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

[Chris Dimmock]

Exactly right Charlie!!!
The key is to realise that if your car won't drive backwards, (and you  
can't even push/roll it backwards in neutral) then your Healey is  
stuck in overdrive.
If it happens, then as I described earlier, you have to tap the metal  
sandwich plate on the overdrive with your knock off hammer to release  
the springs.
Only happened to me once, but I've now seen it happen to 3 or 4 other  
healeys, and only ever at track days.
Chris
www.myaustinhealey.com

Sent from my iPhone

On 20/09/2010, at 10:50 PM, Charlie Baldwin <mgcharlie at comcast.net>  
wrote:

> 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.