727 tranny engage issue

[Cudash]

Hey all, I'm having issues with my 727 torqueflight engaging in forward and reverse out of the gate after sitting for a few days. Also when I put in reverse I can hear the tranny growl. Shortly after me shifting from reverse to drive a few times things start to work and the growl goes away. This does not seem normal to me. I recently adjusted the bands to spec and changed fluid to Amsoil synthetic dextron tranny fluid. Any suggestions to make this work more smooth?

 

[aussiemark]

Could be the rubber seals have age hardened and are allowing the fluid to bypass them until things warm up then they are sealing a little better. I was going to send mine to a shop and have it rebuilt but after reading the workshop manual and checking out some posts on you tube I am going to do it myself and am looking forward to it. I have already bought the only special tool needed a spring compressor for the clutch pack piston you use it to push the piston down and hold it while you remove the snap ring.

 

[aussiemark]

Check out this you tube post this guy has made a series of them and goes through the whole process it is a 904 but they are very similar to the 727 his posts are good because he explains every thing thoroughly. They are expensive to get done in a shop and are very basic compared to newer electronically controlled 8 speed (or whatever) and the rebuild kits are cheap. If you click on the title at the top it will take you to you tube where you can find the rest of the series.

 

[Mopars & Missiles]

Does it only happen on first start up after sitting overnight? It is fairly common for the 727 to have "converter drainback". This happens when the car sits for an extended period of time and the fluid leaks (drains back) out of the converter and back to the pan. When you start the car and put it into gear, there will not be enough fluid in the converter for the car to move for a few seconds, and it might "growl" a little too.

The factory 727 does not pump fluid to the converter when it is in "Park", so you need to put it into "Neutral" for a bit right after starting. This will quickly fill the converter, then you can put it into gear and all should be fine. If this sounds like your problem, then it is nothing to worry about, it is common and doesn't hurt anything. It's just a little annoying on first startup is all.

Another note, you didn't say but I hope you replaced the filter also when you changed fluid. If the filter is partly clogged, it will slow down the filling of the converter as well, and possibly cause line pressure issues which will affect gear engagement as well.

 

[DetMatt1]

Both of my classics do this it without the growl. It's a little annoying but is also pretty easy to put it in neutral for th short period of time that I'd be letting the engine warm up anyway.

 

[Cudash]

Does it only happen on first start up after sitting overnight? It is fairly common for the 727 to have "converter drainback". This happens when the car sits for an extended period of time and the fluid leaks (drains back) out of the converter and back to the pan. When you start the car and put it into gear, there will not be enough fluid in the converter for the car to move for a few seconds, and it might "growl" a little too.

The factory 727 does not pump fluid to the converter when it is in "Park", so you need to put it into "Neutral" for a bit right after starting. This will quickly fill the converter, then you can put it into gear and all should be fine. If this sounds like your problem, then it is nothing to worry about, it is common and doesn't hurt anything. It's just a little annoying on first startup is all.

Another note, you didn't say but I hope you replaced the filter also when you changed fluid. If the filter is partly clogged, it will slow down the filling of the converter as well, and possibly cause line pressure issues which will affect gear engagement as well.

Yes, just happens upon start up after sitting overnight or days. Yes I changed the filter. Thanks for the help!!!