John McEwen wrote:
>
> Hello List:
>
> I finally got busy and dug out an old copy of the "MGB Driver's Handbook"
> dated 1967. I knew that I had read somewhere that the clutch is not
> necessary to allow an O/D shift to take place. I will quote from the
> "Bible", p. 30
>
> "Overdrive (optional)
>
> The overdrive can be engaged at any speed within the third or fourth gear
> range at any throttle opening between light and full throttle. DO NOT
> depress the clutch pedal to select 'overdrive' or 'normal'."
>
> Note that the words DO NOT are printed in bold face type.
>
> There is no other explanation as to the reason for forbidding the use of
> the clutch.
>
> John McEwen
Well, John has cited the '67 owner's manual/driver's handbook. Here's what the
'69
version says: "....Accelerator pedal pressure should be maintained and it is
not
necessary to depress the clutch pedal during engagement or disengagement."
Besides the fact that different overdrives are involved, the '69 version did
not
utilize the bizarre vacuum/relay overdrive switch layout which prevented
disengaging
the unit under conditions of high manifold vacuum. My suspicion is that the
strong
emphasis on not using the clutch found in the '67 version has something to do
with
that switch and how it functioned. The only "caution" to be found in the later
instructions says, "Do not 'switch out' the overdrive when travelling at speeds
exceeding normal third or top gear road speeds." (Typical British
understatement, I
would say....)
Bill
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