Overdrive issue - '50 Pacemaker

ernie28
ernie28 Expert Adviser
edited August 2014 in HUDSON
Went for a drive yesterday and the overdrive would not kick in. With the control pushed in, it stayed in direct drive and freewheeled on deceleration. Needless to say I kept overdrive off till I got home.

Discovered a blown fuse, replaced that, test drove tonight and it now goes in to overdrive OK but wont drop out at slow speed unless you use kickdown.

I will get out to the shed to check all connections etc on the weekend but was wondering if anyone has had this happen to them and what the issue was or may likely be in my situation. It just may save me some time hunting and testing when I can get on to it.

I will appreciate any thoughts offered, thanks

Alistair, NZ

Comments

  • IvarSweden
    IvarSweden Senior Contributor
    It could be the governor contacts, mine were rusty and didn't move freely. You could open the governor cover and have a look, it's only held on by a few screws. I ended up buying a new one off ebay because one of the connector pins were broken on the cover.
  • ESSX28-1
    ESSX28-1 Senior Contributor
    It's broken; trade it in on a 3rd Essex!!
  • Park_W
    Park_W Senior Contributor
    edited August 2014

    The failure to drop out at low speeds suggests the wire to the governor is grounded somewhere along the way.  Work your way up from the governor, looking for frayed insulation where the wire gets near the body or frame.  On a '50 or later car, this circuit goes from the governor to the "reverse lockout" switch at the back of the OD housing, to the kickdown switch, then to the OD relay.  If grounded anywhere along the way, it'll allow the OD to be on at any speed.

  • ernie28
    ernie28 Expert Adviser
    Thanks guys for your input. I will get to have a good look on the weekend sometime. As I redid the wiring loom I will reprimand myself severely when I find the fault!

    David - sounds like you been to one of those Amsterdam coffee shops! Enjoy your holiday :)
  • IvarSweden
    IvarSweden Senior Contributor
    Did you find something wrong with the governor or wiring harness?
  • ernie28
    ernie28 Expert Adviser
    The governor was full of oil and the points dripping. Drained that and gave it a good clean up, replaced the connector on the top as was getting a bit frayed and it is working again as it should. Long may it continue :)
    I will get a spare one for the shelf anyway as a backup!
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