I have a DVL-700 player, that be have oddly.
Here is the procedure I do, and I’m wondering what obvious thing I’m missing.

I hit the LD button to open the tray, drop in a laserdisc, and hit play. it plays side A, and then stops. Doesn’t switch sides.

If I start over, and hit the A button, it also plays just Side A.

In either case, if I hit the B button it flips and plays fine as well.

What obvious thing and I issuing to get it to flip sides on its own.

Thanks y’all.

It should flip on its own with Play. The Side A and Side B buttons, if used to start the movie, will only play that side. If it’s not playing both sides through with Play then it sounds like it’s not reading the table of contents properly for some reason or another.

The DVL-700 has the same grip ring issue the CLD-D704, 79, and 99 have. You need to clean the grip ring and add Plasti-Dip. Pioneer fixed this on the DVL-909, 919, and 91.

Is also what causes it to sound like a slipping clutch when is spins up a disc? kinda a sliding sound, and then the disc catches up and spins like normal.

Yep.

Got me a dvl-700 some time ago and it had this same issue.
Cleaning the grip ring solved this.
So far I didn't replace the actual grip ring since it does what it is supposed to do now.
In some cases I found cleaning a grip ring was only a temporal fix but with this one it appears to be working ok every time again.
Cleaning a grip ring worked most of the time but after a few spins the same issue acted up.slow on start up and a hell of a time to spin down.
this dvl-700 of mine appears to keep working for now.

far from a daily user but I do test it now and then for the sake of science.

what exactly is the grip ring, so im not opening it up and assuming something
thanks.
and just clean it with some alcohol?

AH!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xowtiO9XdE
I think id have guessed right... Looks like some new ones on ebay too.

Not alcohol as it may deteriorate more.
Not sure what you should clean it with, possibly window cleaner on qtip.
I think those on ebay from one seller are good for LD only, so if you plan to use this player for DVD they may be too thick.

I've read this in another topic.
Make sure first.
Good luck.

Bat having opened it yet, so I don’t know, so the ring is rubber, and need to be softened or sticky-ied?

Sort of neither.
It hardens and also since its very thin will wear down.
So you are cleaning it to remove any possible dust but it shouldn't be sticky as there is a very small check grid on it.

Now that I think of it I guess soft or gripper more than it is.

I clean them with a cotton swab damp with water.

As kris said, this can sometimes resolve the issue or just fix it temporarily.