[Healeys] Overdrive solenoid

[Peter Schauss]

I have had a similar problem with my MGB which uses the same isolation
switch. I found
that on the new ones which Moss sells the ball does not stick out far
enough to hold the switch
reliably in the on position even if it is mounted without the washer.
You may have a similar problem.

On the other hand when the overdrive on my Healey started dropping out
on me, the problem turned out to
be the o-ring(s) on the accumulator.

HTH,
Peter Schauss
1963 BJ7
1980 MGB

On Mon, Oct 3, 2011 at 2:05 PM, Earl Kagna <kags at shaw.ca> wrote:
> Piet:
>
> I've had this happen a couple of times.
>
> Turned out to be the gearshift lever switch on the transmission - the one
> that allows the overdrive to work only in the 3 -4 position.  The switch
> would engage - but barely - when the transmission was cold and then either
> drop out, or go in and out when everything warmed up.  The test for me was
> to apply momentary pressure to the shift lever (to the right I believe - it
> was a long time ago).  If the overdrive then shifts back in and holds,
> simply adjust the switch at it's mount by re-shimming it so that it's
closer
> to the activation point so it closes reliably when the lever is in the 3-4
> position.
>
> If this turns out to be the cause, you'll probably notice a wear spot on
the
> ball end of the switch.  You haven't stated which Healey model you are
> referring to, but the situation can happen on either the side or top-shift
> transmissions.
>
> Worked for me!