Transmission / Overdrive: Popping Clutch to start while rolling

[rogerg.123]

previo when the car wasn’t running well, and it would die out, I noticed if the car dies out while rolling down the road and I try to put it in let’s say second gear and pop the clutch to get the engine turning to restart it. The transmission is disengaged. I thought that any standard transmission when rolling you could put in gear pop the clutch and it would turn the engine over.
this is a 1952 commander Land Cruiser with the standard transmission overdrive with no hill holder. Thanks for your ideas, Roger

[Mike Van Veghten]

Blame the "overdrive" ! Just part of the design of the 3spd. overdrive transmission. The "Hill Holder" has no effect on the trans. not being in gear.

Just use first gear, and don't "pop" the pedal, but let it out "smoothly", and moderately...quickly.

Question to you is...why does the engine die (no "out"!)? Carburetor adjustment, ignition adjustment, worn out parts ? Sounds like the engine needs a little help.

Mike

[Big Dan]

Breaking in rebuild engine and new rewire. He had a bad gas cap - no venting. There's four pages of long laundry lists on his post: https://forum.studebakerdriversclub....0-minute-drive.

[Big Dan]

previo when the car wasn’t running well, and it would die out, I noticed if the car dies out while rolling down the road and I try to put it in let’s say second gear and pop the clutch to get the engine turning to restart it. The transmission is disengaged. I thought that any standard transmission when rolling you could put in gear pop the clutch and it would turn the engine over.
this is a 1952 commander Land Cruiser with the standard transmission overdrive with no hill holder. Thanks for your ideas, Roger

It's called "freewheeling" and is caused by your overdrive transmission.

And since you are just about to get into the Overdrive, you'll read about it soon. I was told (and I don't know how accurate this is) that it's not really good for that transmission to "pop clutch" start your car with it.

Be sure you completely understand "freewheeling" and when it occurs before you drive the car in any traffic or someplace you may have to make a quick stop! There's lots of good posts here about it. (btw, you'll have to come to almost a complete stop to get that transmission into first gear - non synchro-ed)

[rogerg.123]

Thank you Dan, I’m going to go through owners manual again!

[Dwain G.]

You have to pull the overdrive control cable out. That will connect the trans to the engine. With the cable pushed in, the car will free wheel because of the one-way clutch in the OD unit. It is advisable to always shift to reverse when you park. That also puts the trans in standard mode to prevent the car from rolling away.

[6hk71400]

Dwain, I was 2 minutes behind your post. I also think you mean't say with the cable pushed in the car will free wheel. Putting the car in reverse has a internal rod lever to disengage the overdrive in reverse.

[6hk71400]

Before you try to start your Studebaker in gear, before you move the car, pull the overdrive lever all the way out to disengage the overdrive. Put the car in second gear. You can with a few folks push the car, let the clutch out and the car will turn over and start.

If you want to leave the overdrive engaged, you will need to obtain a speed of 25-30 to have the overdrive engage to turn the engine. This is a good way to learn how to rebuild an overdrive because you can damage the unit operating this way. Pulling the lever out when the car is moving, you will hear the sound of teeth chipping away on the overdrive/transmission.

When I am driving my Golden Hawk, overdrive engaged or not engaged, I can hear the solenoid click telling me that the overdrive is ready to engage. I always leave my overdrive lever all the way in so it is always engaged.

Someone may recall the late Ingvar Vik flat towed his overdrive equipped 48 Commander but I don't remember the details other than he had to rebuild the transmission/ overdrive. It was in the Cooperator many years ago

Bob Miles
As parts are getting harder to find, best to avoid a rebuild if possible

[rogerg.123]

Thanks a million Bob . Thanks Dwayne also

[gordr]

What Dwayne said. Lock out overdrive by pulling the cable when the car is at a standstill. To bump start, have driver place transmission in high gear, or maybe second gear, let pushers get the car up to speed with the clutch pedal depressed, and then smoothly remove foot from clutch pedal once car is rolling. Once engine starts, depress clutch quickly and rev engine using throttle pedal until it settles down to an idle. Doing it this way avoids the "bucking" action of the car, which is hard on the power train, and causes bystanders to break out into peals of laughter.

[rogerg.123]

Got it! Thanks Gord, much appreciated, Roger

[jackb]

You should only "jump start" a vehicle when the starting is electrically challenged. Thats why you have a starter. You won't wear it out. This thinking is very similar to guys wanting to downshift through several gears for dramatic braking and exhaust effect.

[Big Dan]

My father once told me that brake shoes are a lot easier to change than clutch plates!

[Jeffry Cassel]

I had one of those duh moments a few years ago. Car hooked to John Deere with car in 2nd and nothing happened! Ended up pulling it in reverse . That worked. Several hours later it finally occurred to me that it was in OD---the little lever was pulled out. Had a neighbor once who parked his "M" Farmall on a hill so that he could start it by rolling down the hill and popping the clutch.

[StudeRich]

Make that : "Pushed In" meaning IN Overdrive. IN is IN !

[52-fan]

I had one of those duh moments a few years ago. Car hooked to John Deere with car in 2nd and nothing happened! Ended up pulling it in reverse . That worked. Several hours later it finally occurred to me that it was in OD---the little lever was pulled out. Had a neighbor once who parked his "M" Farmall on a hill so that he could start it by rolling down the hill and popping the clutch.

If the lever was pulled out the overdrive would be locked out. The lever must have been pushed it...or somehow connected incorrectly.
My dad always parked our Ford tractor on a hill if it was going to sit very long. It also usually got pull started the first time it was moved out of the shed in the spring.

[Jeffry Cassel]

Yes, of course, the OD lever was IN!!!