Hi barry. I forgot to connect the vacuum line to my transmission modulator and the forward shifts were nearly normal, but the down shifts were extremely harsh. Anyway, those were the symptoms I experienced.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

Finally had a few minutes to look at the truck again. I'm sure the problem is with the Bowden cable. It's having the same symptoms as it did several years ago when the adjuster broke. At that time the fix was as simple as a zip tie around the adjuster to get close to the correct length. That doesn't seem to work this time. Going to replace the cable with one from a bad trans I have and change the fluid and filter.
The reason I think it's the cable is I can get up to speed, shift into neutral and back to drive and it will shift, just as it did before. Depending on speed whether it shifts one gear or to high.
I'll update after repairs.

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1971 R600 Mack toterhome (SuperDawg)
99 NU-WA Snowbird 34+2 SE 102 5er
If it's not diesel, it's not in my stable!
53 F100 617.951/auto
95 Dodge 3500 Cummins/5 speed service truck

Don't forget to drain the torque converter too ! .

It sounds like it's time to make up a pressure gauge and test the pressure, it may well need adjusting, this is very simple and easy to do .

Unless the operating pressure are within spec the vacuum & bowden cable will never solve your problem .

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-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better