[Healeys] OD Design Flaw? (was Munched Overdrive?)

[Charlie Baldwin]

There really isn't a design flaw here.  The system will disengage the 
overdrive electrically before shifting into reverse via the 3rd/4th 
switch.  And as already pointed out, the pressure dissipates after the 
car sits for a while.
What is happening now, some 43 - 57 years later is a mechanical problem 
caused by the return springs weakening over all of those years and 
miles.  Even a "rebuilt" transmission and overdrive may have not had 
those springs replaced and if they were, they may not have been to 
exactly the original specification.


>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: <wilkmanracing at aol.com>
> To: <healeys at autox.team.net>
> Sent: Sunday, September 19, 2010 4:15 PM
> Subject: [Healeys] OD Design Flaw? (was Munched Overdrive?)
>
>
>> Thanks to everyone who has offered wisdom, advice, help, etc. 
>> regarding my
>> "Munched Overdrive" post.  I am going to try the hammer tap 
>> suggestion and I
>> do plan to drain the O/D to see what comes out.  If it's munched, I 
>> need to
>> decide whether to have it fixed or to go the Toyota 5-speed route.
>>
>> I do have one other question for the group.  When I had my trans and OD
>> rebuilt about 10 years ago, the rebuilder told me to make sure the OD is
>> disengaged before the car is parked.  I believe he also mentioned that I
>> should not back the car up if I forget to do this, as it could 
>> destroy the OD.
>> My question is this:  Why would something as simple as leaving an OD 
>> engaged
>> cause such havoc.  I'm pretty mechanically wise, but I'm sure a lot 
>> of Healey
>> owners in the past have been just plain drivers with no real mechanical
>> knowledge.  Someone like my wife would never even think about 
>> disengaging the
>> overdrive after every freeway run.  Isn't this a serious design flaw 
>> that such
>> a simple lapse would lead to such a mechanical disaster?

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