[Healeys] Laycock overdrive

[David Wirken]

Now that we are on the OD topic, I have a Healey 100 whose OD
won't disengage after I switch it off, it's not an electrical problem and
I'm really cautious about not putting the transmission in reverse. The only
way I can release it is to rock the car back and forth in neutral until it
pops out .
It's probably time to rebuild, I presume.

Any thoughts would be appreciated

DW



On Fri, Aug 11, 2023 at 11:11 PM Bob Spidell <bspidell at comcast.net> wrote:

> re: "... The health of the 8 springs that keep the unit in direct drive
> is important to keep the clutch from slipping...."
>
> I believe the shop manual admonishes owners to replace these when
> overhauling the unit, even if the old ones look and feel fine (some say
> not so). I think my old ones are in a box on a shelf somewhere if
> anybody wants them.
>
> Note the O/D pump is a positive displacement pump that will continue to
> produce pressure--driven by the full power of the engine--unless there
> is a pressure relief mechanism.
>
>
> On 8/11/2023 10:34 AM, Hank Leach via Healeys wrote:
> > Guys-this is a very lively topic and one of sometimes great mystery
> > and confusion.  The unit is complex but the end result is working well
> > or not functioning at all.
> >
> > On the subject of pressure required to operate the shift into
> > overdrive there are many schools of thought. Some people replace or
> > stretch springs or add washers to increase the pressure needed. The
> > health of the 8 springs that keep the unit in direct drive is
> > important to keep the clutch from slipping.  The pressure supplied to
> > overcome the strength of these 8 spring , and effect overdrive, relies
> > on adequate hydraulic pressure. The change from direct to overdrive
> > needs to be smooth, not harsh, and if pressures are high the unit will
> > snap into and out of OD rather than the smooth interchange we are used
> > to while driving.
> >
> > When applied to the Austin Healey 100, the Laycock overdrive was
> > initially a 32% reduction unit. It was soon found out in these early
> > Warwick cars that 32% was too much reduction.  DHMC swapped units
> > three times in the original DMH tour car until they finally found a
> > combination that produced the smooth shift and complimentary gearing
> > desired.
> >
> > It is difficult, today, to find any information on this original 32%
> > gearbox, however if you examine the booklet (attached) supplied by
> > Laycock for the early cars, you will notice that the casting allowed
> > for a large accumulator piston (seen on p6 in brochure). After some
> > research and modified engineering, the company came up with this alloy
> > "sleeve" called the piston housing (photo) which partially filled the
> > chamber of the original large accumulator casting and allowed for a
> > smaller accumulator piston that we see in all the later 28% reduction
> > units. That size piston, in proper condition, produced from 350-450
> > lbs of needed hydraulic pressure to overcome the springs influence.
> >
> > I'm confident that the remark made by Geoff Healey in his writings
> > about the early transmissions "harsh shifting" revolved around this
> > huge accumulator piston producing too much pressure. Additionally,
> > there were three various accumulator springs supplied which adjusted
> > the pressure. The early boxes produced about 350lbs and the later
> > about 450.
> >
> > Today, Overdrive Spares supplies that sleeve housing with only one
> > rubber O-ring as it is basically a filler part and not under extreme
> > pressure. The accumulator piston within is under that pressure. They
> > supply a modified piston using O-ring technology. So, it is not
> > unusual to get good pressures over the normal 450 lbs required. If it
> > works well don't fix it.  The only concern is if the pressure does not
> > release when overdrive is not called for. A clean unit, with proper
> > 30W oil, will allow that to happen. All this some old theory and
> > history to ponder. Hank
> >
>
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