no 1st gear

[FirstClass 383]

ok here is what going on . i bought a 700r4 a few years back cause i wanted overdrive to drive my cutty to car show in kc area. ( only went once 🙁 )
since that time i have never gave it much thought until i started to take it to the strip, and last week end when I thought it was in first gear it was in 2nd,, starting off the line. it wont go deeper into first gear I have a B & M megashifter,, Im not a transmission man by any means but would love to get some idea why it wont go down in to first, I really want to get to the track again this week end but whats the use if I cant get 1st gear 🙁. any pics or references i would greatly appreciate. i did put on a deep transmission pan but im sure that has nothing to do with my problem, thank you in advance :wink:

 

[FirstClass 383]

Damn I would of thought some one had some kind of answer for me by now 🙁 guess no one has ever had this problem

 

[olds307 and 403]

Bad news, you probably smoked first gear. Chance of it being a valve body issue is slim. Just make sure the shifter is adjusted right and is actually going into first on the linkage.

 

[MeanBuicks]

Well, the good news is that no, you didn't smoke first gear. It's not really possible.

With the shifter in Drive or Overdrive, first gear applies the Forward Clutch. This clutch then stays engaged for all forward gears. Second brings in a band, third releases the band and turns on the 3-4 clutch pack and fourth reapplies that same band. Hence it's name, the 2-4 band. If you managed to kill the Forward Clutch, you would only have Park, Reverse and four Neutrals.

To be clear on your issue, are you saying that you're getting second gear starts in all conditions, regular driving and racing? It also will not go to first when the shifter is put into the manual low position?

Have you ever verified that the shifter is adjusted properly by moving the shifter to each position with the car not running and verifying that the transmission shift lever is properly positioned?

Also, what is your TV cable setup? What cable, bracket and carb/throttle body are you using?

 

[olds307 and 403]

I cooked first gear fast in a TH250C behind my old 403. Yes, you literally can loose use of a gear due to internal damage. The 700R4/4L60 series is no prize, many issues. Mine old 4L60E had the notorious weak reverse. Any incline and you were screwed.

 

[MeanBuicks]

Yes, a clutch pack can be killed in any number of ways. However, in the OP's situation, if he can run full throttle down the track in second, third and fourth, then he did not kill first. As explained, first is the forward clutch. If it's smoked, all forward gears will slip. Same with a 200C, 200-4R, TH250/350/400, etc.

He likely has a control issue related to either the governor or valve body preventing the transmission from getting into low range.

 

[FirstClass 383]

Thank you again for all the info, i was able to shift it in to low gear, as per cable, i have all the gears but the shifter just dont feel right, do you think it could be the B & M maga shifter it's self, i have been wanting a Hurst 1/4 stick for a long long time maybe now's the time., i'll keep playing with it and keep you posted and Im very sure you will be teachiing this old man a few more things down the road :wink:

 

[olds307 and 403]

My trans was the exception I guess. I was hammering it off the 2500 stall converter in second gear and the shift to third was fine at our 1/8 mile track. Yes, my car ran dam slow 😀. It did technically move in first gear but red lining and barely moving doesn't really count.