yeah i've always ran the trans at full pressure no linkage attached.
and always had the 2-3 shift softness, i learned to let off and let it engage.
or if i was putting around town id leave it in D and let it do its thing.
i did notice i down shift to first a lot now then before.
but it grabs fine on downshifts not sure if the 727 likes that.

im guessing just a bad seal. i never smelled anything like a clutch burning.
it does grab and pull till it doesn't and feels like gone to neutral, as if starving for fluid.
will even pulse like pump was finally getting fluid/pressure then losing it over and over.

only reason why i freshened up everything was because it was already out.
whats the best way to test? pull pan and do the air test?

for a minute or two. it was stuck in only forward. gave no neutral. it done this as i was parking it for the winter,
i didn't think of it because it was so brief, i passed it off to possibly melting the shift cable.

it did it again for me the other day when i pulled it out.
but once i got it to go in reverse/neutral again. symptoms came back.
being slow forward engagement and i guess slipping when giving it extra power.
while it was stuck in forward mode. it would go through all gears perfectly.

ill have it on the hoist next month and pull the pan down.
suggestions and pointers what to check first before i commit to yanking it.
does give me an excuse to go through the whole motor too.
as its much easier for me to pull both out at once.

engine stand been alone in the corner for 12 years.