Ok I have tried everything. Here are the details:
ORIGINAL PROBLEM: 1984 700r4 would slip out of OD sometimes on a big hill or with a good load. Over several months it got worse to where it would not go into 2nd or 3rd sometimes, and then it only ran in 1st and reverse. So I decided to buy a rebuild kit.

WHAT I TRIED TO FIX: I used a rebuild kit with new clutches, metals, seals, bands, gaskets, some new springs and a few extras. Tested it out and got gears 1, 2, and 3 but no overdrive. Stoped, then got to second gear and finaly third again, but still no overdrive, stoped again and the thing never has upshifted since, I only get 1st and reverse now.

WHAT I CHECKED: I checked line pressure with the main tap on the drivers side middle of transmission when I was testing it out and it was normal. Then when It would not upshift again I used the line tap that says its for second gear and it reads 0. According to my book it is the tap on the passengers side bottom furthest away from the kickdown cable.

WHAT I HAVE REPLACED SO FAR:
1) I chenged the govenor with a different one then a new one, no luck.
2) I re-checked the valvebody shift valves, especialy the 1-2 shift valve several times, the 1-2 shift could have been sticking a little bit I cleaned and polished it, still seemed ok but no upshifting, so I changed to a different / used but ok valve body, still no luck.
3) Found out the servo on the drivers side of the tranny had a nick in the pin that made it bind a little, so I replaced the pin, it moves freely now...but still no luck!
4) Checked my new band and pin to see if it worked ok. It seems to be in good shape and in place / working.
5)as a last resort I thought it could be a cracked / faulty case so I swapped all the parts over to a NEW / never used case. STILL NO LUCK!!!

WHAT I MAY HAVE DONE WRONG:
My rebuild book told me not to use the check ball that goes in the hole where the kickdown valve is, so I threw it away. I would re-try it with the ball again but I dont think it would make a difference because the firts time I tested the tranny i got some upshifts!
All other check ***** are in the correct place, I have used a specific rebuild book for my tranny and THINK I did everything correct.
I have been reusing most of the original hard-parts because they seemed ok and were not included in the rebuild kit.

Anybody got advice on how to get upshifts again???
Thanks,
Mark

Did you adjust the TV Cable properly

I am only asking this because you didn't state weather or not you checked it. I am assuming you did.

Also, how is the fluid level? What you are describing sounds just like the problems I had with several 700r4's I dealt with in the past that ran low on fluid. It only takes about a 1/2 pint low to effect the operation. I kept putting it together driving it down the driveway that back into the garage right as I was having the problem again, and tearing it back apart. Every time I did this I wasn't checking the fluid before I tore it apart untill like the 5th time I was about to tear into it somthing said "Check the fluid" I did and added 1/2 pint or so and it rann well for the next year that I had it.

I don't know if you need to or not but I wonder if you didn't have to run it through the gears then check it again and add some fluid as the tranny's pistons and valve body filled up? I don't konw a lot about them I have only rebuilt mine once last fall.

Is the dipstick the right one for the tranny? It could be too long.

Another possibility could be that the separator plate gaskets are leaking or damaged, or that their might be a burr on one of the surfaces they contact maybe. I ran into this once and it was so bad that the tranny let the engine rev to 3000 rpm before it made enough psi to engage the forward clutch, let alone upshift to 2nd. I know you said you have psi but I am wondering if there is a spot on the separator gaskets that may be bleeding by maybe it could be causing this. I dunno. Its worth checking.

Do a search and type "probuilt" you might find your answer there.

Maybe Probuilt or someone with more experience than myself will help you out.

Thanks for the reply,
Yes it has enough good fluid. I have been testing it on a transmission dyno at my school with a pump and all gauges to monitor the filtered fluid. The school only has a intro transmission course so we do not learn that much in depth repair stuff. I have gotten some help from the teacher to troubleshoot so far but the semester is over now so I have to work on it myself. The seperator gaskets are new and in good condition.

So far I have one more thing to try. I am going to get another drum because mine does not feel perfectly smooth and I can see some minor variations in the drum-band surface when I check it with a straightedge. I bought a 700r4 rebuild video and it says a worn drum could prevent the band from applying.

Any more Ideas are welcome,
thanks

I also found that I had the wavy metal disc in the wrong place in the reverse imput drum and there also was a torn seal in the bottom. I found this when I did a pressure check with compressed air. THe 700r4 video I got helps a lot. I found it at www.speeddirect.com. I have a few of their instructional videos from them now. The videos are pretty good for reference but they do not cover all the little details. I have had the best luck with a video and repair book together.
Its now time for me to go back to the parts store again, wheeee!!

I had close to the same problem with my 700R4, and found out the pump was going out. .I have since replaced the stock 700R4 with a built 700R4. My old trans would shift only if I rev'ed it beyond where it would normally shift, and back off on the gas to allow it to shift. Then it would only go up to third. After a couple of weeks of this the trans finally would not shift beyond 2nd before I replaced it. At tear down ( to find out what the problem was) we found a bad pump was the culprit. If this is your problem I hope this helps. Cocacolakidd

if you have a dyno heres what you do.WHEN THE TRANSMISSION IS IN MANUAL SECOND ON THE DYNO APPLY AIR TO THE 2ND CLUTCH (BAND)PRESSURE TAP ON THE CASE.DOES IT SHIFT TO SECOND?IF IT DOES YOU KNOW THAT THE BAND CAN HOLD AND THE OIL SUPPLY IS NOT arriving at the servo.TRY TO GET IT TO UPSHIFT WITH THE TV CABLE OFF.DOES IT SHIFT?EXCESSIVE TV ADJUSTMENT. if you have 0 on the gage at wide open throttle then the valve body is not commanding a shift hydraulically .did you change seperator plate?

Nice, thanks chris. I am getting close, I just need to get new valve body / case gaskets to finish it up and test it out. I have not tried another metal seperator plate yet, I am tempted to change it as well. The only defect I could see in my plate was some deep scratches wehere the original large spring broke (i dont have my book in front of me, so im not sure what its called) Its behind the valvebody on the passengers side I think. I guess I can replace the plate it it is not too outrageous in price.

my reply will get you to the root of the problem fast.just follow the plan what kind of dyno you got?

Hey Chris,

I tried it on the dyno again and did not get second. I shot some compressed air in the 2nd pressure hole while it was in 2nd and it upshifted just fine, when I let off the air it goes back into 1st. So the band and clutches work just fine. Problem is I am not getting the fluid to make the shift for me. Some fluid will leak out when I have the hole open, but not a lot. Any ideas on what to do now?


Thanks,
mark