Section : Overdrive

Overdrive electrical fault 

Posted By : Jonathan Lockett, 02-Jul-2003, 03:05pm

• Overdrive electrical fault 

  Posted By : Nigel Gibbins, 02-Jul-2003, 06:51pm

  Have a look a:
  
  http://www.canleyclassics.com/infodatabase.asp?top...
  
  This is Canley Classics's page dedicated to overdrive problems and many are simple to fix.
  
  NiG
  http://www.niginthecar.net

  • Overdrive electrical fault 

    Posted By : Jonathan Lockett, 02-Jul-2003, 09:28pm

    Thanks NiG I'll give it a go.
    
    Jonathan

  • Overdrive electrical fault 

    Posted By : Don Cook, 04-Jul-2003, 00:09am

    Look at the achives (gearbox) for the chassis models. There are a number of links you can find, some in America that are very helpful e.g. BuckeyeTriumph.
    
    The other thing is to follow the wiring diagram. If your OD isn't working it might be the switch. One tip I got was that if you switch ignition on (don't start), put in third or fourth gear and gearknob switch to 'IN'. Leave to simmer for 5 mins and then feel the solenoid - it should be warm or hot; if it is then it's getting power.
    
    Course, all this hasn't helped me get my recently fitted J type working, so bugger it until the autumn/winter!
    
    Don

    • Overdrive electrical fault 

      Posted By : Jonathan Lockett, 04-Jul-2003, 09:57am

      Don,
      
      Cheers i'll try it. The guy I bought the car from says it only stopped working when he changed the carpets for new? Could he have disturbed a connection and if so which would be the most obvious one?
      
      Thanks
      Jonathan

      • Overdrive electrical fault 

        Posted By : Graham Reeks, 04-Jul-2003, 11:38am

        I'd say suck it and see Jonathan. Tunnel cover off and have a look around accompanied by a wiring diagram. However if he was just changing the carpet and your o/d switch is still on the gear stick you might be lucky and find that it's just not been put back together properly, eg. not earthed

        • Overdrive electrical fault 

          Posted By : Don Cook, 04-Jul-2003, 01:57pm

          The gearbox tunnel carpet probably didn't need the gear knob removing but have a look anyway. As Graham says though remove the tunnel and check all wires - fingers crossed on the earth front!
          
          I've booked my GT6 for it's MOT tomorrow and thought I'd take the car up the by-pass for an airing. Wouldn't you believe it the speedo has just packed up. I rang the testers and they said not to worry about it?
          
          I've about had it with this J type O/D and am sorely tempted to put back my old gearbox...possibly after Stafford.

          • Overdrive electrical fault 

            Posted By : Jonathan Lockett, 05-Jul-2003, 10:55pm

            Don/Graham,
            
            Do either of you know where the overdrive is earthed? I can see the power wire entering the end of the solenoid but no earth??!! Is it earthed somewhere on the unit itself?
            
            Thanks
            Jonathan.....I won't give up!!!

            • Overdrive electrical fault 

              Posted By : Nigel Gibbins, 06-Jul-2003, 00:21am

              Doesn't it earth through the engine earthing strap? I kinda just took that for granted. ?
              
              NiG
              http://www.niginthecar.net

              • Overdrive electrical fault 

                Posted By : Adrian Lee, 06-Jul-2003, 08:27pm

                not wanting to appear rude........but it`s not nuclear physiscs.............two wires in, two out,colour coded,earth through the engine/gearbox earth.is the solenoid working?
                

                • Overdrive electrical fault 

                  Posted By : Jonathan Lockett, 06-Jul-2003, 09:15pm

                  Adrian,
                  
                  No offense taken...thick skinned.
                  
                  No the problem I have is that its a wiring nightmare...the original wiring long since vanished and in parts replaced by speaker wire!!!!! A real mess. I've cut it all out and re-wired the lot. The earth confusion came from someones response which I may have misread but I thought they were suggesting that the unit had its own separate earth strapped to it directly...I realise the whole lot has a main earth. (only GT6 novice not complete novice!!)
                  
                  Anyhow...fresh wiring complete the solenoid still aint moving the plunger or warming so I think it may be shot. I'll try and get a second hand one tomorrow and see if that works.
                  
                  Any suggestions feel free.
                  
                  Thanks
                  Jonathan

                  • Overdrive electrical fault 

                    Posted By : Don Cook, 06-Jul-2003, 09:49pm

                    I was prattling on about the J type OD (not fitted to the GT6) but I assume the principle is the same. As for the earth, on the J type there is a small wire from one terminal on the solenoid that goes to a nearby bolt on the OD...to gearbox...to engine...to earth strap!
                    
                    Don

                  • Overdrive electrical fault 

                    Posted By : Adrian Lee, 07-Jul-2003, 04:45am

                    Never worked on a GT6,but i imagine it is similar to the Vitesse in that getting to the bottom fixing screw is...........how should i put this..........somewhat difficult...........check Nigels advice in the Vit section,it seems sensible.

                    • Overdrive electrical fault 

                      Posted By : Jonathan Lockett, 07-Jul-2003, 09:25am

                      Adrian,
                      
                      Yes...I followed Nigels advice and it was a piece of cake...although time consuming. With the front raised up undo gearbox mounting bracket bolts and the bolts holding the tray under the o/d and jack up the gearbox sligtly...works a treat..thanks nigel.
                      
                      Just had a shock..a new solenoid is over &163;70!!!!!!!
                      
                      Where is best to source one?
                      
                      Thanks
                      
                      Jonathan

                      • Overdrive electrical fault 

                        Posted By : Peter Boxshall, 07-Jul-2003, 12:18pm

                        Jonathan,
                        I don't know which of the 2 windings may be open cct but I did successfully dismantle the solenoid on my old GT6 and rewind what I seem to remember was the initiating coil i.e., the thicker wire. The end of the case was peened over and can be prised open.
                        It was about 20 years ago so my recollection of the detail is poor but I used a wheelbrace and some sort of former to unwind the coil. I had an assistant as it is a four handed job. I actually remember using the same wire to rewind with, having soldered the broken ends and insulated the joint with heatshrink sleeving. It worked fine after that but it may be a procedure that is not for the faint hearted. I would do it again though if I thought it would save me &163;70.
                        
                        Peter

                        • Overdrive electrical fault 

                          Posted By : Jonathan Lockett, 07-Jul-2003, 12:54pm

                          Peter,
                          
                          Thanks for that. I have a friend who is an electrical engineer so I think I'll post the old one off to him to see what he can do...I will then keep the "repaired" one as a backup.
                          
                          The cheapest new solenoid I can find is from Canley Classics....&163;34 !!!! Rimmers want over &163;70?? I've ordered the Canley version!!!!
                          
                          All The Best
                          Jonathan
                          

                          • Overdrive electrical fault 

                            Posted By : Nigel Gibbins, 07-Jul-2003, 02:44pm

                            I used the Canley one (for &163;35) and it is the right one - I was usure due to the massive price difference. I was going to say though - be sure it's not the relay that is at fault.
                            
                            I changed the solenoid only to find out it wasn't the problem after all and it turned out a new relay (&163;15) was all that was needed.
                            
                            NiG
                            http://www.niginthecar.net

                            • Overdrive electrical fault 

                              Posted By : Jonathan Lockett, 07-Jul-2003, 10:55pm

                              Cheers NiG,
                              
                              I think its the solenoid as I can hear the relay clicking and power is being supplied to the solenoid when its supposed to.
                              
                              Fingers crossed..should get the new one tomorrow.
                              
                              As I've said earlier I'm quite new to the GT6 mark although I've long wanted one...and I'm still finding my feet in the Triumph world. I take it the dreaded "r" word is Rimmers?? Is it because they are a tad pricey?? They do have a good setup..particularly on-line...so if not them who is best for parts?
                              
                              Thanks Again
                              Jonathan

                              • Overdrive electrical fault 

                                Posted By : Jonathan Lockett, 08-Jul-2003, 03:39pm

                                This overdrive problem is driving me nuts!!!!!
                                
                                New solenoid came today..looks the part!!
                                
                                Fitted it ok....came to test it and .....you guessed it ...buggar all !!!!! aaahhhhhhh.
                                
                                It seems that power is being supplied when the o/d switch is off but when switched on with 3rd selected power is no longer present in the feed wire to the solenoid..how odd. What do you guys think..I've ordered the relay to eliminate that as a possibility but as for anything else I'm lost? Sounds to me like a short but where...I had a full head of hair 3 days ago....not anymore.
                                
                                Thanks
                                Jonathan

                                • Overdrive electrical fault 

                                  Posted By : Adrian Lee, 08-Jul-2003, 06:57pm

                                  First i`ll confess to being no expert when it comes to electrics.But it sounds like the gizmo that the gear selecter hits (name escapes me) to feed the power must be faulty.There has to be someone who knows more about this than i?.................yes ,the cat has just walked in i`ll ask him.

                                  • Overdrive electrical fault 

                                    Posted By : Don Cook, 08-Jul-2003, 07:18pm

                                    That's strange because my cat just walked in and I said "Can you sort out a solenoid problem?" and the cat said "ME-OW!". Give me a dog anytime.

                                    • Overdrive electrical fault 

                                      Posted By : Jonathan Lockett, 08-Jul-2003, 07:39pm

                                      Don..tried that but my dog wanted to eat the solenoid...Boxers...nice but dim!!!!
                                      
                                      Jonathan

                                      • Overdrive electrical fault 

                                        Posted By : Jonathan Lockett, 08-Jul-2003, 07:46pm

                                        Adrian,
                                        
                                        You are right...but who does know about these darn things? Do you know a triumph specialist repair center?? I'll try the courier.
                                        
                                        As for the gearbox selector sender I can't see how that can be it....although I'm not sure...but looking at the wiring diagram I think I have a working relay..I hear it clicking and there is voltage coming out!! Also the power wire which connects the solenoid ony is powered when 3/4th gear selected so it must also be working???Mustn't it?? I'll go and borrow my neighbours cat!!!
                                        
                                        
                                        Don...did you try powering your solenoid on the bench??
                                        
                                        
                                        All The Best
                                        Jonathan

                                        • Overdrive electrical fault 

                                          Posted By : Nigel Gibbins, 08-Jul-2003, 08:56pm

                                          I've got a little test for you to try, switch the O/d on and you'll hear all the necessary clicks (but the plunger doesn't move).
                                          
                                          If this is the case try just pinching the relay connectors and see if the plunger then 'plunges' The relay can be coming apart inside and this pinching allows the connection to complete sometimes. This is exactly how it was on mine.
                                          
                                          NiG
                                          http://www.niginthecar.net

                                          • Overdrive electrical fault 

                                            Posted By : Jonathan Lockett, 08-Jul-2003, 09:12pm

                                            Nig,
                                            
                                            Cheers...I rewired the relay this morning. I have a new one coming tomorrow to be sure but I'm positive the relay is ok...otherwise I dont think i'd be getting power to the solenoid?? Or am I confused?? As I mentioned I tried to test the solenoid on the bench with a 12v battery...no plunging could be seen but if I physically pushed the plunger in it did lock in so I no the low amp circuit is working.
                                            
                                            Who overhauls these things surely they would know??
                                            
                                            Jonathan

                                            • Overdrive electrical fault 

                                              Posted By : Adrian Lee, 08-Jul-2003, 11:06pm

                                              a lot of plunging going on here...........with plungers............stupid point..................are the wires on the right way on the afore mentioned Gizmo?

                                              • Overdrive electrical fault 

                                                Posted By : Adrian Lee, 08-Jul-2003, 11:07pm

                                                Bitter taking over now.........ignore my inane ramblings...............zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

                                                • Overdrive electrical fault 

                                                  Posted By : Graham Reeks, 09-Jul-2003, 07:45am

                                                  Try contacting a company called Overdrive Repair Services, or something like that. Anyway they're specialists, and based in Sheffield. A friend just re-clutched his GT last week using some very nice and shiny parts supplied by them. And at least you'll have the satisfaction of being able to sneer at them and call them frauds if they can't help you! Don't have a number for them, but they're often at car shows.

                                            • Overdrive electrical fault 

                                              Posted By : Nigel Gibbins, 09-Jul-2003, 09:13am

                                              I think the Solenoid is a replacement part - not worth fixing (if that's what you mean). Even when mine wasn't working I was getting a current to the solenoid and it rose when the O/d was enganged, but when I connected the battery direct it plunged fine.
                                              
                                              I think I was getting 3 Amps when off and 14 Amps when on - can't remember :-P
                                              
                                              NiG
                                              http://www.niginthecar.net
                                              
                                              

                                        • Overdrive electrical fault 

                                          Posted By : Don Cook, 09-Jul-2003, 12:43pm

                                          Nah - I'm not touching my solenoid until well after Stafford, where I hope to get a 1" spanner in the autojumble! Meanwhile, my J type conversion isn't working.
                                          
                                          My son was talking to a friend of his who has a knackered gearbox with an OD, not sure if D or J type. The OD is supposed to be OK though, so I'll wait for that and use what I can. I have a feeling that my OD problem lies in crap clogging up the oilways but a special tool is needed to undo the three bits: filter, relief valve and the other thing? That can all wait until the autumn though.
                                          
                                          I hope that OD will eventually be worth it as I did have a reasonably nice, non OD gearbox, that cruised quite well; 3500 rpm at 70 mph (3.27 diff). Now, I have no OD (good English or what!) and a crunchy gearbox! Still you get what you pay for and I didn't pay a lot.
                                          
                                          Don

                                          • Overdrive electrical fault 

                                            Posted By : Graham Reeks, 09-Jul-2003, 01:10pm

                                            That's a shame Don, it sounded like your conversion had been a success.

                                            • Overdrive electrical fault 

                                              Posted By : Don Cook, 09-Jul-2003, 01:38pm

                                              Well, it's all fitted using a mounting plate from Jigsaw. The OD might be sitting too low as it's sump is very close to the chassis and might even be rubbing against it! I may have to slip a spacer plate under the rubber mount for more clearance; so that's something to do. At the end of the day (weeks actually) the OD just would not engage! So more work needed there.
                                              
                                              Oh well! When you see YKN 220J at the Red Day you can knowingly say, and impress your friends, that it's overdrive doesn't work and the chunk missing from the top corner of the bonnet is because it hit a garage door while being jacked up! Not the car's fault, it runs great and has taken me all over Europe.
                                              
                                              I will be accepting commiserations at Stafford, so if you see a miserable bloke wandering around muttering about solenoids and stuff say hello and buy me a pint. Keep a look out at the Sat night party for Homer Simpson!
                                              
                                              Don
                                              
                                              

                                    • Overdrive electrical fault 

                                      Posted By : Adrian Lee, 08-Jul-2003, 11:03pm

                                      My cat said "feed me and i MIGHT help you".........fat git