Getting over my overdrive ...

[Byron Krystad]

which disengaged on my BN2 at speed on hwy2 headed across Ebey Island from
Everett toward Snohomish. Luckily, I could drop off at Snohomish and wander
home on back roads in everything-lo. Tried the O/D switch once more to see
if I could hear the solenoid and soon got a whiff of a Lucas smoke leak
somewhere. 

I had some time Saturday to pull off the tunnel and start tracing the
circuit but didn't have to look far. The lead between the solenoid and the
gear switch was fried in half. Serious heat.

A couple questions:

1. I am assuming the solenoid failed and is at fault for overheating the
wire. Fair assumption? What else would be at fault for that? Worn wire cover
on the lead and a sudden ground?

2. I tested the gear switch and it is still at 0 ohms with third and fourth
gear engaged, but should I be worried anyway about the shape it's in after
being "next-in-line" for the heat that Thursday, no matter how brief?

3. Any other area or aspect of the wiring I should be inspecting or testing
in depth as a result of the incident?

4. Anyone have opinions on solenoids? Lucas or aftermarket? The one I have
says it's a Lucas but look how far that got me.

5. Noticed that I don't have the rubber stop on the plunger from the
solenoid to the O/D lever. Opinions on whether I can just live with this? I
hope so, because I'm not sure where to hunt one down (no aftermarket part
available).

Doug Miller, I know you had overdrive issues on your BN2 coming back from
Van Dusen, anything similar or totally different? Just curious ...

Thanks,
-Byron Krystad
bkrystad@drizzle.com