Re: Trans failure question...
 

Not likely your issue but I had a powerglide that suddenly had no gears and it was the pump to case gasket that caused it.Replaced that and good to go.

Re: Trans failure question...
 

Well, took some time and opened up the Glide that broke. It has a 2.08 low gear, an aluminum hi gear hub, straight cut planetaries, and the shrapnel was the teeth on the planets. Trans was pretty clean inside, the high gear clutches and the band looked pretty good, it was just the planetaries that failed. I don't know how many hundred runs this thing has on it, but it looks easy to fix and this could be considered long term routine maintenance. I'll be getting it to Leo shortly. I guess he moved from San Dimas to a new shop a bit further out. At least he didn't leave the state!!

Re: Trans failure question...
 

Nothing like a good internal pressure leak to disengage things a bit. These transes are so simple they are almost ridiculous.