Hard shifting, what could it be?

[Rich 89 Gr. Wag]

I haven't driven the GW for a couple months and I get going and it stays in first for a few hundred yards before shifting into 2nd. I drove a few miles and it's still in 2nd. So I stopped at a gas station and checked the tranny fluid. It's right where it's supposed to be and there are no leaks. The color was reddish brown, really much more red than brown, and the fluid smelled OK. Do you think the car is in need of just a fluid and filter change?

[coolram]

If the level was right like you said and it doesn't smell burnt.I would agree about chaging the fluid/filter and change the fluid in the t-case also while your'e under there.

[woodybeone]

Check the kick down linkage on the drivers side of the carb. I had a similar problem with a weak spring and very sticky linkage. Very long shifts from 1'st to 2'nd and would not shift into 3'rd.
It might also be a broken line to the vacuum modulator.

[coolram]

Woody is right.Check the linkage from the carb.TF727's sense shift points from the position of this linkage.Haynes covers this pretty good in the adjustment.