overdrive inop

chevk29
chevk29 Member
in HUDSON
I have a 1949 Huson Commodore 8 the overdrive stopped working. I read somewhere that you can bypass all the electrical by running a hot wire to an under dash switch to the governer has anyone ever done this?

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  • Jon B
    Jon B Administrator
    Could you please clarify what you mean by "stopped working"?

    For example, with the OD lockout knob pushed into the dash, are you freewheeling when you start out?  Then, when you reach 30 or so, and lift your foot momentarily, does it go into overdrive?

    Maybe if we know the point at which the problem starts, we could troubleshoot it.
  • Per
    Per Member
    Since you say "stopped working", there's a good chance that an electrical connection is not letting electricity through.  Try checking voltage at the fuse.  If there is voltage there,  follow the wires and keep checking for voltage.  It can be handier to use a test light than a voltmeter, so you can see the light easier than the meter when you are trying to hold things together under the car.

    Yes, you can put in a switch.  
  • Park_W
    Park_W Senior Contributor
    With engine running and OD button in, ground the wire that's on the governor.  You should hear the OD click in.  If it doesn't, take the cover off the governor and see if there's oil in there.  (contact points are mounted on the underside of the cover).  Very common for the shaft seal to be bad, then you get oil on the governor contact points and they don't make connect.  If oil there, use Q-tip, et al, to dry the points.
  • super651
    super651 Senior Contributor
    Park, Rudy here,and while on the overdrive problem do you have the part # for the governor shaft Seal and the Solonoid  shaft seal ?  thanks to all for any info on this.
  • chevk29
    chevk29 Member
    The OD was working fine until the next time I drove it. Going down the road & pull the knob & let off accelerator it does not go into OD.
  • Jay_G
    Jay_G Expert Adviser

    The issue I have with my 46 is the kick down switch.  The contacts get dirty and will not let the circuit ground and the system engage. 

    Jay

  • Jon B
    Jon B Administrator
    Chevk29, when you pull the knob you lock out overdrive (at least that's how it works in my pre-war model).  With knob out, the car would be 3-speed only, and would always be in direct drive.

    To enable overdrive you push the knob in, and THEN release the accelerator (at a speed over, let's say, 30 mph).  Maybe someone else had better confirm this (because I don't own a StepDown)!
  • chevk29
    chevk29 Member

    Your right Jon I had that backwards with the handle in it wont shift into OD.

  • Jon B
    Jon B Administrator
    Oh!  Well, of course it could be any number of things (maybe electrical).  Blown fuse in the relay somewhere.

    Also, the knob is affixed to a long mechanical cable that travels down and hooks to a lever on the side of the OD portion of the transmission.  The spiral wire sleeve or jacket in which the cable travels, must be clamped to the OD (if not, then both the jacket and the cable will move when you push / pull the knob.  Be sure that the jacket is clamped and does not move when you move the knob.  Also, when the knob is pushed 'in', the knob must rest at least 1/8" from the knob bracket fastened to the dashboard.  (In this way, there is some "play").  If the knob can be pushed all the way into its clamp, it's possible that the knob is bottoming out before it moves the OD lever all the way.  Thus the OD isn't engaging.
  • Park_W
    Park_W Senior Contributor
    Rudy, I don't have the info on those parts, but Al Saffrahn repairs the governors.  Give him a call.
  • super651
    super651 Senior Contributor
    Thanks Park, I will give him a call.

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