Super Hydramatic trouble

I am having trouble with the Hydramatic in my 1962 Bonneville Safari.
It shifts 1- 2 -3 -4 only once when cold, if I take it to a stop and take off again it shifts 1- 2 -3, next time 1-3 and then I have only 1-3 the rest of the day. I must wait until it's cold again before it shifts all gears and it makes it only once!
Any suggestions?
Internal leakage?
Lars

 

btt

 

I put a 59 Bonneville 389 with the hydro in my 55 Chevy in 1964. I remember the first test run it only had 2 gears 1st and 3rd. Took it to a ****** repair place and it turned out to be just low on fluid. The top of the dipstick had slid up the shaft and being a dumb kid I overloked this. As I remember it did not take much fluid to make it work right though.

 

I'll check that, thanks!

 

Dipstick OK, thanks anyway.
Lars

 

Controlled coupling is not filling. This will give u no 2nd and 4th gear. Sounds like a stuck valve in valve body that fills the controlled coupling.

 

Thanks, any input is welcome, I am avoiding as long as possible taking it down and totally dis***emble it. I've done TH350s and Torqueflites but this beast scares me a bit.
Looked in the hydramatic manual and in 1st and 3rd the coupling is emty, in 2nd and 4th its filled, seems like something is preventing it to fill.
Thanks for getting me on the track.

 

Look at the manual and figure out the oil path that fills the coupling. It may be simple as dropping the valve body and cleaning it. Then inspect the valve or valves that control the fill of the coupling. Yes it is very different from a turbo or torque, but it might be a simple fix. I will check my manual and let you know what else can be checked. There may be a port that can be checked for pressure on the outside of the transmission.