Terry - your overdrive switch was off - but your overdrive was still
'engaged'. The Overdrive is released by springs - sometimes they don't
release and disengage overdrive. The dash switch says you are not in
overdrive - but it still is.
If your car jams in overdrive - i.e. you can't back it up - and selecting a
forward gear and flicking the overdrive switch on and off doesn't engage /
disengage the overdrive - then the only way to 'fix' it on the road is as
follows:
Jack the car up, take all the necessary safety precautions etc. and get
underneath with your knock off hammer. Look for the steel plate between the
alloy overdrive and the gearbox. You don't need to take a big swing - which
is fortunate as you are laying flat on your back, under the near centre of
your car - just tap the steel plate a few times.
This method works everytime. We've noticed this occur on several cars at
Wakefield Park track days over the past few years. Usually - the cars have
been driven around the track for the day - everything is hot - and then when
they come in they won't deselect overdrive i.e. switch out of overdrive top
and nothing happens - still in overdrive top.....
Now at least you can select reverse and get home. Then as Dave etc said -
keep an eye on it and never force it in reverse....
----- Original Message -----
From: "frogeye" <frogeye@swcp.com>
To: "Terry Blubaugh" <tblubaugh@verizon.net>
Cc: <healeys@autox.team.net>
Sent: Wednesday, August 31, 2005 10:49 PM
Subject: Re: Reverse Gear Lock Up
> Terry,
> I'm with Dave Russell on this one. Not infrequently will this happen to
> some O/D's. The reasons are many. Some possibilities are, broken brass
> thrust washers (pieces of which are in the grooves of the sliding parts),
> weak or broken return springs, slow release of hydraulic pressure (gummy
> deposits in oil passages), too much end thrust from worn spacing shims,
> cracked brake ring, and probably a host of others.
> Hopefully it was a spurious occurrence, but if it happens again it will
> have to be removed, inspected and repaired.
> By all means do not attempt to overcome the resistance by backing
> up...REALLY expensive to fix or replace.
> Dave
> Frogeye@SWCP.com Taos Garage Annex in Albuquerque
> '62 BT7 MK II, '54 BN1, '62 Fiat 1600S
> http://www.britishcarforum.com/TaosAnnex.html
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Terry Blubaugh" <tblubaugh@verizon.net>
> To: "Healey Discussion List" <healeys@autox.team.net>
> Sent: 08/30/2005 10:03 PM
> Subject: Reverse Gear Lock Up
>
>
>> O.K., here is a real dilemma.
>>
>> I pulled into a gas station this afternoon in Whittier, CA. After
>> several
>> minutes, the line I was in had not moved a foot, so I decided to change
>> to
> a
>> different pump. I put my '60 BT7 in reverse, let out the clutch, and . .
> . .
>> nothing. No reverse. It was as though the hand brake was applied tight,
> but
>> it was not. I slipped the beast into first, and carefully let out the
> clutch.
>> It went forward as usual. I tried reverse a second time, but again the
> Healey
>> heaved up, but NO movement. Just locked tight. Finally, after four
> attempts,
>> whatever had been holding it let loose, and off I went in reverse.
>>
>> How about some ideas.
>>
>> BTW . . . first time in more than 30 years that I've put $28 worth of
> gasoline
>> in a Healey.
>>
>> Thanks as always.
>>
>> Terry Blubaugh
>> Southern California
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