I have a '64 BJ8.

I have a sporadic problem with my overdrive. At times it begins to jump into and out of overdrive unpredictably. This can be disconcerting when cruising at highway speeds.

I think that it happens primarily when the car gets really hot (long trips on hot days), but I can't swear to that correlation.

Any ideas on what's causing the problem and how to tackle it?

Received: from triumph.cs.utah.edu by agt.gmeds.com (4.1/EDS-1.0) id AA24332; Sat, 9 Mar 96 09:30:50 EST Received: (from majordom@localhost) by triumph.cs.utah.edu (8.6.12/) id QAA22951 for healeys-outgoing; Fri, 8 Mar 1996 16:14:50 -0500 From: HealeyDoc@aol.com Date: Fri, 8 Mar 1996 16:13:40 -0500 Message-Id: <960308161340_441488148@emout06.mail.aol.com> To: PJBartels@aol.com, healeys@autox.team.net Subject: Re: overdrive problem Sender: healeys-request@triumph.cs.utah.edu Precedence: bulk Reply-To: HealeyDoc@aol.com Status: R The overdrive adjustment is set incorrectly. For more info on how to adjust the overdrive refer to Factory service manual page G4 section G6 or pages 53 - 55 In Normans tech book. ====================================================== British Car Specialist 2060 N. Wilson Way Stockton Ca 95205 209-948-8767 (fax# 948-1030) Healey Doc@aol.com Norman Nock - Tech. advisor, David Nock - Service Sheila Huggins - parts research Technical books by Norman Nock avalilable for the MG and Healey. Return-Path: Received: from triumph.cs.utah.edu by agt.gmeds.com (4.1/EDS-1.0) id AA24003; Sat, 9 Mar 96 07:55:31 EST Received: (from majordom@localhost) by triumph.cs.utah.edu (8.6.12/) id JAA15230 for healeys-outgoing; Fri, 8 Mar 1996 09:12:05 -0500 From: Motorheadx@aol.com Date: Fri, 8 Mar 1996 09:11:52 -0500 Message-Id: <960308091150_344902917@mail02.mail.aol.com> To: healeys@autox.team.net Subject: Overdrive diagnosis Sender: healeys-request@triumph.cs.utah.edu Precedence: bulk Reply-To: Motorheadx@aol.com Status: R Hi, We've developed a routine for overdrive diagnosis that can be used throughout the range of British cars and covers the easy, inexpensive first round of testing: 1. Trace and check the wiring from the overdrive switch to the solenoid, lockout switches and kickdown switch. Intermittent connections can cause the O/D to have a mind of its own especially over bumps or when the car is warm. 2. Check the adjustment on gearshift-activated switches by pulling the lever into place. Wear on these switches can require that they be adjusted (tightened) over time. 3. Change the gearbox and O/D oil to Castrol GL4. This specialty oil sometimes makes the difference for O/D's that cut in and out. 4. If there is a solenoid adjustment, check it to be correct. 5. Be sure to engage the O/D at a high enough RPM to activate it. 6. Be sure that the 3-piece clutch isn't slipping. Most overdrive faults can be traced within this routine. Overdrive units are durable and rarely need internal attention. If you do need to rebuild your O/D, rebuild it completely along with the gearbox. Have fun, Jeff and your friends at Motorhead 2811-B Old Lee Hwy Fairfax, VA 22031 (800) 527-3140 Home of daily drivers http://www.erols.com/mtrhd From healeys-owner@triumph.cs.utah.edu Fri Mar 8 10:14:29 1996 Return-Path: Received: from triumph.cs.utah.edu by agt.gmeds.com (4.1/EDS-1.0) id AA17815; Fri, 8 Mar 96 10:14:21 EST Received: (from majordom@localhost) by triumph.cs.utah.edu (8.6.12/) id KAA21475 for healeys-outgoing; Fri, 8 Mar 1996 10:11:08 -0500 From: Dave_Lapham-RMFV10Q@email.sps.mot.com Date: 8 Mar 96 09:05:53 -0600 To: PJBartels@aol.com Cc: healeys@autox.team.net Subject: RE>overdrive problem Message-Id: <"Macintosh */PRMD=MOT/ADMD=MOT/C=US/"@MHS> Sender: healeys-request@triumph.cs.utah.edu Precedence: bulk Reply-To: Dave_Lapham-RMFV10Q@email.sps.mot.com Status: R X-Mozilla-Status: 0001 Content-Length: 1476 Reply to: RE>overdrive problem On: 3/7/96 PJBartels@aol.com wrote: > I have a sporadic problem with my overdrive. At times it > begins to jump into and out of overdrive unpredictably. > This can be disconcerting when cruising at highway speeds. > > I think that it happens primarily when the car gets really > hot (long trips on hot days), but I can't swear to that correlation. > > Any ideas on what's causing the problem and how to tackle it? While there are probably multiple possible causes, I just went through the same battle on my BN7. Here's what I did: Remove the seats and transmission tunnel. Check the travel on the solenoid and the 'calibration arm' on the other side of the overdrive ( use a 3/16" drill bit & line up the arm with the hole in the O/D body which is there for that purpose). Make sure the solenoid is actually pulling in. The manual has more details on doing this. Since your trouble is that the O/D is cutting out, you'll probably see and hear the solenoid pull in. Just make sure it's pulling in enough by using the above method. In my case, the problem was a bad solder joint on a bullet connector. Once I had determined that the solenoid pulled in and had enough travel, I started wiggling wires. Pretty soon the solenoid dropped out and I started checking with a test light until I found the problem. Good Luck. Dave Lapham Austin, TX From healeys-owner@triumph.cs.utah.edu Sat Mar 9 20:40:40 1996 Return-Path: Received: from triumph.cs.utah.edu by agt.gmeds.com (4.1/EDS-1.0) id AA26182; Sat, 9 Mar 96 20:40:33 EST Received: (from majordom@localhost) by triumph.cs.utah.edu (8.6.12/) id UAA14829 for healeys-outgoing; Sat, 9 Mar 1996 20:37:15 -0500 Date: 09 Mar 96 20:36:35 EST From: Richard Schwartz <73641.3111@compuserve.com> To: "(unknown)" Subject: RE> Overdrive Problem Message-Id: <960310013635_73641.3111_DHR55-1@CompuServe.COM> Sender: healeys-request@triumph.cs.utah.edu Precedence: bulk Reply-To: Richard Schwartz <73641.3111@compuserve.com> Status: R X-Mozilla-Status: 0001 Content-Length: 1419 Regarding the overdrive that falls out when hot. I recently had a rebuilt trans and overdrive installed. The overdrive had the same problem. Check the solenoid operation and adjustment Try to manually activate the OD by moving the actuating lever on the right side (which is what the solenoid is really doing). This will tell you if the problem is solenoid related. If this doesn't do anything check the seat of the actuator piston. This is accessed via a cap on the top of the OD. Inside is a small spring, a small plunger, a ball and the valve. Remove the ball and the valve (with a pencil point or a magnet) and check the seat where the ball sits on the valve. The ball and seat must match PERFECTLY! If the lip of the seat looks even a little uneven oil is probably leaking past the ball when it thins out from heat and the OD is losing the hydraulic pressure needed to remain engaged. The recommended procedure for seating the ball and valve is to place the ball on the seat and then whack it with copper mallet. Make sure you place the valve on a piece of wood before you do so as not to damage the bottom end. Fortunately, I had a spare valve so I just dropped it in and the OD has been working since. One other thing, I read that the seals around the accumulator and inner pistons sometimes fail but a local expert told me this is very unusual. Good Luck, Rick 67 BJ8

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