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Overdrive bits and sludge


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It was all going so well.............

Until I was getting ready to plonk the gearbox back in, The cover plate that was holding the solenoid seemed a little loose, close (it didn't have to be too close) inspection revealed a crack, quite a big crack. to cut a long story sideways the top bit came away in my hand. no huge problem ordered a replacement from "The Brothers" together with a nice new solenoid. But then I started fishing around inside the open section, quite a lot of oil, some nasty dark grey sludge and horror of horrors little bits of metal. mindful of the books instructions not to allow dirt or grit in to the overdrive assembly it seemed to me that this could be wrong. This and fact that the books show that this cover retains two springs one within the other and my unit only has one spring (the big one) has set me thinking perhaps i need to get the whole lot properly serviced as it's well beyond my abilities.

Can any one recommend a company preferably local to me in Essex that I can trust.

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They are the only specialist who you can rely on. My overdrive was overhauled by a company with a similar name. It never worked properly and after two more attempts and two and a half years, I took it to ORS in Sheffield .They have a test facility which means they can adjust the solenoid accurately. It is very difficult to get in right yourself.

 

Take the entire gearbox to them and they will get it right. My original restorer made a number of mistakes, springs and seals, o rings etc. which meant that it failed to work properly.

 

After ORS carried out the work it slips in perfectly. You must check the oil level regularly.

 

Good luck,

 

Richard & H.

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Well worth it. No way put a gbox back in without stripping the OD.

 

These ODs have a lot of fairly marginal bits that break up and can wreck the whole thing.

 

Mine had half a 2inch dia circlip floating in the bottom.

 

ORS has the original factory tools and spares. Basically they bought the makers out.

He can sound a bit grumpy but just ignore this.

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Some have a double spring, others just one big one. It makes not much difference.

 

I rebuilt mine, but then I could make the tools required:

 

pulls /replaces accumulator piston, https://flic.kr/p/ogkEgv

pulls/replaces pump , https://flic.kr/p/nYRp92

 

The hardest part is pulling the tail-shaft bearings:

https://www.flickr.com/gp/90670218@N04/37ELK9

 

Its NOT actually very difficult to strip/assemble these. Loads easier than a gbox.

ORS did the re-lining.

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Hmmm, these are sklils I don't have, I think for me the best option may be to talk to ORS.

Have just been to the local Essex group meeting of Club Triumph....can I say that here? anyway opinions there ranged from don't worry about it it might work ok and at worst the car will still work without overdrive. This may have some merit after all it might work and at worst I can pull it all out again next year if it doesn't. To Just get it sorted, you will never want to take it all apart again when you finaly get it on the road....which is also probably very true!

Think I'll stick to plan A and call ORS.

Thanks for all the advise.

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If the central thrust-bearing breaks up then you will quite likely wreck the whole thing.

These are about 1/2in wide and this is barely enough. It takes a wack every time you engage.

 

Then you will be running around to find another.

 

If you still had the gbox in, well you would probably leave it there.

Presumably you know the Buckeye articles on these?

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You should be able to strap the unit to a pallet and get it transported by carrier to & from ORS - I am sure they can advise you.

I have done this with a rear axle when the crown wheel had a dental problem!

Ian Cornish

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Nearer to you, & certainly recommended my me is Hardy Engineering in Leatherhead (Junc 9 M25)

 

They re-built my "A" type, & uprated it from saloon spec to TR spec. They are gearbox, & overdrive specialists, & have been there a long time.

 

Bob.

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Hi David,

I would second Bob's recommendation.

 

Hardy have been around a long time and specialise in Austin Healey boxs/OD's but the TR OD is much the same.

 

Mine works well and completed the Round Britain Reliability run 4 weeks after installation without any issues.

 

Roger

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Thanks for all your suggestions.

 

At the local club meeting last night one name seemed to be mentioned by a lot of the assembled company, that of Mike Papworth in Coventry, so I called him today and what a nice helpful chap he was.

So I am taking it up to him within the next week or so and he will have an initial poke about while I am there and give me a price for doing the needful.

I much prefer this option to buying an exchange unit and waiting to see how much of my service exchange deposit I would be left with.

Must say I feel much better about it now, plonking it back in and hoping for the best did seem like a easy but daft option.

RBRR 2015? we will see.

 

Thanks again all, I really do appreciate all your help.

 

David.

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Oh bother, not to worry I'll have my own RBRR, less competition and I'll get to pick the route, clever eh? round Basildon, not quite so picturesque but just as challenging.

Mike Papworth looks like he knows what he's doing and does come highly recommended.

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