Packard Forum Index » V-8 (1955-56)

Does anyone have a diagram of how to get the PB control assembly, actuator and motor to wok when they're on a work bench? I have them on my work bench so I can adjust the actuator to make sure the fingers stops exactly where they're suppose to? I've tried using the diagram in the SB, but I can't seem to get things to work. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

The diagram can be found here:
https://www.packardinfo.com/xoops/html/downloads/AutoLite_ServiceManual.pdf

look at the test schematic on P.5

Note that the actuator is going to stop where it is going to stop, based on the position of the finger, and the gap in the contact segment. The induced drag of the anti-hunt adjustment will reduce flywheel effect of the motor armature (that's its job) but just be happy if the contact segment stops in the same place every time. Don't get carried away trying to make it come to rest in the dead-center of the gap of the contact segment.
Lubricate the bearing in the end cap of the motor while you have it apart, it will be bone dry when you get to it.

Thanks. I connected everything per the TEST WIRING DIAGRAM; however, when I push any other button other than "D", the Motor Control Relay just chatters and the actuator does not turn. What do I need to check? I even tapped on the side of the motor just to see if that would help, it didn't make. What do I do now?

Open up the cover of the unit to expose the fingers and contact segment, see where it sits at the moment. It must have been near reverse gear for you to get it off the car. What happens when you push "D"? the relay doesn't chatter but the motor does not turn, right? Do you have the shift relay grounded? If not that may explain the chattering.
Sounds like the unit is reting in "D" position, the reason you don't hear chattering in that gear is that neutral (no connection) spot is under the "D" finger and there is no path for current to get to the relay.

The finger for "D" is now over the open slot in the segment. When I first removed it from the car the finger for "R" was over the open slot. I also have the motor control relay/shift relay grounded.
Will it harm anything if I momentarily connect the red and green wires from the motor together to jump-start the motor?

Touching those two wires won't do anything unless you then ground them, then the motor will turn if it's able, the contact segment will run to the end of its travel and gear lock, then you are in trouble. I would remove the E-clip that holds the contact segment in place, remove the contact segment, then remove the outer cover, then remove the segment gear, exposing the gear train inside the unit. This way you can test the operation of the motor in both directions without screwing anything else up.
First order of business is to see if the motor turns in both directions. It will turn slower in one direction due to the drop resistor in the relay.

That's great info I'll keep in mind; however, I, along with the help of Randy Berger, discovered that all I needed to do was to ground the motor casting. When I did that, everything worked fine. The wiring diagram does not show that you have to ground the motor in order to test the operation of the actuator. Thanks again for everything.

The wiring diagram does not show that you have to ground the motor in order to test the operation of the actuator.

If you mean you have to ground the motor case, something else is wrong. Electrically, the motor case should be totally isolated.

Green wire is power to the motor and ground is provided by the shift relay in various combinations to the other 3 wires. Terminal 5 of the relay is the item that should have to be grounded to provide the motor ground.

absolutely correct Howard, the motor housing does NOT need to be grounded, the ground is provided through either the Gray and Red wire joined together, going to (connected to) ground (for one direction of rotation)or the Gray and Brown wire connected together going to ground. That IS the path to ground for the motor. Sumpin' ain't right.

Ok....what do I need to do/check before I put this unit back into the car? I understand what you're saying, but unless I put a ground wire on one of the screws on the cap of the motor or to the adjustment strap on the actuator, it won't turn/energize. As soon as I ground it, it turns.