Still having problems with my Overdrive.

[r1lark]

quote:Originally posted by lstude

When my Studebaker is in overdrive [u]it will back up</u> but will not go forward, and it makes a strange noise from the transmission. It is louder in 3rd than it is in 2nd or first. When I take it out of overdrive, it runs fine in all gears.

I made a video demonstrating the problem. Here is the link:

http://good-times.webshots.com/video...90795307pfmFNF

By the way, the transmission is a 63 Lark overdrive.


Leonard Shepherd
http://leonardshepherd.com/

Leonard,

First thing to do would be to make sure that when the O/D handle/cable is in the 'engaged' position, the lever on the O/D unit is pushed all the way against the stop.

Paul
Winston-Salem, NC

[lstude]

Still having problems with my Overdrive.

When my Studebaker is in overdrive [u]it will back up</u> but will not go forward, and it makes a strange noise from the transmission. It is louder in 3rd than it is in 2nd or first. When I take it out of overdrive, it runs fine in all gears.

I made a video demonstrating the problem. Here is the link:

http://good-times.webshots.com/video...90795307pfmFNF

By the way, the transmission is a 63 Lark overdrive.


Leonard Shepherd
http://leonardshepherd.com/

[lstude]

quote:Leonard,

First thing to do would be to make sure that when the O/D handle/cable is in the 'engaged' position, the lever on the O/D unit is pushed all the way against the stop.

Paul

Yes, I have checked that. In fact I tied it all the way before I hooked the cable up.

Leonard Shepherd
http://leonardshepherd.com/

[rockfoot]

That transmission is doing much the same thing as my 55' did back in the 60's when my brother tore it up....racing all those boys at the high school....broke the O/D... [V]

1955 President one owner
Moncks Corner, SC

[gordr]

Sounds like the over-running clutch is toast. That would prevent you from getting direct-drive gears when OD is engaged. You did say it works normally when the OD is locked out, meaning the over-running clutch is bypassed.

Gord Richmond, within Weasel range of the Alberta Badlands

[lstude]

Thanks Gord.

I guess I should have paid more attention at the transmission seminar at South Bend!

I have another overdrive transmission that I took out of the car because the synchronizers were bad, but the overdrive worked OK. Can I swap the overdrive part? How much trouble would that be?

Leonard Shepherd
http://leonardshepherd.com/

[gordr]

Leonard, if you are careful, you ought to be able to pull the OD housing off the intermediate plate without allowing the intermediate plate to pull free of the transmission case. If the latter happens, there's a real risk of spilling the roller bearings in the recess in the back of themain drive gear.

I think you will have to remove the Welch plug on the top of the extension housing, and release the snap ring that retains the bearing there.

Last I saw, SASCO had NOS Lark six overdrive transmissions at a very attractive price. I'd really be tempted to snag one of those, and keep the used trannies for future reference. Those T96's aren't the toughest transmission in the world, so being able to get a new one is a bonus.

Gord Richmond, within Weasel range of the Alberta Badlands

[52-fan]

Wouldn't his transmission be a T-86 behind that V-?

1952 Champion Starlight, 1962 Daytona. Searcy,Arkansas

[lstude]

Yes, the transmission is a T-86. Actually it says T86 E 1T

Leonard Shepherd
http://leonardshepherd.com/

[Guest]

Leonard - If you're able to get that baby out from under the car and on a workbench, doing the transplant from a healthy OD isn't tough, really. Get a GOOD pair of snap ring pliers. I found the ones with flat ends that go together like praying hands the best. Take your time. I'll bet you have a good gear shop somewhere in Richmond that'd have gaskets... And if those roller bearings do go spilling out (BTDT) a rubber band will hold 'em in as you slide everything back together.

Western Washington, USA

[stuvw2mny]

From your description the bad news is you are going to have to pull the transmission, the good news is that swapping good overdrive for bad overdrive parts is pretty simple. Lots of little things can go bad inside the overdrive, especially since they have most likely been abused by unknowledgable drivers in the past. It is possible to swap the OD parts with the tranny in the car (have you noticed that if you say it can't be done, someone will come along to prove you are wrong?) but I sure wouldn't advise it. I knew what I was doing, did it once on a 59 hawk, and it was not easy! I especially wouldn't recommend it to an OD repair novice!!! Also, be aware T86 and T96 OD parts (actually R10 and R11) are not interchangable.

When you disassemble the rear housing from the OD unit(which requires releasing and pulling the OD shift lever out) be especially careful to not let the OD shift lever get pushed back in, once the housing is removed. If that happens the shift rail return spring (0725-35)inside the housing will be pushed out of position. If you manage to get the OD back together without this spring in its proper position you will get to remove the tranny/od again because the OD control won't work right and you will have a loose spring inside the rear housing. If the spring is pushed out of place then you have to remove the output shaft(0721-5) and gear (0721-6) assembly from the rear housing in order to place the return spring back into place. Removal of the output shaft is the operation that requires removing the welch plug and snap ring from later model (long tailshaft) rear housings. Note: the shift lever is pulled out, but it cannot be removed from the housing.

When you swap parts, carefully inspect the holes the roller bearings go into(in housing 0722-16), and inspect the rollers for wear. I would even use a magnifying glass to inspect the rollers. Better yet, if possible, get a new set of rollers(0722-12). Also inspect the pins for the 3 gears in the pinion (0728-1). If any are loose replace the whole thing! I believe the factory manual said to use a rubber band to hold the rollers in place for re-assembly. A method I like better is to hold them in place with some sticky wheel bearing grease. Either method also requires you hold your tongue just right when sliding the rear housing back on! LOL Don't be afraid to try the parts swap. It is a kick to learn how the OD works.

[stuvw2mny]

After going thru all the above, yes you could replace the complete old OD assembly with the newer. That would require removal of the intermediate plate, with its main shaft (0702-2) from the rear of the transmission. You would have to remove the transmission top cover to recover and replace the main shaft bearings (0702-25)inside the transmission. The low and reverse sliding gear should probably be swapped to keep the old one in the tranny for gear matching purposes, or you might want to choose the best of the two. It would be difficult to do all this without loosening the rear shaft housing from the intermediate plate, which would require a new gasket etc. Also, I would want to inspect the interior of the replacement OD unit while the trans/OD unit is out of the car, which leads back into the previous posting. So, replacing the whole OD from the intermediate plate backwards is possible, but is taking a risk that the "newer" OD is in good working order. Two out of the last 3 ODs I have worked on were bad, so take your choice.

[lstude]

Thanks for the advice. I'm not sure I want to tackle it by myself though.

Leonard Shepherd
http://leonardshepherd.com/

[stuvw2mny]

It really isn't hard. You have a very viable repair, with the 2 trans/od units available. I hit the points to be careful of, so it may sound harder than it is. Even they aren't that bad. Very educational to work on it yourself. The only thing that requires any special tool is the snap ring under the welch plug, and even that is only a heavier-than-normal snap ring plier. I had another thought about the shift rail return spring - slip a length of 1/4" or so rod temporarily into the rear housing through the spring as soon as you get the housing off. That should help prevent displacement of the spring while the rear housing is off. I would have said to fix the synchronizer in the tranny, but you have to take the overdrive off to get into the tranny.

Check old Motor manuals, factory parts manual, and this site for OD assembly and disassembly instructions and pictures. How about taking your spare overdrive apart first for experience and to check its condition? Almost the hardest part (physically)is removing and reinstalling the transmission from the car.

[lstude]

That is a good idea of taking the other OD transmission apart.

You are right about removing the transmission. That thing is heavy. One of our club members has a tranny lift that he said I can borrow.

Leonard Shepherd
http://leonardshepherd.com/