[Healeys] Overdrive Conundrum

Sat Oct 25 11:42:28 MDT 2025

Hank, I have never be able to find any recommendation from Laycock De Normanville which recommend any particular oil for one of their overdrive units.
I wrote to the company (back in the day when one sent letters through the mail, many decades ago) and asked what lubricant they recommended and they replied that the lubricant was specified by the gearbox manufacturer.
This 30 weight non-detergent thing is nothing more than an "old wives tale".

M
________________________________
From: Hank Leach <gradea1 at charter.net>
Sent: Saturday, October 25, 2025 12:52:20 PM
To: Michael Salter <michael.salter at gmail.com>; Bob Spidell <bspidell at comcast.net>; Healey team <healeys at autox.team.net>
Subject: RE: Re: [Healeys] Overdrive Conundrum

The required clearance for the sunwheel is .016-.020" If you swapped out the bearing there could be a difference from original. Moss and AH Spares sell the various sized steel washers depending on the reading you get. Typically, after many miles, that rear bronze washer is cracked or worn and should be replaced.

The factory(when there was one) recommended to only use 30W Non Detergent oil as others tended to foam and cause pressure issues. Also to be sure it is properly topped up- #1-key reason to not work.

Before you tear it down, why not just change the oil as recommended and see if there is a difference-easiest fix at this point. If not the problem then it needs to come out and repair. Hank

--------------------

From: "Bob Spidell via Healeys" <healeys at autox.team.net>
Reply-To: "Bob Spidell" <bspidell at comcast.net>
To: "Michael Salter" <michael.salter at gmail.com>, "Healeys" <healeys at autox.team.net>
Sent: October 24, 2025 at 9:38 PM PDT
Subject: Re: [Healeys] Overdrive Conundrum
Hi Michael,

I rebuilt the gearbox and O/D probably about 7-8 years or so ago. I've probably put close to 10K miles on it since, but not too many since I moved to the Central Valley. For the last few years it's been mostly short and day trips every month or two so, it's been mostly sedentary. A few months ago I took it out for a spin and noticed the O/D wouldn't engage at first but would start working normally after maybe 20 minutes of driving. In subsequent runs it's more not engaging, until a few days ago I'd decided I would likely have to pull the gearbox and O/D, but had to pull it out to get it off the QuickJack underneath it and, to my surprise it started to work OK again after 15-20 miles.

I rebuilt the O/D myself, and I think I did OK except I may not have gotten the planetary gears depth exactly right; I didn't have a selection of thrust washers to try so I just put the existing one back in. The only thing I changed out was the thrust ring bearing, which might have been a different width. The unit did have a very slight vibration, barely noticeable through the floorboards but otherwise operated perfectly. Now, when it works, it seems fine. When I rebuilt the gearbox the rearmost thrust washer was whacked (see pic), but of course I replaced it (how that could happen and why the O/D worked is another mystery). I couldn't get the GB and O/D to mate up so I took them to BCS where David Nock got them together and set the operating shaft lift. Besides trying a new relay at Tom Monaco's suggestion I haven't done anything else to it.

Only thing I can guess is maybe the lever that the solenoid lifts to turn the valve operating cam maybe slips sometimes and not others.

Bob

On 10/24/2025 8:00 PM, Michael Salter wrote:
That does defy logic Bob.
Can you give a little history, has it always been this way or did you change something? Did the problem develop slowly or over time?
Anything else that may be relevant?

M

________________________________
From: Healeys <healeys-bounces at autox.team.net><mailto:healeys-bounces at autox.team.net> on behalf of Bob Spidell via Healeys <healeys at autox.team.net><mailto:healeys at autox.team.net>
Sent: Friday, October 24, 2025 8:41:36 PM
To: Healeys <healeys at autox.team.net><mailto:healeys at autox.team.net>
Subject: [Healeys] Overdrive Conundrum

Listers,

I have a problem with my BJ8's overdrive that defies conventional logic:
The O/D will not engage when the drivetrain is cold, but begins to
function more-or-less normally as the drivetrain gets fully heated-up
(15-20m on a warm day). I've checked the functioning of the electricals;
i.e. when not running I can a) disconnect the coil ground so as not to
fry the Pertonix Ignitor, b) place the gearbox in 3rd or 4th and c)
close either, or both, the dash switch and/or the switch on the shift
knob --they're wired in parallel so either one will engage the O/D, but
both need to be in off/open condition to disengage--and I can hear the
solenoid click firmly (this pretty much rules out the switches). I have
already replaced the scuttle relay to no effect (I have had them get
flaky). AFAIK, the throttle/'kickdown' switch only comes into play when
disengaging, and seems to work when the O/D does engage.

My thinking is, if the pump is failed or failing the O/D might work when
the fluid is cold but cease to function as the fluid heats up and thins
out (I've used Redline MT-90 successfully for over 100K miles or more;
it's equivalent to 50wt engine oil). But, the O/D not engaging when cold
(somewhat) refutes this theory. If the outlet check valve on the pump
was somehow boogered I would expect either a) cold function only, or b)
no function at all. Ditto the solenoid; I'd expect it to get flakey when
hot and it does 'click' reliably (when cold). I can imagine the lever on
the operating cam slipping, but wouldn't expect that to vary with
temperature (or to work at all, actually). Actuating shaft lift was
correctly set at rebuild. I do have a DWM 'uprated' accumulator
installed, and the O/D engages within 2 seconds when it functions.

Anyone had this condition, or have a theory as to why it behaves this
way? Next step would be to remove the console and confirm I have good
oil pressure (but if I do, then what?).

TIA,
Bob
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