I agree that the Laycock overdrive is a work of art. It is exactly that work
of art that makes it very expensive to fix if you screw one up. Most likely
the OD that is sticking needs a good cleaning on the out side. The solenoid
operates a lever that opens and closes an internal valve. If the lever or
the solenoid are all covered in road #$%&*() then it will stick. The
recomended oil for the tranny and overdrive is strait 30w (this was
disscussed quite heavilly about a year ago. With people using just about
anything up to 90W gear oil.) I continue to use 30w, and I continue to have
excelent results. the tranny and OD share the same oil. Low oil will cause
the OD to engage slowly or not at all, and will not provide good lubrication
to the rest of the system. I suggest changing the oil often and cleaning the
filter on the OD. It is cheaper to put a few quarts of oil in every few
thousand miles than it is to put a rebuilt tranny in every 3 years.
Probably the bigest complaint I hear about british cars is that they are not
reliable. This simply isn't the case. The difference is that the designs
and types of steel used requires regular maintance. Most american car owners
would never dream of opening the hood and putting a drop of oil on the
starter bush, generator bush, and under the rotor on the distributor, much
less changing the tranny oil or diff oil every 2000 miles. Regular maintance
is the key to keeping your LBC running. Read your maintance schedule and
then follow it religously, and remember very little dammage has occured from
too much TLC.
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Kevin Spooner
The Sports Works of Greeley
Specializing in Triumphs and British Sports Cars
britcars@hpfckjs.fc.hp.com
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