Transmission / Overdrive: OD Trans stays in overdrive all the time the lever is pushed in

[MCCAB1]

I just took my 61 Champ for a test drive after replacing the 6 cyl. with a 259 V8 and my transmission is always in OD no matter what the speed unless I pull the handle out! This trans I have never used before. The one behind the 6 cyl. worked like it is supposed to do. I am assuming the governor contacts are shorted or the solenoid is stuck?

[RadioRoy]

We just had a thread with the same symptoms. Possibilities include, but are not limited to:
-Governor shorted
-wire to the governor shorted to frame/body
-bad overdrive relay, contacts stuck closed
-solenoid stuck (least likely of all)

Here is the discussion

http://forum.studebakerdriversclub.com/showthread.php?99791-Overdrive-question

[jclary]

Question...do you have reverse? All mine are older, and reverse gear is locked out in overdrive.

[StudeRich]

John, the wire to the reverse Lockout switch is shorted to ground or the switch is stuck, reverse should never be locked out.
I and many others, could NEVER deal with that because we ALWAYS leave then "IN" O.D. and Park in Reverse!

In MCCAB1's situation, it must always be freewheeling with the Handle "IN", not actually IN Overdrive, from what it sounds like, just a failed Solenoid or wrong wiring.

[MCCAB1]

The wiring is right as I checked it and it is the same as it was with the other trans and it worked as it is supposed to. It does freewheel with the handle in. I will be doing more troubleshooting in the morning.

[TWChamp]

How can it freewheel if it stays in overdrive all the time?

[RadioRoy]

There might be confusion over the OP's statement "stays in overdrive." Could you expand on that please?

[MCCAB1]

What I meant was when you let off the throttle in gear it just freewheels. If I pull the OD handle out it slows down with compression. With the OD handle pushed in the trans is in OD all the time. From a dead stop to highway speeds.

[TWChamp]

OK, do you mean the handle stays pushed in ALL the time, so the tranny can go into overdrive at speeds over 26 MPH?

Or, does the tranny actually stay engaged in overdrive ALL the time?

Have you had the car for some time, and this is a new problem, or is this your first overdrive?

[jackb]

What I think he might be saying is: the car freewheels all the time, at any speeds, with the OD handle pushed "IN" ? Yes ?? If it freewheels above 30 mph with no engine braking, your wiring or solenoid needs attention..

[TWChamp]

What I think he might be saying is: the car freewheels all the time, at any speeds, with the OD handle pushed "IN" ? Yes ?? If it freewheels above 30 mph with no engine braking, your wiring or solenoid needs attention..

OK, now it makes sense. So the handle is always in overdrive, but the tranny never is.

[MCCAB1]

OK, do you mean the handle stays pushed in ALL the time, so the tranny can go into overdrive at speeds over 26 MPH?

Or, does the tranny actually stay engaged in overdrive ALL the time?

Have you had the car for some time, and this is a new problem, or is this your first overdrive?

I have had this pickup for a while now. This is a new problem after engine and tranny change. Yes, the tranny stays in OD all the time at any speed with no engine braking! This isn't my first OD transmission!

[RadioRoy]

That is actually a common symptom. The first thing to check is the governor. Often, the seal leaks, the inside of the governor fills with oil and cruds up the points. So...
-check the governor points
-temporarily ground the wire to the governor
-check the fuse on the relay (unless this system is new enough to not have a relay. I do not know when it was eliminated)

It sounds like the transmission is not being told to engage. It should be told to engage around 22-26 MPH.

[Tom Bredehoft]

Comment: Whether or not the handle is pushed in, if the transmission is freewheeling, it, the transmission, is not in overdrive. When it is in overdrive, it is not freewheeling.

[RadioRoy]

The terminology MCCAB1 is using is contradictory to terminology commonly used and that is causing confusion. This confusion is exacerbated by the inherent deficiencies and lag time of the written word.

My understanding of what MCCAB1 is saying (and I could be wrong) is that the transmission is not being electrically engaged into overdrive. That's why I said to check the governor.