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727 Suddenly no reverse

iowaguy

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My son's 1977 Power Wagon 4X4, 360/auto that he got a little over a month ago.

He claims he was just driving around and parked it, then went to move it after an hour or so of being parked he had no reverse. I say "he claims" as he is a 17 year old and I am sure he had been showing it off as it has some performance additions to the engine and he has been bragging it up to his friends that have Fords and Chevys.

It parks in "park", drop the gear shift down and no reverse but it will start moving forward like it is drive. Moves forward in all gears and shifts. Slowly bring the gear shift back toward park and it will still be going forward when the selector is in reverse and then a little more toward park and you can hear the parking sprag trying to catch. I was just creeping along when trying this. No odd or grinding noises while moving through the shift pattern while parked or moving.

So, anything obvious or easy to check? We do have a garage/shop stall and a decent set of tools, but as of now it can get to the transmission shop under its own power. Don't want him to rip into it and then need to tow it to the transmission shop when he is over his head.

Plus, where he works part-time just shut down for 2 weeks or more so trying to save some money if he/we can fix it ourselves.
 
Over the years I've had two 727's act up and refuse to go in reverse. If you're sure it's going into high gear properly there is a chance the tranny filter is plugging up. In my case, a fluid and filter change cured the no reverse problem. One of them is still working fine after 20+ years. I've had others claim that can't happen, but after having the same issue with two different cars I tend to lean toward trying that first.

There are plenty of people here much smarter than I am regarding these and I'm sure they'll have other good input for you. Good luck!
 
The rear band/band linkage/rear servo has failed.... Pull the pan.. You'll see what is wrong... Maybe it can be fixed without tearing the trans apart... But probably not..
 
The rear band/band linkage/rear servo has failed.... Pull the pan.. You'll see what is wrong... Maybe it can be fixed without tearing the trans apart... But probably not..
My first thought too. Maybe that dang rear band strut support called it quits..
 
Thanks for the quick answers.

As far as the high gear working I am taking his word on it. I was just slowly going around the block running it through the gear selections.

Pulling the pan will be easy enough to see what we find.
 
It likely does have 1st 2nd & 3rd... But there won't be any engine braking in 1st gear...
 
Last edited:
Shift lever loosen up on trans? Linkage out of adjustment?

That was my first thought as my parents had a '64 T-Bird that you had to hold the shift lever in a "sweet spot" to get it to start. That is why I slowly pulled the shift lever along to see if I could get reverse in any position even of it was not in reverse. I told him when he gets it up in the air to check for the obvious things (like a loose linkage) before opening it up.

He knows of a '79 in a local salvage yard that is a 2wd D150 with a 318 that still has the transmission. $100.00 and he pulls it. Does it make a difference with the year/engine/2wd or 4X4 as if it will work in his truck?
 
Sounds like a reverse band issue. Same thing happened with my stepfather's Sport Fury S/23 when he first got it. It would not go into reverse but would drive forward just fine. Please keep us updated and best of luck with solving the problem.
 
That was my first thought as my parents had a '64 T-Bird that you had to hold the shift lever in a "sweet spot" to get it to start. That is why I slowly pulled the shift lever along to see if I could get reverse in any position even of it was not in reverse. I told him when he gets it up in the air to check for the obvious things (like a loose linkage) before opening it up.

He knows of a '79 in a local salvage yard that is a 2wd D150 with a 318 that still has the transmission. $100.00 and he pulls it. Does it make a difference with the year/engine/2wd or 4X4 as if it will work in his truck?
Best to just fix what you have as to go to all the bother. They would both have to come apart anyway.
 
As far as i know the 2wd is a different tailshaft connection than a 4wd because of the transfer case, but I'm not 100% sure.
He knows of a '79 in a local salvage yard that is a 2wd D150 with a 318 that still has the transmission. $100.00 and he pulls it. Does it make a difference with the year/engine/2wd or 4X4 as if it will work in his truck?
 
2wd 727
Screen Shot 2020-03-23 at 10.14.27 PM.png


4x4 727

Screen Shot 2020-03-23 at 10.13.12 PM.png


4x4 727 without transfer case of adapter...

Screen Shot 2020-03-23 at 10.13.47 PM.png


There are divorced transfer cases but they aren't common...
 
"It will still be going forward when the selector is in reverse"
This statement may lead me away from a broken low/reverse band/servo piston. It's possible the rear clutch is seized. This may account for forward movement in neutral and reverse. Drop the pan. Unless just the rear servo piston is broken, trans removal is in your future.
Doug
 
904 or 727
lockup?
mainshaft and reae case can be swapped
time for the transgo reprogramming pkg
might grab the other trans for parts if exam shows hard parts problems
you can diy this
 
I had a valve sticking in a valve body doing something similar, if it's not adjustment, or low reverse band, inspect valve body too
 
904 or 727
lockup?
mainshaft and reae case can be swapped
time for the transgo reprogramming pkg
might grab the other trans for parts if exam shows hard parts problems
you can diy this
Why not just a complete drivetrain swap while at it.
 
i too have a 77 powerwagon/sno commander version.
i would not bother going looking for another used transmission.
id suggest that you remove the trans if possible that is original to your truck and get it rebuilt.
this will save you a lot of money at that transmission shop if all they have to do is rebuild it and not remove rebuild and reinstall.

also,depending on your skillset and patience level,
the 727 is one of the easiest on the planet to rebuild yourself.
most important part is to keep everything Clean.

you should also explain to your son that when the truck is fired up,
he needs to put it in Neutral for the front pump to start working.
the pump only works in gear/neutral,not in park.
this is why so many fail,because people have no idea and they fire it up and jerk it into gear right away.
 
i too have a 77 powerwagon/sno commander version.
i would not bother going looking for another used transmission.
id suggest that you remove the trans if possible that is original to your truck and get it rebuilt.
this will save you a lot of money at that transmission shop if all they have to do is rebuild it and not remove rebuild and reinstall.

also,depending on your skillset and patience level,
the 727 is one of the easiest on the planet to rebuild yourself.
most important part is to keep everything Clean.

you should also explain to your son that when the truck is fired up,
he needs to put it in Neutral for the front pump to start working.
the pump only works in gear/neutral,not in park.
this is why so many fail,because people have no idea and they fire it up and jerk it into gear right away.
I think the pump works but the fluid bypasses the torque convertor . Only way the pump would not work is if the drive was broken.
 
put the transgo kit in so you get flow in park
so you can chck fluid in park
 
Dvw is on target low/rev clutch fail. Time for R&R. Advise son to lay off burnouts
 
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