[Healeys] Overdrive pressure not releasing.

Bob Spidell bspidell at comcast.net
Sun Apr 17 16:18:45 MDT 2022


I think that's the O-ring for the operating pistons. Mine were slightly 
flat-sided at 200K+ miles.


On 4/17/2022 1:47 PM, gradea1 at charter.net wrote:
>
> Don't think that issue has been resolved.  Moss sells the replacement as:
> Austin Healey 100, 100-6, 3000 	Clutch, Gearbox & Drivetrain 
> Overdrive BN1 <https://mossmotors.com/overdrive-bn1> 	76 	O-RING 	BN1
>
> --79
>
> 866-690 <https://mossmotors.com/o-ring-27?assoc=172485>
>
> <https://mossmotors.com/o-ring-27?assoc=172485>
>
> O-RING 89 cents each-chafe them and replace them. Hank
>
> ---------------------------------------
>
> From: "Michael Salter via Healeys"
> To: "Bob Spidell"
> Cc: "healeys at autox.team.net"
> Sent: Sunday April 17 2022 12:04:24PM
> Subject: Re: [Healeys] Overdrive pressure not releasing.
>
> Actually Bob I've never used an  "O" ringed accumulator.
> I spent a little time many years back looking into using "O" rings on 
> the accumulator but couldn't resolve the issue of the ring being 
> chaffed when passing over the radial drillings in the accumulator body.
> Does anyone know how that has been solved?
>
> M
>
> On Sun., Apr. 17, 2022, 2:49 p.m. Bob Spidell, <bspidell at comcast.net> 
> wrote:
>
>     Michael,
>
>     Sounds like you're implying the O-ringed accumulator is superior
>     to the metal ring (OEM) type? Wish I'd known about it when I
>     rebuilt my O/D (I bought the DWM 'uprated' accumulator).
>
>     I'll throw out another, very unlikely, potential cause: the cone
>     clutch could be stuck together. I've heard of this happening, but
>     have never experienced it my self--nor has anyone I know--but it's
>     theoretically possible (esp. if the clutch is excessively worn).
>     Could this be the reason the manual is adamant about replacing the
>     8 strong springs, of two lengths, that oppose the operating
>     pistons on overhaul, regardless if they still seem robust?
>
>
>     On 4/17/2022 9:31 AM, Michael Salter via Healeys wrote:
>
>         Simon,
>         Based upon your synopsis I conclude that the operating valve
>         is NOT opening when either the solenoid lever or the setting
>         lever is being moved to the position where the operating valve
>         ball would normally be lifted off its seat.
>         This conclusion is based upon your discovery that the pressure
>         in the accumulator, as indicated on the gauge, does not leak
>         away overnight.
>         There is a small clearance between the operating valve push
>         rod and the overdrive housing. If the operating valve ball was
>         indeed lifted off its seat all the oil in the accumulator
>         would, over time, leak past the operating rod thus discharge
>         the accumulator.
>         This process would indeed take some time but would certainly
>         completely relieve most, if not all the residual accumulator
>         pressure overnight.
>         If however the operating valve ball is still in contact with
>         its seat (i.e. not being lifted) the oil pressure would not
>         reach the small clearance between the valve push rod and the
>         housing and, other than past the accumulator rings there is
>         nowhere for that pressure to be relieved.
>         I would presume that Overdrive Spares installed an accumulator
>         with an "O" ring rather than the original cast iron rings. If
>         the original type accumulator piston was still fitted, oil
>         would seep past the cast iron rings to relieve the pressure,
>         albeit very slowly, and again the accumulator pressure would
>         be discharged overnight..
>         The cam on the operating shaft, the one which lifts the
>         operating valve push rod and thus the operating valve ball, is
>         locked to the shaft with a small taper pin. I would guess that
>         the taper pin has either fallen out or sheared.
>         Bad news is that this pin cannot be accessed without removing
>         and disassembling the overdrive.
>
>         M
>
>         On Sat, Apr 16, 2022 at 1:19 PM Simon Lachlan via Healeys
>         <healeys at autox.team.net> wrote:
>
>             My OD is driving me mad and I definitely need some
>             inspired advice. A bit of background first. I’ll try to
>             lay out all the facts in a logical sequence. (I’m
>             increasingly reluctant to link ODs with logic!)
>
>              1. I’d say that the OD has done +/- 15k miles since a
>                 total rebuild by Overdrive Spares here in UK.
>              2. The OD had issues before Christmas (21) and was sorted
>                 out by OD Spares. The accumulator was uprated and
>                 pressure issues sorted.
>              3. OD functioned 100% on the few times I’d been able to
>                 take it out since then until..
>              4. One day, the OD stopped functioning.
>              5. I checked the electrics. All fine there so I delved a
>                 bit deeper.
>              6. It had fried its solenoid which I replaced. But…
>              7. That did not fix the problem so…
>              8. I decided that the operating valve’s adjustment might
>                 be off so..
>              9. I bought a dial gauge and hoped to sort it out
>                 precisely rather than by “feel”, which I lack in this
>                 area.
>             10. Prior to using the gauge I decided to see if the OD
>                 was functioning at all so I raised the car on stands
>                 and fitted my pressure gauge.
>             11. I get a reading of 500psi rising a bit when I rev the
>                 engine but I’d suppose that would drop when the oil
>                 warms up.
>             12. BUT, and this is where things go pear-shaped…moving
>                 the little lever on the RHS up and down does not
>                 engage/disengage OD. There is no change on the gauge
>                 to show OD engaging or disengaging.
>             13. AND, the gauge stays at 500psi even when the engine is
>                 off. Moving the lever 20 times has zero effect. Stayed
>                 at 500 overnight!
>             14. Of course, I checked for dirt in the operating valve
>                 area. None.
>             15. Likewise, the tiny hole in the “valve – operating”
>                 (the spindle thing which the ball sits on)….that’s
>                 clear. And surely, the pressure would diminish
>                 overnight if something in that area was partially
>                 obstructed?
>             16. When I remove the pressure valve, there’s a small
>                 spillage – no more than you’d expect – but repeating
>                 the pressure gauge process only returns the same results.
>             17. I see in the bible according to Norman Nock that
>                 “Holding this lever with your thumb and index finger,
>                 you should be able to push the lever down lightly
>                 about ⅜” until you feel a slight spring pressure
>                 resistance. The lever should go down another ¼” after
>                 encountering the resistance……” ie there’s about ⅝”
>                 movement up & down in that lever. Well, my lever does
>                 move and does lift the ball, but there’s not ⅝”
>                 movement there. Could that be the problem area???
>             18. Almost finished…keep reading!
>
>             So, I’m stumped. Every time I learn something new about
>             the OD, it has a new trick to baffle me.
>
>             I’ve no 100% sure way of telling whether it’s gone into OD
>              and stuck there or whether it’s simply not going into OD
>             at all.
>
>             I’ve done a lot of reading through my books and collection
>             of advice from the various gurus and found reference to
>             ODs being stuck but those seemed to be to do with “weak
>             springs” which, particularly after a long lay-off,
>             wouldn’t disengage. The cure for this being a good smack
>             on the steel plate sandwiched in the OD from below. Well,
>             that seems to be a stuck mechanism issue whereas I’m
>             facing a hydraulic conundrum. Or am I?
>
>             There is what is usually referred to as the “pressure
>             relief valve” adjacent to the accumulator. The name
>             suggested that pressure might be stuck in that area….but
>             surely not overnight?
>
>             Any ideas? I am particularly reluctant to take the gearbox
>             and OD out. You’ll recall the ridiculous business of the
>             defective clutch kit? Well, I forget whether we had the
>             box in and out 3 times or 4. I’d hoped not to do it again
>             so soon or ever for that matter.
>
>             I’m hoping for a miracle of course but some sound advice
>             would be a godsend…………
>
>             Thanks,
>
>             Simon
>
>
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