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I usually drive with the overdrive engaged. On some tours, a steep hill is encountered requiring disengaging the OD.
I get multiple suggestions and cautions on how to engage/disengage the unit (car stopped/ car moving..clutch in/clutch out,etc.
What is the CORRECT way to engage/disengage an R-9 OD unit?
Much thanks for any/all replies.

EDIT - should have said first - this is how I've always done it with R-9.

1. Pull over to the side of the road, stop, and disengage the OD control.

2. If in OD at road speed, depress the accelerator enough to kick it back into 3rd and disengage the OD, but don't let up on the gas before you do it or it will want to go back into OD while you're trying to disengage. Do not disengage the clutch while doing so.

I didn't check the earlier manuals, but the 1948 Owners Manual 1st Edition on this website says to depress the clutch and pull out the lever at any speed below 60 mph to lock out the O/D. This is for the R-9 as it mentions the indicator light on the dash which was not used for the later R-11.
Earlier manuals are also on the website if you want to check them for what Packard recommended.

Al - from the horse's mouth, the 1941 Owner's Manual. If you don't have one, perhaps you should buy a reprint.

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The manual is a little obtuse but what it says is:

a) there are two ways to disengage the overdrive

1) floorboard the accelerator (kickdown)

OR

2) pull the lock out handle (elsewhere it says to momentarily depress the clutch)

Method 2 will lock out the overrunning clutch and allow engine braking. I recall having just pulled the handle out (at low speeds) with no ill effects on units I overhauled

You really need to be able to function this way to avoid runaway brake fade.

I've never been successful in pulling out the knob while moving. I always get a terrible grinding noise, and I won't try anymore.
As Dave suggested, either push the accelerator all the way down when you need to get out of o.d., or stop and pull the knob out.

I may not be the most mechanically inclined so real simple:
The last thing i want to do is ruin the trans.

1. To engage the overdrive, stop the car or do when the car is moving.
If stopped with the motor running or off, clutch depressed or not?

2. To disengage; Stop the car and disengage, with or with out the motor running and the clutch depressed or not?

What is the safest way to preserve our overdrive units.
Sorry for a simple question but your assistance is appreciated.
thanks
John Miller

John, we've already covered how to disengage. If you do it while stopped at the roadside, no need to shut the motor off, no need to disengage the clutch, just be in neutral with the clutch engaged, or be in gear with the clutch disengaged and engage the knob.

To engage, sure you can pull off to the side of the road, in neutral with the clutch engaged, or in gear with the clutch disengaged - either way. Just engage the OD cable. Alternatively, while driving at road speed with your foot on the throttle, you can engage the OD with the cable and then just take your foot of the gas momentarily for it to energize.

Now i understand.
Sorry to be so simple.
But always asking the question first,avoids ruining a project.
Again thanks for the clartification
John

Well if the overdrive wont disengage without noise then I guess the only way to do it is when stopped, but the Packard manual explicitly states that overdrive can be disengaged while moving.

An it will. I know this because I have done units that were added to early cars in which you had to disengage the overdrive to slow the car down.

Years ago the late Doug Heinmuller was driving down a long hill in Maine when his brakes faded. In a situation like that the shift out of overdrive has to be made when moving.