Overdrive not engaging

[Stagdad]

All last year the overdrive was a bit sluggish to engage and it got worse as the year went on ,now after a 3 week lay up its thrown in the towel and wont engage at all. Im guessing the solenoid is sticking or stuck and as Stoneleigh is coming up and i dont really want to go up the M1 with no overdrive i suppose i should fix it.Does anyone know where I can get some o rings for it or what size they are as the Muffinman suggested they could have bloated and deformed as his did the same.And will I loose much oil when I take it out?

Its a "J" type

Cheers Steve

[Stagdad]

Just looked on Rimmers web site and they have the outside o rings but the bit that i thought moves all looks to be one piece with the outer casing.Anyone taken one of these units apart or have any pictures of one?


Cheers Steve

[Bandit1200]

Hi Steve

Have you checked your oil level?

In any case before you do anything I would advise you to phone Overdrive spares who are based in Rugby. Their number is 01788 540666.
The chap there, Dave I think, couldn't have been more helpful when I had problems with my J Type O/D. He is more than happy to give technical advice over the phone and when I visited I was amazed at how much stock and equipment they have.
Apparently his father in law bought all the stock from the original manufacturer when they closed.

Hope to see you at Stoneleigh

Steve

[jleyton]

Just looked on Rimmers web site and they have the outside o rings but the bit that i thought moves all looks to be one piece with the outer casing.Anyone taken one of these units apart or have any pictures of one?
Cheers Steve

Hi Steve,

I've replaced my solenoid and I'm pretty sure that you couldn't see any moving parts from the outside of the unit.

Somewhere in my shed I've got the old one so I could try and find it to take a pic if you want ?

Also, do you know that although the ROM makes removal sound like the easiest job on the Stag, which in some ways it is, you need to have a 1" AF spanner that is only about 1/8" thick and only 3 or 4" long to get it out

Cheers

Julian

[Stagdad]

Thanks Steve and Julian ,ill check the oil but i think it still did it last year after I had topped it up and ill grind down one of my 1" spanners take out the solenoid and try cleaning it in parrafin as per the ROM check the fuse and make sure ive got power down to it and then if those things dont work give the guy above a call.


Cheers Steve

[redstag]

Hi Steve,

The valve body part has a moving piston inside which is retained by a small circlip in the end.

I have a spare one in the garage somewhere. I will post some pics tomorrow night if if no-one else has.


Pete

Edit: Or just look here on good old Buckeye

http://www.buckeyetriumphs.org/technical/jod/JOD1/JOD1.htm

[Stagdad]

Thank Pete ,some great pics there.Ive got it up in the air and the solenoid it make the right noises.Next thing ill check the oil as my box does leak quite a lot dispite fitting a whole new set of seals (im thinking i might have a hairline crack somewhere).


Cheers Steve

[Bandit1200]

Steve
If your O/D is leaking check that the breather on top of the unit is clear or that you even have one fitted.
You can change every gasket and seal in the box but with the temperature generated in an O/D unit creating the inevitable pressure the oil will find it's way out if the breather is blocked.

Again I can't recommend Overdrive Spares strongly enough.

Regards

Steve

[Stagdad]

Steve
If your O/D is leaking check that the breather on top of the unit is clear or that you even have one fitted.
You can change every gasket and seal in the box but with the temperature generated in an O/D unit creating the inevitable pressure the oil will find it's way out if the breather is blocked.

Again I can't recommend Overdrive Spares strongly enough.

Regards

Steve

Steve ,I think I may be giving them a call as I have just checked the oil level and only had to add about 250ml, I was hoping this was the problem but now I dont think it will be.Cant say I have ever seen a breather on the box so maybe that is my leak problem.

Cheers Steve

[nib]

Hi Steve,i have the A type overdrive on mine and that leaks after its been standing and its been a while since i've topped it up so I imagine it needs a top up but the o/d still cuts in and out ok.Can you hear the solonoid clicking in with the ignition on(but not running) when you flick the o/d switch in 3rd and 4th? My overdrive a few years ago had a habit of cutting out when it got warmed up,I replaced the solonoid and cleaned the wires up and it did the job.
Mark

[Stagdad]

Hi Steve,i have the A type overdrive on mine and that leaks after its been standing and its been a while since i've topped it up so I imagine it needs a top up but the o/d still cuts in and out ok.Can you hear the solonoid clicking in with the ignition on(but not running) when you flick the o/d switch in 3rd and 4th? My overdrive a few years ago had a habit of cutting out when it got warmed up,I replaced the solonoid and cleaned the wires up and it did the job.
Mark

Hi Mark ,yes I can hear a healthy clicking when selecting OD so I think the solenoid is ok.Last year it got to a stage where i would throw the switch and about 30 seconds later it would go into OD but only if the revs of the engine where up around 2500.It seemed to help if I booted it then let off and let it coast and then it always seemed to go in but now nothing.

Cheers Steve

[jleyton]

Hi Steve,

Just a thought - have you cleaned the filters ? They're pretty easy to get at on a J type, although you do need to drain the box first. I found quite a bit of crud in mine.

If you want to check them the book says you need a special tool for one of them but there is an easy way around it.

Cheers

Julian

[Stagdad]

Hi Julian ,yes going to have a look for a spare of sump gasket in my garage tomorrow and if I find one I'm try that if not it will have to wait till after Stoneleigh

Cheers Steve

[jleyton]

Ok Steve.

The trick is that one of the 'plugs' (for sake of a better description) has two holes on its flat surface and is supposed to be removed with a pin wrench. I found that if you can get two drill bits that fit in to those holes quite snugly (non pointed end inwards !) then you can put a screwdriver flat between then and just twist it out. (I'm not sure if I've explained that particularly well )

Good luck.

Cheers

Julian

[Stagdad]

I Understand what you mean Julian

cheers Steve