Packard Forum Index » Pre-War (1899-1942)

Yesterday my Friend and I took his 1940 Packard Club Sedan out for a drive, we were Cruising at 55 MPH on the highway and suddenly the Overdrive popped out of Overdrive? We pulled off and then pulled out of knob to take out of overdrive, then we drove the car for ¼ mile stopped the car and pushed the lever in to activate the Overdrive, at the normal speed of around 25 MPH we could hear the Solenoid activate but will no longer go into Overdrive? When you slow down you can here the Solenoid activate that takes out of Overdrive so that part is working.

The Overdrive was completely rebuild less than 2000 miles ago so we are hoping it is a minor adjustment, if that is what needs to be done I can do myself so does anyone have any idea of what the issue is?

It could be a wiring issue or a problem with the governor switch. Or the overdrive planetary gears may have locked up due to a lack of lubricant. I'd check the lubricant level in the transmission, following the correct procedure. While you're under the car, look carefully at the wiring to the solenoid and the governor switch. If the lubricant level is correct, the problem is very likely a wiring issue or a problem with the solenoid or the governor switch. I believe there is also a fuse in the circuit, so locate and check that, too.

If not electrical, I believe the only external adjustment that could be made and possibly could be at fault would be the place where the overall cable is secured to the support bracket on the crossmember and then the clevis adjustment at the lockout cable to lever connection.

On electrical, when you say you hear the solenoid, is it the big thunk from under the car or is it only the relay on the firewall coming in? There were issues with the inline connectors under the car between the main loom and the short OD extension loom. Corrosion became an issue and If that is happening, even though the solenoid is commanded, an intermittent connection could be interfering with it or the OD system overall staying engaged.

Mechanically, presuming the car still has the stock R9, the lever will be on the passenger side of the OD. With the knob pulled all the way out and cable secure to bracket, the clevis adjustment for the lever needs it to be pulled full forward which puts the lever just shy to the end of its travel. As I recall, that would put the lever end at about the 5 to 5:30 position. With the knob pushed in for OD, assuming it is moving full travel the lever end will be at about the eight o'clock position or possibly a bit farther. I know it is a stretch but if the cable housing is loose and sliding in the support then possibly the arm is not moving full travel or being kept in the OD position.

Thank You

In addition to the bit I added about the electrical inline connectors on the first post and checking the cable at the OD, here is another thought on the cable. Make sure the cable housing is securely in its fastening at the end of the bracket under the dash. That point is an all too frequent failure if the cable starts to get hard to move. If the cable has a sharp bend and is binding or if the inner cable is rusted and sticking in the housing and the driver needs to push harder to get it to move, the housing can eventually break the retaining crimp and push out the end of the pot metal in the bracket. The result is the lever at the OD does not move full travel -- same as if the cable is misadjusted at the lever.

If you find even the start of a crack it can usually be easily repaired in the car without disassembling anything by using a common 2 piece clamping shaft collar over the split in the potmetal to tighten things back down. The clamps are inexpensive and available from McMaster and maybe locally -- but I don't remember the size so you will want to confirm. Think it was 5/16 but could have been 3/8. On mine I used two for looks by enlarging or chamfering the inside of one of the clamps to fit over the beveled end of the bracket and get closer to the body but one clamp directly over the split is enough.