lever as a possible problem?

Also, do you prefer adjusting the shifter in neutral or park?

Thanks

Mark

[Ghoste]

I prefer adjusting it in neutral and then checking all the others.  It's a PITA but I feel better knowing.

[haueter66]

another thought about the pressure cable... since it is not returning all the way to start at no throttle, I would say its resting at maybe 1/4 to 1/2 way open, then the too much pressure theory is a good possibility right?

[Ghoste]

It should be adjusted with it closed but I don't think it's necessarily all that uncommon for it to not close all the way at rest afterwards.  1/2 way may be too much though.  When it does shift, does it seem harsh?

[John_Kunkel]

The cable setup definitely needs a return spring.

Once the motor is running and the transmission is in gear the internal pressure will push the lever forward but the adjustments are usually made with the motor off.

[haueter66]

Well, I might have found the problem... or at least part of it.  With the lokar setup, there is a "ball" that mounts with a stud on the pressure lever at the transmission.  This is not too far above the shift lever as Im sure you all know.  Well, I just happened to do some fiddling today and guess what?  The stud sticks too far down and hits the shift lever.  So basically if its in drive I only get to half pressure and it hits... worse when I put it in first it only gets maybe 1/4 pressure and hangs up.

I bet that will help explain part of my problem!!   Ill let you know when I get a chance to re-engineer it somehow.

[Ghoste]

Washers on the top of the lever to act as spacers.

[haueter66]

good idea.  im gonna try to mess with it today

[Ghoste]

I had forgotten about that but I had the same problem.  I had a hell of a time getting the washers to stay lined up and then get the pivot through.  Seems to me, I ended up coating the washers ( I used two small ones) with a little grease to hold them still.  Good luck.

[haueter66]

got it fixed, I just removed the stud and cut about 1/4" off

I didn't really get to test the shifting because the car isnt street legal and what not...

[Ghoste]

That'll work too.