I had a strange shifting issue tonight when I tried to go for a drive.
I have some very vague descriptions that I need your guesses on so that I know what to look for when I pull the pan.

A) When I startup the car in P then I move the selector to N, the rpms drop like there is a drag when the tranny is cold in N. Then as soon as I move the selector back to P, then the rpms go back up. Once the tranny is warmed up in N for a few seconds, then the rpms do not drop.

B) After I had the strange shifting issue tonight, I parked the car in the garage and shut it off. Then I put the car in N and started to push it forward then it felt like I ran over something while pushing the car forward. I put the car in P then looked under the car to see if I could see anything that may have been in front of one of the tires and there was nothing under the car. Then I put the car in N and pushed it backwards a few inches, then forward the rest of the way in the garage. It was strange that when I was pushing it forward, the car just stopped like something was under one of the tires. (There was no "clunking" noise, it was just a sudden stop.) Then it was fine again. It just felt as though something was dragging in N.

EDIT:
C) The main reason for that test drive was because I was having trouble with the 50-WOT auto down-shift. It was delaying for some reason on my last two drives. I would be at a steady 50mph cruise, then I would go to 100% WOT and the tranny would not downshift immediately like I am used too feeling. It just delayed or one time it did not downshift at all. Then it would be back to auto down-shift again. I had a feeling something was starting to act up but at the time I was concentrating on tuning issues and forgot about it, until now. So I was going to go out and test the auto down-shift at different speeds to see if I could find a pattern.


I can't explain the shifting issue over the keyboard, but I did not even leave my neighborhood because of the way it acted. I can say that I had the car in 1 (under 20mph) and then I manually shifted it into 2 then as I was slowing down, the engine started making a louder sound as though there was slipping (EDIT: previously I said a drag) so I stopped and put it in P and got out to look under the car. (I never made it into D) I did not see anything but I was too worried to leave the neighborhood, so I turned around and drove back to the house under 20mph in 2. It drove fine but it seemed to shift weird on the way back.
I think that I am going to pull the pan to check the condition of the fluid and the filter. While it is off, I will check the band adjustments while I have the pan off. If I do not see anything obvious, then I might pull the VB to see how dirty the inside passages are. I have a few minor leaks that I will take care of too.

With these VERY VAGUE descriptions, does any gut feeling come to mind that I can check out once I have the pan off?

Thanks to all!

EDIT:
The seal at the output shaft (where the drive shaft goes in) is leaking. Can this seal be replaced after the drive shaft is removed with the housing mounted in place?

Thanks again.

That could be the sprag.

or one of the bands hanging up!

I was in a hurry when I wrote that up but I remembered this thought this morning. The main reason for that test drive was because I was having trouble with the 50-WOT auto down-shift. It was delaying for some reason on my last two drives. I was going to go out and test the auto down-shift at different speeds to see if I could find a pattern.
I added this to my original post, does this lead to a loose band?

Thanks for your reply.

I'll answer the edit question , yes pull the driveshaft to replace the seal , not need to remove the tailhousing .

Thanks John. The seal is now on order.

Dodgem:
I found this on the 904 thread:
""Then back front band off 1 3/4 turns if it's too loose it will slip into second.
rear band same but back it off 2 1/4 turn""

Is this the same outward adjustment for the 727 too? I want to check both band adjustments.

Thanks

That is 727 I better check and make sure I did not mess up for the 904


You can air test but that won't tell if the sprag is bad

Thanks Dodgem.
I have decided to check the current setting of the front band first. I will count how many turns out it is and if it is too loose, I will reset it to 1-3/4 turns out then test drive the car. If it still acts up, then I will pull the pan and proceed from there. I have printed out your picture just in the case that I need to open up the pan.

I need to replace the extension housing seal to while I am under there.

I will reply back once I know how many turns out mine is currently to see if that explains my current issue.

thanks again.

"" I will reset it to 1-3/4 turns out then test drive the car.""

I have the car up on stands and the linkage and the cooler lines are out of the way. I can now access the adjuster and hopefully tonight, I am going to tighten the adjuster in until snug while counting the turns, then back it out 1-3/4 turns. Then I will know if the current setting is causing my auto kickdown issue. But I do have a couple of quick questions:

A) I have seen instructions to turn out the front band 2 to 2-1/2 turns out from snug too. What causes the different turns out? Why would one source call for a looser setting than another? I assume that if it is setup too loose, then as the band wears the mechanism runs out of stroke. I also assume that if it is too tight, then it will drag.

B) How often do you guys check your band settings on your weekend drivers or on your race cars?
The last time that I checked mine was about 4 years ago and it was loose at that time too causing the same conditions. I ended up putting in the stronger link arm at that time and I reset it to what ever my TF2 instructions call for. I am going to find those notes tonight for a reference.

Just curious.
Thanks

I have seen where opinions say to adjust it from 1-3/4 turns to 2-1/2 turns out from the snug or 72"/lbs rating. I am just curious what this broad adjustment range will do.
I have a 3.8 arm if that matters.

Thanks John

I turned in the adjuster until I hit 72"/lbs and I counted 2-7/8 turn. I assume that this is enough to cause my cruise to WOT slipping?


(Note: I checked my notes and it was six years ago since I last checked this adjustment and at that time I show that I turned it 2-1/2 turns out.)

Tonight, I turned it back out 1-3/4 turns from 72"/lbs, so I am right at 1-1/8 turns tighter now than I was.

Is Dextron III ok to put into this tranny? I need to recheck the level and I want to make sure that I have the right fluid.

Thanks again.

what type of 72 inch pound torque wrench do you have I have t 2 and both tighten so tight before clicking you need to back off 4 to 5 turns just to free up the front band?? that is why I use the wrist tight I can feel that! then 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 turns and it's just right!
Dextron 3 is fine I like type F all will work fine.

My torque wrench is a clicker that I used all of the time. I started with an open end wrench and got it snug (but I could only put three fingers on it due to the space restraints). I had issues with getting my hand up there to get a good grip, so I put the torque wrench on it. It turned about another 1/2 turn at the most to get the 72"/lbs. Within 1/4 turn outward, the screw got easier to turn.

I rolled the car back and fourth in N last night and it rolled freely.

Would the 2-7/8 turns out be enough to show slipping? (I did not realize that it was 6 years since I last made this adjustment.)

What happens if this band adjustment is too tight?



thanks allot.

I think you have worse problems than band set.
sounds like you have a decent inch pound torque mine over tighten another 3 turns before they click. you will be fine. If the band is too tight won't move in drive. sounds like your Torque wrench is about right.
Same as wrist snug tight
try it if it still slips then air test.

""I think you have worse problems than band set.""

Can you elaborate on this?

thank you

I found the front band adjustment to be at 2-7/8 turns out from 72"/lbs (just shy of 3 turns out). I then reset it to 1-3/4 turns out from 72"/lbs.

I put in a new band from A&A six years ago when I made the last band adjustment (2-1/2 turns out). I also put in new clutches about two years prior to that.

Thanks

I'm thinking maybe the sprag??

What in my description points to the sprag failing?
All I did was reset the front band adjustment.

I honestly don't know, that is why the question.

Thanks

B) After I had the strange shifting issue tonight, I parked the car in the garage and shut it off. Then I put the car in N and started to push it forward then it felt like I ran over something while pushing the car forward. I put the car in P then looked under the car to see if I could see anything that may have been in front of one of the tires and there was nothing under the car. Then I put the car in N and pushed it backwards a few inches, then forward the rest of the way in the garage. It was strange that when I was pushing it forward, the car just stopped like something was under one of the tires. (There was no "clunking" noise, it was just a sudden stop.) Then it was fine again. It just felt as though something was dragging in N.

makes me worry it's a sprag.