So since I forgot to update this way back when, I was tearing down this transmission and remembered. Adjusting the brake band worked for about a week, then it lost 2nd and 4th out of nowhere.
Here's the reason why....
I imagine it started cracking and that it wasn't getting tight enough to engage 2nd but somehow tight enough to have 4th work. Tightening it down probably stressed it a bit more and hence it completely failing. The friction material was worn very "funny" on the band brake as you can imagine.