727 No Fluid Circulation

[Austin Spencer]

Hey all, I've just gotten to a point where I can finally attempt to start my Dart with the 727 I rebuilt in it.

TC was filled with fluid, I put 5 qt in the trans. I ran it for maybe 10 seconds altogether, in park, and realized I wanted to make sure it was pumping fluid. So I disconnected the return line and put a hose into a cup so I could make sure it was circulating fluid. I'm now just running it off the starter (and in neutral since I read it will circulate fluid faster) to try to get it to circulate but I'm not seeing any fluid come through.

This was my first rebuild, I know the pump is put together correctly and I checked the clearance of the gears for the pump. When I installed the trans, I fully seated the TC, was able to spin it around, then once I had to bolt it up to the flexplate it had to come forward about 3/16 of an inch to get the bolts snug.

I'm wondering a few things:
If I can even get the fluid circulating with the low rpm of the starter?
Was 3/16" enough to disengage the TC from the pump gears? It was fully seated, then came forward 3/16".
Any other issues that could be happening?

I'm thinking of unbolting the TC from the Flexplate to see if I can push it back 3/16" or if it needs to be spun to fully seat which I think would indicate that it became decoupled from the pump gears. Any ideas or help would be appreciated.

 

[junkyardhero]

unlikely to circulate off just the starter.

if it was a full rebuild, read: everything dry, even with filling up the TC and fluid in the pan it's gonna take a hot minute of idling in neutral to get things moving.

 

[413]

Wont pump fluid with the starter.

Converter install sounds right.

No worries.

Why are you playing with it? Try to hook up the lines and start the engine in neutral, get the fluid full, and then shift some gears. Treat it like a normal car.

 

[Austin Spencer]

unlikely to circulate off just the starter.

if it was a full rebuild, read: everything dry, even with filling up the TC and fluid in the pan it's gonna take a hot minute of idling in neutral to get things moving.

I had a feeling it would take a while but I just didn't want to run it without seeing the fluid circulate.

Is it safe to run like that? I wouldn't want to damage it just trying to see if it has fluid.

 

[Austin Spencer]

Wont pump fluid with the starter.

Converter install sounds right.

No worries.

Why don't you hook up the lines and start the engine in neutral and then shift some gears.

Thanks, this is the first rebuild/install I've done myself so I'm probably a bit too cautious. I'll try that out in a bit.

 

[fishmens67]

It's possible and sounds like the convertor wasn't fully engaged on the pump ears, once the engine fires the ears will shear making the pump inoperable.
I found that out the hard way when I did my first torqueflite install

 

[fishmens67]

It shouldn't take but a few seconds for the transmission to engage if it is full of fluid.

 

[Austin Spencer]

It's possible and sounds like the convertor wasn't fully engaged on the pump ears, once the engine fires the ears will shear making the pump inoperable.
I found that out the hard way when I did my first torqueflite install

I'd hope not, I made sure that I felt enough clunks while pushing it in and rotating it. If that's the case I figure I don't have much to lose by firing it in neutral and idling a bit.

 

[413]

His converter is fine. What he describes is normal and good.

It will need more fluid for sure.

Jack up the rear wheels and put on jackstands. Now nothing bad will happen. Pull the stick and wipe it, leave it out. It flows fluid in neutral, so start it in neutral add leave it there. Now dip the stick, check level and pour more fluid in. Then shift some gears.

 

[fishmens67]

I don't have much to lose by firing it in neutral and idling a bit.

I'd fire it up, check the fluid and then drop it in reverse.

 

[Austin Spencer]

I fired it up in neutral, put it in drive and it dropped into drive immediately. I'd assume that's a good sign?

Thanks for the help, I'd rather be safe than sorry so I'm always a bit over cautious on these things.

 

[fishmens67]

 

[413]

I'd fire it up, check the fluid and then drop it in reverse.

Don't use reverse first, always use drive first when it's a new one not full yet.

 

[413]

I fired it up in neutral, put it in drive and it dropped into drive immediately. I'd assume that's a good sign?

Thanks for the help, I'd rather be safe than sorry so I'm always a bit over cautious on these things.

Did you fill up the fluid yet?

 

[Austin Spencer]

Did you fill up the fluid yet?

I've not, it's on the dipstick but it is below full so I'll have to add more.

I tested Park, Reverse, Neutral and Drive. When it was in reverse, it went to drive first, then reverse. When in Neutral, it is actually in Drive. Drive is also Drive.

 

[TrailBeast]

I've not, it's on the dipstick but it is below full so I'll have to add more.

I tested Park, Reverse, Neutral and Drive. When it was in reverse, it went to drive first, then reverse. When in Neutral, it is actually in Drive. Drive is also Drive.

This could be totally normal with wheels in the air and low fluid.
Keep going, as it sounds like you are fine.

 

[RustyRatRod]

I'd hope not, I made sure that I felt enough clunks while pushing it in and rotating it. If that's the case I figure I don't have much to lose by firing it in neutral and idling a bit.

As long as you CANNOT get your fingers all the way behind the converter, between the converter and the transmission, you're good.

 

[RustyRatRod]

On all Torqueflites I dump two gallons in, fire it up, run it through the gears and start checking.