Will this damage my overdrive

[Eagerbeaver]

I'm just at the end of a fantastic tour through Spain and France with my GT6. Over 2000 miles and no problems except my overdrive solenoid (which is the newest part on the car) decided to self destruct (poor quality manufacture).

I've got about another 800 miles to go and I'm not looking forward to this with no overdrive.

I can't get a solenoid in a reasonable time.

I've now got 2 long journeys to make and am planning on jamming the actuator so overdrive is on all the time. I realise I won't be able to use reverse but will using overdrive in 1st and 2nd do any harm if I am careful. Most of the time will be spent on the motorway.

This is an attempt at a get me home fix.

[GT6 M]

Should be ok, if you care full no to put too much power thru 1st,

will make 1st like 2nd, so will be a bit awkward setting off on a hill,!!!

wot is it , J or D !!

take it ,it is a D, if you going to ..jam..it in,  

you will have to get all the ..tunnel..out though, , not the easiest of jobs, :-/ :-/

good luck

Marcus

[Eagerbeaver]

Thanks for that. I'd already stripped out the tunnel to diagnose the solenoid problem so that's not too much of an issue.

It's a D type.

I may be able to rig up some kind of wire assisted actuator but I shall see how I get on.

Thanks again. I'll report back when I'm back in the UK.

[sparky_spit]

Might be worth sticking a bit of paper in your line of sight saying "Don't use reverse!" as a reminder.

[Jason]

As long as you're not doing many hill starts or traffic light GP starts and you take it easy in first you should be OK, reverse is the killer, it won't take much driving in reverse to wreck it - a few yards maybe?

[G.in_Lux]

Whereabouts are you?

I have a d-type on my garage floor if you need the solenoid...

But I'm in Martelange, on the Luxembourgish Border which may not be on your route...

[GT6 M]

Wot is wrong with the solenoid, !!, check it oot, and see id the wires have come loose first

dirty contacts will do it too

maybe you done this already though,

self detruct, !!! has it ..blown up,!!..,  or just not working

try a feed direct to solenoid from battery, , it may be the relay !!! switch ect,

or if it is not stopping in ,  low oil pressure= no oil !!!

or is it clicking ,in and oot, !!

Marcus

[Tim Bancroft]

I damaged my J type years ago by reversing for 2 yds-so be careful.

Sounds like you have a 3.89:1 diff, gearing will be approx 17mph/1000 revs- 4K is only 68mph-umm!

[Eagerbeaver]

Thanks for all the advice, especially the offer of the solenoid. I would have given a vital body organ for one yesterday!!!

Just to give you all a bit of background on this. I replaced the solenoid back in June as the secondary windings had burned out. It was 38 years old so had served well. I fitted a new unit (none original, nasty aftermarket one was all I could find!!!).

All was OK until the other day when all of a sudden, the solenoid started chattering, then stopped chattering all within about 2 seconds.

That night, I stripped out the tunnel to find that the solenoid had pushed itself apart. The front flange had come away, the rear mounting for the contacts had come away. The former due to poor welding, the latter due to poor swaging of the body onto the rear section. The windings and contacts were fine. That's what I meant by self destructed!!

The thought of 68mph at 4000rpm for a lot of miles did not fill me with joy. This morning, I tied a piece of cord to what was left of the actuator. The cord runs under the loose gearbox tunnel and the passenger has the joy of holding the overdrive in place.

We've done nearly 400 miles like this today and it really is no effort. My new solenoid is already waiting for me at home.

Thanks again for all the help. The chord means I've got a useable reverse and I hope this will help someone out in the future.

[GT6 M]

Well done M,Ladd, , very crafty tinking ,  ;) ;)

and to use reverse, as well,  cos ye neverno when its wanted,

a real Shed tune piece ofwork, , congratulations

regards Marcus

[Eagerbeaver]

Well, we are back home after having covered several hundred miles with the passenger seated, voice activated overdrive.

The GT6 has performed admirably over the entire 2 week journey from NW England, down to Spain and back. With temperatures in the mid 30s, the car didn't even hint at wanting to overheat. The car was particularly well received in Spain. There was one night when we were in Pamplona (during the bull run week) when crowds were applauding us!!!

A great journey and a fantastic car.

[Tim Bancroft]

Any snaps of the car?

[Pete Lewis]

good story with a nice outcome,, sounds like there is need for a manual OD control nice lever on the tunnel and a sector plate ( bit like a small aircraft flap lever ) and save the cost of duff supplied solenoids and the piece of string of course.

this type of get you home inginuity is a dying breed these days    nice one   Pete