Need an OD favor

[Guest]

To anyone who has an OD like mine; without the firewall relay and with a three terminal solenoid, and your OD works...could you please tell me what wire is connected to the 4 points on the kickdown switch?
My car is a 63 Lark six. Thanks a bunch.

Western Washington, USA

[Tom Bredehoft]

Memory is probably wrong, but I remember it thusly.

The front two terminals (normally closed) carry the current to the solenoid. The back two terminals (normally open) carry a ground to the coil. Somehow when the solenoid is activated by the ceasing of power, it resupplies power to the coil. You never notice the stumble in the engine, but the transmission has shifted out of overdrive. Logic says there's something missing here, you probably ought to check out a wiring diagram.

[img=left]http://www.alink.com/personal/tbredehoft/Bothcars4.jpg[/img=left]
Tom Bredehoft
'53 Commander Coupe
'55 President (6H Y6) State Sedan
(Under Construction) 211 hrs.
'05 Legacy Ltd Wagon
All Indiana built cars

[vegas paul]

This was Mr. Biggs's response to me when I asked the same question - worked perfectly! (The discussion starts with talking about ignoring the reverse lock-out sw., but that's optional). Note: Even though I have a 1951, when I asked this question, I was putting a "newer" OD trans in to replace my 3-speed w/o OD, so I have the same transmission set-up you do.

When that Rev lockout sw. is employed, all it does is interrupt the wire from the governor. Thing is, it's really not necessary (the lockout sw) so long as you're setting the OD up to work as it should. In fact, that's why the lockout Sw was done away with after 1955 - someone realized it was unlikely you'd ever find yourself going fast enough for the OD to engage when you were backing up!
As Tom says, you can just leave the switch in place to fill it's hole and simply wire from the governor to the #4 terminal (this was a green wire if you wanna stay with the factory colors - 18gage will do). In other words - the switch still in place, but with NO wires attached to it!
The #8 terminal of the Sol gets a 14 or 12 gage wire (red, if you wanna use the right colors)that goes to one of the two terminals that are closest to the plunger on the kickdown switch. The OTHER terminal of the KD Sw that's closest to the plunger gets wired (14 or 12 gage red wire again) to a 14amp inline fuse and the fuse is fed directly off the battery side of the starter solenoid.
The #6 terminal of the OD solenoid gets a black wire to one of the terminals farthest from the KD Switch's plunger and then a black wire goes from the opposite side terminal (farthest from the switch's plunger) to the + terminal of the Ign coil.
Wired like this - OD control cable installed right, and you're good to go!


Las Vegas, NV - Stop by, coffee's on!
'51 Champion Business Coupe G899965 10G-Q4-1434

[Dwain G.]

Tom, I have something I'd like to send you, but I've got a bunch of different email addys for you. Are you using comcast now?


Dwain G.

[Tom Bredehoft]

It sounds like Paul has better information than I have. Use it.

Tom Bredehoft
'53 Commander Coupe
'55 President State sedan (under construction)
'05 Legacy Ltd Wagon
All Indiana Cars.

[Roscomacaw]

What Paul quoted me as saying is pertinent.

The two connections closest to the switch's plunger carry the power to the solenoid. The two connections furthest from the plunger provide a short for the ignition momentarily when you mash the gas pedal to the floor.

Miscreant Studebaker nut in California's central valley.

1957 Transtar 1/2ton
1960 Larkvertible V8
1958 Provincial wagon
1953 Commander coupe
1957 President two door

[Guest]

Thanks so much, you guys. If I can't get it right from all you've provided, it's time to hang up the wrenches.


Western Washington, USA

[Guest]

Okay, I re-wired the KD switch to where it should be. After a test drive I'm beginning to think it just might be mechanical. Although I have freewheeling, I notice the car won't roll backwards in a forward gear with the engine off. Every other OD tranny I've become aquainted with would roll backwards if left in anything but reverse, with the cable in. Also (and I'm embarassed to admit) I'm beginning to hear what sounds like a tumbling box of rocks under my tranny hump while motivatin' down the road.
My Daytona's going back up on jack stands, I'm afraid, becoming the car Rodney Dangerfield described as spending more time in the air than on the ground.
I'm going to swap out the tranny with another one of the same type.
Any suggestions on what I should look for within my noisey tranny?

Western Washington, USA

[bams50]

If it's like mine was, the trans. itself is fine; the problem will be in the O/D section. The planetary likely got low on oil and is torn up Here's what mine looked like:



Hope yours is better!




Robert (Bob) Andrews Owner- Studebakeracres- on the IoMT (Island of Misfit Toys!)
Parish, central NY 13131

"Some people live for the rules, I live for exceptions"- 311

"With your Lark you're on your own, free as a bird, alive as a Lark. You've suddenly discovered that happiness is a thing called Larking!"

[Guest]

After all the hassle of chasing electrical bugs and having the tranny gone through by a local pro:



I traced the problem to the kickdown switch and ordered a new one from Randy Rundle, wired it per your helpful advice and it works beautifully!
Now she's interstate-ready!
Thank you all much.
P.S. don't you love the purple plugs? His way of telling me where to fill.

Western Washington, USA

[Mark57]

quote:Originally posted by tomnoller

Now she's interstate-ready!

Western Washington, USA

So Tom, will we see you and your Lark in Oregon next month?

<h5>Mark
'57 Transtar Deluxe
Vancouver Island

Are you planning to attend the NW Overdrive Tour in Parksville, BC
May 23-25, 2009?</h5>

[bams50]

So was the O/D torn up?



Robert (Bob) Andrews Owner- Studebakeracres- on the IoMT (Island of Misfit Toys!)
Parish, central NY 13131

"Some people live for the rules, I live for exceptions"- 311

"With your Lark you're on your own, free as a bird, alive as a Lark. You've suddenly discovered that happiness is a thing called Larking!"

[Guest]

&lt;&lt;So Tom, will we see you and your Lark in Oregon next month?&gt;&gt;

No, Mark, I blew most of my vacation days on a January cruise thru the Panama Canal. Have fun down there!

&lt;&lt;So was the O/D torn up?&gt;&gt;

It was okay, Bob, but I'd goofed a few minor things up he corrected. The OD problem was the kickdown switch.

Western Washington, USA