[Healeys] Overdrive solenoid

[Pieter and Linda]

Bob,
 I haven't rushed to a conclusion. This has been going on for a few weeks now
and I have checked everything I can. Oil pressure is good, oil level is good.
I have checked and cleaned filters. Checked and filed the relay points.
Adjusted, checked and rechecked the solenoid adjustment. I don't know a way of
checking the internal solenoid switch of the strength of the smaller field
coils. Hence my question,
Pieter
On 03/10/2011, at 6:16 PM, Bob Spidell wrote:

> re: "My only suspect it the solenoid"
>
> Why the rush to judgement without diagosis?  The shop manual has a good
diagnostic sequence.
>
> Had similar symptoms on my BJ8 a few years ago.  Tracked it to the O/D
relay--courtesy of the manual--and filed the points and the problem went away
(you can carefully open up the relay to inspect the points).  That's an
easy/free check.
>
> Bob
>
> --------------------------------
> Bob Spidell - San Jose, CA
>
> From: "Pieter and Linda" <pieters at pt.lu>
> To: "Healey List" <healeys at autox.team.net>
> Sent: Monday, October 3, 2011 7:33:43 AM
> Subject: [Healeys] Overdrive solenoid
>
> Hi Guys,
>  I have a perplexing problem with my overdrive. It is in good condition
with
> upgraded clutch, accumulator etc. It engages quickly but after a few
minutes
> of driving it starts to jump in and out of overdrive. I don't have a
throttle
> switch fitted. My only suspect it the solenoid. Since there are 2 windings,
> one to engage the overdrive and one to keep it engaged, could it be that
the
> internal switch or winding fault is causing it to "drop out" and then the
> stronger winding immediately re-engages the overdrive? Opinions?
>
>  2nd question is the replacement solenoid. There seems to be a wide variety
of
> prices for this part from all the usual suppliers. Are solenoids all the
same?
> Can anybody recommend which to buy or which to avoid?
>
>  Thanks as always,
> Piet