Transmission / Overdrive: Overdrive not engaging

[jwitt]

I'm working on a 61 6cyl wagon at the moment. Just swaped in a 62 ohv 6 with overdrive that supposedly had 10k miles on it before it was removed for an Ls swap. Any way I have the car on jack stands with the rear wheels off. Engine runs very well trans shifts through all gears. Cleaned the governor points and got the solenoid to click in and out when the speedo hit around 30mph, but it never acts like the overdrive actually kicks in. As in the speedo never moves up after the solenoid clicks in like I think it would.

Is it just because there is no pressure on the drive line to lock the blocking ring in or is the something internally that may be damaged?

I removed the solenoid and checked its travel and its working fine. It is a little difficult shifting from 1st to 2nd sometimes.

I do still have the front end off the car replacing the fenders so i can't take it for a test drive just yet.

The overdrive cable is hooked up and pushed in all the way. Double checked the lever on the trans too.
Thanks

[Ron Dame]

Remember that while driving, you lift your foot off of the gas to engage the overdrive. I'm not sure how you'd accomplish this on stands, but if the solenoid clicks, you've narrowed teh potential issues considerably.

[StudeRich]

Sounds like you could wait until it is driveable to give it a good real world Test Drive.
All external components of the Overdrive can be serviced without Trans. removal.

Is a Kickdown Switch installed and properly Wired to the Distributor?

[jwitt]

[QUOTE=Ron Dame;n1885262]Remember that while driving, you lift your foot off of the gas to engage the overdrive. I'm not sure how you'd accomplish this on stands, but if the solenoid clicks, you've narrowed teh potential

Hopefully that's all it is. I tried lifting off the gas but it slows down so fast its out if od range before it can lock in.

Yes the kick down switch is installed and wired up. Like you said Rich i guess i should just wait untill i can take it down the road for a real test.

[jclary]

I have always done my overdrive testing with the rear axles supported off the ground. However, I usually have the wheels on. With the wheels off, you lose the "flywheel" effect and quite possibly the resistance required for the overdrive gears to lock-in. Not sure if my technical terms are correct, but static testing with the wheels on will give you the ability to check the system without having to constantly jack up the car, tweak adjustments, lower the car, climb back in, drive it...and then repeat the process if your tinkering was not successful the first time. The engine gives your transmission the power to spin up but the interaction between the transmission and the inertia of the spinning wheels causes the overdrive to react. Give that a try and let us know.

[jwitt]

I have always done my overdrive testing with the rear axles supported off the ground. However, I usually have the wheels on. With the wheels off, you lose the "flywheel" effect and quite possibly the resistance required for the overdrive gears to lock-in. Not sure if my technical terms are correct, but static testing with the wheels on will give you the ability to check the system without having to constantly jack up the car, tweak adjustments, lower the car, climb back in, drive it...and then repeat the process if your tinkering was not successful the first time. The engine gives your transmission the power to spin up but the interaction between the transmission and the inertia of the spinning wheels causes the overdrive to react. Give that a try and let us know.

Thanks! I'll give it a try tomorrow. Working late out of town today.

[NCDave51]

And for heavens’ sakes be careful bringing a car up to speed on jack stands. One slip of a stand and the results could be deadly or at least expensive!

[jwitt]

Happy to report with the wheels on it will lock in overdrive while on jack stands! Thanks jclary!

[jclary]

Happy to report with the wheels on it will lock in overdrive while on jack stands! Thanks jclary!

Great to know! Enjoy your overdrive. For us "tinkerers"...they are almost disappointingly too simple. But don't worry, there's always other things that keep cropping up to keep us messing with stuff, making adjustments, and turning wrenches.