Overdrive operation ???'s

[Deleted User]

I have a '41 Hudson with the 6 cylinder and drivemaster that's been removed.



The maintenance and owner's manuals describe the basic overdrive functions, however I'm not able to get the OD to work properly.



Can someone share with me any tips or methods to get this thing working? If the electrical switches are not working can the OD be rigged to operate manually? To engage the OD is the silver handle control under the dash pulled out or pushed in? And no, I'm not talking about the cowl vent control!!!



Any suggestions will be appreciated!



Thanks,



Craig

mars55

The overdrive is engaged when silver handle control under the dash is pushed in. This thread has a lot of good infomation incuding manuals.



http://classiccar.com/index.php?option=com_jfusion&Itemid=62&jfile=showthread.php&t=19591&highlight=overdrive

Jon B

You should definitely read the thread but in a nutshell, here's how overdrive works:



If you want to enable the overdrive, push the knob in all the way. As far as I know, you can do this while the car is in motion (at least, I do!). When the speed is over 30 miles an hour (give or take), let up on the gas and the car should automatically shift into 4th gear. (That's assuming you're in third! If you're in second, it will shift into "second overdrive" which is somewhere between second and third gear.)



If you need an extra burst of power (to pass someone, for example, or to climb a steep hill), "floor it" and the overdrive will downshift to conventional third gear (again, assuming you were in third before going into overdrive). Then, when you're ready to go back into overdrive again, release the accelerator for a moment, and you'll hear it "click" back into 4th.



To lock out overdrive, pull the knob all the way out. This is usually done with the car standing still. There are ways to do it while moving but I won't deal with that here.



When the knob's pushed in, you'll "freewheel" at speeds under 30, which can be a calamity if you're going down a hill. The engine won't brake the car. When you are IN overdrive, you have direct drive again and, coming down a long hill, your engine will act as a brake if you let off on the gas. If you are approaching an area with a lot of downhill travel, lock out the overdrive.



Usually, any overdrive problems are electrical and not very complicated. Often, a fuse has burned out in the relay on the firewall, or a wire pulled loose. Sometimes the solenoid or governor needs repair.



Occasionally the mechanical cable (controlled by that silver knob under your dash) moves slightly where it connects with the lever on the side of the overdrive. When that happens, the knob will "bottom out" on the bracket before the lever's moved all the way on the OD, and you won't actually enable the OD to work. Make sure there is about 1/8" of play between the knob and its bracket, when the knob is pushed all the way. The opposite can be true as well. When the knob's pulled out all the way it won't completely lock out overdrive, because -- down under the car -- the cable has disappeared into its sheathing and the lever has hit the sheathing, without moving all the way. To remedy either of these problems, it's only necessary to get under the car, unbolt the clamp that holds the OD sheating to the side of the OD, and adjust the cable until there is "play" at both limits of the cable's movement.

[Deleted User]

Thanks guys... I'll give it a try again...

nick s

the only electrical componant you absolutely need is a working solenoid. the rest of the switches can be bypassed and instructions for doing so are available the operation becomes less automatic but is easily learned.

Aaron D. IL

Most components on overdrive are designed to make it not work.... or more accurately said... regulate the conditions under which it will work. A few Hudson guys will bypass some of that stuff and wire it to a toggle switch and then sift up to 3rd, hit the switch, and shift into OD (4th) using it like a 4th gear and also eliminating free-wheeling in the process. You can learn to drive it as the factory intended but many times the way modern traffic behaves other drivers do not allow you to coast or hold a steady speed.

[Deleted User]

Thanks... you're right about trying to use OD in modern traffic!

SuperDave

A strong battery (preferably 12 volts) good electrical connections and a low idle speed setting will work just great. I can shift my 49 into OD as quick as I can move the shift lever.:D