700r4 trNs trouble. Only has 1st and reverse shift s to others at high rpm

[WIDESIDE72]

I have a 700r4 in my 72 stepside. The trans was rebuilt years ago then the truck it was in sat for a few years. When i swapped it into this truck i forgot to change the filter but checked the fluid several times. I had the tv cable adjusted correctly and it was operating correctly. A few weeks back i drove to a cruise night at the local Wendy's. when i went to leave it would not shift out of 1st. I checked the fluid again and it was about 2 qts low. I added fluid and it still wouldnt shift out of 1st. I changed the fluid and filter. There was some discoloration but no burnt smell. There was some grey in the pan (clutches) no metal. Iirc it had not been changed in 10k miles or so. I added a can of seafoam trans flush and drove the truck a few miles, drained the fluid only and refilled with fresh fluid. No change.

After i changed the fluid and filter the trans would shift up to third at hight rpm but no od. I checked the governor and it wasnt stuck and the gears werent stripped.

I am thinking the valve body is gummed up (?)

[72freak]

TV cable issues causing the loss of the gears?

[WIDESIDE72]

I installed a new tv cable when the trans was installed as the truck the tans was in previously was a diesel and used a shorter tv cable. When i had the pan off to change the filter i verified that it was still hooked up. I also verified that it had not slipped or otherwise got out of adjustment at the carburetor. I unhooked it at the carb and could feel resistance when i pulled on it at the carb end.

[piecesparts]

It sounds as if you are having issues with the valve body repositioning to shift properly. I would have them check that area. The 700 R4 trannies have an issue with the separator plate being a little soft and the shift balls will get stuck or dislocated to cause issues such as you are describing. There are hardened separator plates on the market.

[WIDESIDE72]

I had an issue with a 4l60e that was shifting hard into second. One of the balls was stuck in the plate. I took the plate and hammered it back from the other side. Worked fine from then on for as long as i had it.

[myyamr7]

I just had a similar issue with my 200-4R after swapping from the small block to the big block in my truck. with the small block the trans always did shift later than it should, but my first test drive with the big block, it was shifting very late and no OD until about 65mph. After some investigating, the big block carb has a shorter throttle arm stroke, so with the TV cable hooked up and tight at full throttle, there was only about 1" of throw in the arm. The TV cable needs about 1.5" of throw to work properly. The tighter the cable is, the higher your shift points.
I made the correction to mine and gave it 1.5" of throw, tight at full throttle and it works better than ever.
If you didn't change anything recently, try backing off on the cable a little at a time and see if it makes a difference

[davepl]

How do you know the TV cable was "properly" adjusted? Are you certain the pivot point is exactly the same as whatever OEM setup it came off of? It's not as simple as cycling it with the button pushed, though that often gets you close.

Sounds to me like insufficient line pressure cooked the clutches.

[72freak]

Originally Posted by davepl

How do you know the TV cable was "properly" adjusted? Are you certain the pivot point is exactly the same as whatever OEM setup it came off of? It's not as simple as cycling it with the button pushed, though that often gets you close.

Sounds to me like insufficient line pressure cooked the clutches.

Agreed 100%

[Bigdav160]

Except second gear uses a band

Even if the TV is stuck the trans should upshift eventually. You might need the truck to obtain 30-40 mph to make it happen.

If it refuses to upshift I would look closely at the governor valve.

[muckyp]

I had a friend last week have what sounds like the same problem as you. I believe the trans shop replaced the modulator and all was well. My friend thought they said the modulator gear but I'm not sure what that is, so I am assuming it was the modulator. Either way it must have been simple and cheap cause they didn't charge him.

[BustedCrank]

Is it stuck in first, or does it seem like it just won't catch second? If the governor is stripped (just a little plastic gear), it will drop back to idle after you let off the throttle, instead of staying up in rpms like if you have the shifter in the first gear position.

I have had this happen, I could play with it a bit and get it to grab second gear, then it would drive normally until I came to a stop.

If you can get it going fast enough in first, and let off, and it catches third...then your 2/4 band isn't catching.