Kick down cable settings..

[Ron 73]

I have a 727 TF mated to a 318 and found something odd i need advice on if someone can help me some..

the last time i was under my car, i unhooked the cable from kick down lever on trans and found, there is no resistance at all until its moved about 1/2 way, and the way the guy before me had it hooked up, it at open (floored) throttle is only getting to the point that the resistance starts, so its not clear over (back side of car) and im wondering if this can even be correct.. I haven't burned it up but as ive always had mostly 4-speed cars i find myself manually shifting one gear into another, habit i guess but this is how ive always done a floor shifter, Is this why somehow it hasn't burnt up or am i just getting lucky? something has to be wrong it being hooked up this way, anyone care to explain whats going on, is this right, seems to me flooring the car the lever should be all the way back not 1/2 way. The reason i looked at it is because when you start to depress the throttle, the cable doesn't move until its about 1/2 throttle.. Hope someone can explain to me some of these questions.. id hate to ruin a good 727 and cant figure out why it was done this way, if there is a link detailing exactly how to set this correctly please share it with me.. Is it normal to move lever that much before resistance starts, and shifting manually keeping it from burning up? I should have checked this before i started driving but it was all hooked up and thought it was ok. it doesn't even move the cable until its 1/2 throttle, is this right? I always thought the kick down cable should start with the throttle, all the way thru the process and at full throttle lever should be fully back toward tail shaft..

 

[500stroker]

With the shifter in drive
Does the trans shift normally 1-2-3 ?
Does the trans automaticly down shift when you slow down?
Does the trans down shift from 3rd to 2nd when you floor it?

 

[Ron 73]

Hey bud sorry im late getting in, bad day.. To answer you,
Yes shifts normally, it will and down shift but you almost have to stop for it to go to 1st gear. The last question is questionable, The day that started this the car was completely warmed up to OT and i went for a ride, no more then 10 miles or so and i tramped it to the floor to check and went right into second, on the way home before i got to my dirt road i tramped it down again and it wouldn't but will manually.. When i pulled in the driveway after driving slow down the dirt road i pulled up to garage and backed up straight to pull it in when i put it in 1st gear i could feel it going in but when i hit the gas the engine revved just a second and kicked kind of hard into 1st so i pulled in backed up and tried it again, same thing and i called it a day. The following day i went out and tried it and everything back to normal, i warmed it up to OT and tried it again and again worked ok.. so im thinking its a kick down cable adjustment thats not right, as said i always manually shifted my car and things seemed ok but now using D and doing it the way most do im having this stuff happen.. Thanks for trying to help, im not good with these autos but it doesn't slip, seems to go into and thru the gears ok... any suggestions?

 

[dfarmercse]

Hey Ron, on my 440 I set wide open throttle and kick down all in. I then play with it to get what I want. My 727 has a shift kit in it and shifts kinda hard. So I adjusted the cable a little to. Soften up the shift, shift a little sooner at lower rpms.

Dave F

 

[Ron 73]

Thanks Dave, im going to see if i can find some more on this so i can get it figured out and not worry about it.. I wondered why you couldn't set them up that way myself, full throttle and kick down all the way back.. but there is 1/2 way with the lever on trans that has no resistance until you get to the 1/2 way mark, but i was told yesterday that there is resistance when the car is running so more research im going to need to make sure of things, thats why the thread, would like to hear how others have done it and ill be sure to get it right.. Maybe today i can read some more that i have, NO doctors today!!!! a song comes to mind, "Celebration" lol

 

[500stroker]

Sorry it took so long for me to respond.
What you are going thru is pretty common if the cable is old and has gotten a little slack in it. Go ahead and adjust up the slack a little at a time until you like it, but I caution you, that if adjust it up to much you just bought you a new tranny.
It almost sounds like you have a tranny that is getting hot, you may want to add some additional cooling like in inline after market cooler to help with your other problems
I sounds stupid, but, make sure the trans has the correct type of fluid and that is full when hot in neutral.

 

[Ron 73]

No problem! I do check in neutral and it does have a cooler on it, I put new lines on it last winter and i cant remember what fluid is there now, that i put in but i remember it said good for Chrysler transmissions, What is a good one, i may change the filter in it and will need new anyway, any recommendations? And as far as adjusting the cable, its a Locar outfit but i just found out completely floored (carb) the lever only moves to about 1/2 way on trans, there is no resistance UNTIL its moved to 1/2 way toward back of the car.. shouldn't this lever be all the way back (toward rear of car) when carb is floored? Ive never had to adjust one of these, one place i read said that lever should start moving toward rear of car as soon as you depress the gas, another place said no, start at the point you feel the resistance (1/2 way), and yet one other place says the lever shouldn't start moving until your at least at a 1/4 on throttle! i don't know which one to go by and do this so its right! You can, i hope, understand how one can get confused trying to make sure its right, you guys here are better mech then any place i know so thats why i posted it, usually i can look things up, but its to easy to ruin a 727 with this adjustment ( im wondering how i didn't burn it up, no idea how long cable has been like this)... I thought i could floor it, them adjust everything so when you leave off the throttle the lever starts to go back towards the front.. If it gos all the way back to front can that work and be right, Ive admitted before, i can repair things but im no mech... Thanks for getting back, been going to doctors a lot and thought maybe everyone mad cause i didn't get back right away lol.. I hope to get this right soon so i can keep a promise i made to the wife... I am buying another 727 from a local guy here but needs rebuilt, and i cant do it.. hope it isint to pricey to have one done.. Thanks again!!

 

[500stroker]

I use the O'Reilys brand of trans fluid labeled "Global" its good for all applications.
I am not familiar with the Locar setup and dont want to give you the wrong info. All I can say is that there needs to be some slack movement in the cable, but, not to much or to little the trans wont shift proper. If your trans is up and down shifting like normal I dont think you have a problem with the adjustment. Dont get hung up on how much slack is in the cable, judge it by the way the trans performs. If it works well dont fix it. I still sounds like it may be getting HOT.
My I suggest that you add a deep sump tranny pan, this will give you more fluid to cool and a spot to add a Tranny temp gauge.
If at anytime you are still in doubt, find an old school tranny guy to look at it.

 

[Ron 73]

Ok, The trans does shift normally, but im concerned about the lever on the trans for kick down, There is no resistance until its moved 1/2 way and when the carb is floored, thats where it is 1/2 way (floored), right when the resistance is starting, maybe whoever.. put it this way, i don't know but i would think when its floored that lever should be all the way back (rear of car) but thats not the case... I do think the trans is hotter then it should be and i think i will buy the pan you mentioned, any links to where you get them or the name of the place? Ill order it and if you think the way this is set up is ok, ill see what happens.. Im just trying to make sure its correct. like i said on the test drive i floored it 3 times, the first two it kicked into 2nd but the 3rd time i floored it, nothing, then the problem i mentioned (3rd post) when i backed up and put in 1st... so i thought id better check it and found these things. Thanks..

 

[500stroker]

I hear ya and I would be concerned myself.
Like I said before try adjusting up some of the slack and see if it changes, just adjust it in very small intervals. If it does not change even with a very slight adjustment I would leave well enough alone.
The pan I used came from B&M.

 

[Ron 73]

I can try it, but it still doesn't explain about reverse to 1st and feel it kick in gear but when giving it gas it hesitated or slipped just a second before moving forward.. And this happening right after i took it for a drive and used it in drive and it did go in twice but the third time did not.. The way it shifts now and downshifts seems to be right, its the passing gear thing thats got me concerned because i always just manually down shift to go to second gear, im wondering if this is why it didn't burn it up if the guy before me hooked everything up the way it is now..

"I hear ya and I would be concerned myself."

 

[500stroker]

I can try it, but it still doesn't explain about reverse to 1st and feel it kick in gear but when giving it gas it hesitated or slipped just a second before moving forward.. And this happening right after i took it for a drive and used it in drive and it did go in twice but the third time did not.. The way it shifts now and downshifts seems to be right, its the passing gear thing thats got me concerned because i always just manually down shift to go to second gear, im wondering if this is why it didn't burn it up if the guy before me hooked everything up the way it is now..

"I hear ya and I would be concerned myself."

This fist part of your reply - reverse to 1st and the slipping thing - This is where I believe your HEAT problem lies.
I think the passing gear issue is related to the cable slack.
Good luck

 

[Ron 73]

Could be, im making plans now to get a pan, maybe a larger cooler to as the one on here is not to big..

 

[440ronnie67]

Hi guys, just finished up my home made shift cable a couple weeks ago and found the same dead space on the tranny lever. I too found all kinds of opinions on this topic so I made sure the cable was tight at full throttle and the lever on the tranny was all the way back. I also installed a spring to make sure the lever on the tranny would spring back forward ( just in case) I drove the car and immediately noticed the difference between shifts. it kicks down when its supposed to and up shifts into 3rd at 4k rpms WOT.

 

[Lenny Arsenault]

Hello Ron sound like the same exact thing that is going on with my car. I have a 1964 727 cable shift transmission on a 440 65 plymouth I had the same thought that your going through. My lever does the same thing no resistance until half way. I am still looking into this myself but, this is what I did just like 440ronnie67 did put a return spring on it I also have Lockar cables WOT pull the cable tight then slack off 3/8" or so tighten the set screw down and try it see where it shifts. My tranny is very soft shifting but I can feel it and shifts from second to third at about 40 mph may need to make a minor adjustment there to about 35 mph. let us know how you make out. Here is a picture of my home made cable bracket for the carb.

 

[440ronnie67]

looks good!

 

[mrkinger]

From what i found out the older 727 wont down shift until your almost stopped.Thats how mine works anyways,

 

[themechanic]

Mine works. I used the throttle and kick down cables from Lokar. Here is a link to Lokar's kick down cable installation and adjustment.

http://www.lokar.com/downloads/pdf-instructions/INS0046-ChryslerKickdown.pdf

 

[mrkinger]

Hi Mechanic,i have the lokar cables also,at what speed does your tranny down shift,i have to be almost stopped for it to down shift,infact if go around a corner is dosent drop down into second .does the cable need to be re ajusted,other then that the tranny works perfect
Thanks

 

[themechanic]

Hi Mechanic,i have the lokar cables also,at what speed does your tranny down shift,i have to be almost stopped for it to down shift,infact if go around a corner is dosent drop down into second .does the cable need to be re ajusted,other then that the tranny works perfect
Thanks

I'm not sure. I have a fuel leak so after I get that repaired I'll test drive and get back to you.