electrical shock when shifting to overdrive

[recordsj]

have a midget that when I switch the overdrive I get an electrical shock. anyone have some ideas on why this is or what the issue is?

 

[Trevor Jessie]

It's telling you to get off the 4 lane and find some two lane twisty roads.

Seriously, though you might try the spitfire people. More of them are familiar with that unit.

 

[Sarastro]

I take it you're getting the shock through the handle of the switch?

Sounds like something is shorted to the body of the switch. When you disconnect power to a large electromagnet, which I suspect is what is happening (sorry, I really don't know much about overdrives, specifically), you can get a spike of voltage.

So, I'd suggest checking the wiring at the switch, to make sure no wires are resting against its body. If that's OK, I'd replace the switch. Any ordinary toggle switch of about the same size and current rating, which fits the hole, should work.

 

[dklawson]

Like Steve, I don't know much about the overdrives but I agree with him that the problem is likely in the switch itself.

The switch does fire a form solenoid and whenever you turn a solenoid off (even the one for the starter motor) the collapsing magnetic field induces a voltage that flows back through the wires. (Think ignition coil). If you're feeling this voltage through the switch it indicates that somehow the hot side of the switch is coming into close contact with the actuating lever. As a test you could even try temporarily replacing the proper switch with one from the hardware store, just make sure all the contacts and body are covered with electrical tape or you'll feel the shock through it as well.

 

[JerryB]

"""""""have a midget that when I switch the overdrive """"""

is this a trick question?????

reason I ask is that Spridgets dont have overdrives. overthrusters yes.....overDRIVES no.

 

[recordsj]

not a trick question. what do you mean overthrust?

 

[JerryB]

""""""what do you mean overthrust?"""""""""""

you never saw the SCI-FI movie with Buckaroo Banzai and the overthrusters??????..that was a real mind boggler.


Anyhow....maybe you have an MGB with an overdrive? But certainly there was no o.d. screwed on the back of a ribcase or a Triumph trans in the later Spridgets....or do you have an aftermarket 5 speed that has o.d. in fifth? Maybe more detail please......

 

[Trevor Jessie]

I was assuming he put a spitfire overdrive into a rubber bumper midget.

 

[JerryB]

""""""I was assuming he put a spitfire overdrive into a rubber bumper midget. """""""

TJ......anythings possible of course.....but there is little or no room back there for the o.d.

 

[Trevor Jessie]

There have been several people do it. It requires widening the tunnel. One guy widened it with a scissor jack.

 

[Morris]

Buckaroo Banzai Jerry???

I thought I was the only person who saw that movie!

 

[vagt6]

Although this may be considered blasphemy by the purists among us, I absolutely love the idea of a D type OD in a Midget or Sprite!

Until very recently, I'd never heard of such a thing. The link posted here recently about the young guy who crammed one into a Midget is intriguing.

Who among us will be the first to try it????

Takers????

 

[bugimike]

Send me one, I'll try it /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/jester.gif

 

[aeronca65t]

have a midget that when I switch the overdrive I get an electrical shock. anyone have some ideas on why this is or what the issue is?

recordsj:

As others have said, The MG Midget *never* came with overdrive.
All Spridgets come with a 4-speed non-O/D trans (there are three different versions of 4-speed transmissions used in Spridgets).

So we can only assume that your car has some form of a "homebrew" setup. If that is the case, it would be very difficult for any of us to make a useful comment.

There is a popular Spridget modification that involves fitting a Datsun 5-speed (from a 210). This trans has "overdrive" but only in the mechanical sense....there is no real electrical involvment. There a less popular modification using the Ford Type 9 5-speed trans, but again, it really all mechanical.

It *is* possible to add the 1500 Spitfire O/D trans to 1500 Midgets. It is a *very* tight fit and requires considerable modification to the transmission tunnel (not a minor deal on Spridgets, since the tunnel is a structural member).

Hope you are able to resolve your problem.

 

[BIBBER]

Had to laugh when I saw your mention of ol' Buckaroo.....here is everything you didn't want to know about Buckaroo Banzai...I was surprised how many known actors were actually in the movie...oh well back to the issue at hand OD in a Sprite!!! H-llsbells, I'm just glad
my gearbox meshes to go forward let alone have OD!!!!

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086856/

 

[Billm]

OK- I haven't seen that movie in about 20(???) years. Guess that I need to see it again now! Don't remember any of the actors.
Bill

 

[bugimike]

That was an excellent movie /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/thumbsup.gif and an instant hit with my boys when they were little. We put it on cassette for them and they just about wore it out!! We kept waiting for a sequel which never came!! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/cry.gif

 

[JerryB]

The "sequel never came" because they couldnt get the 4 + 1 overthruster working because of the Lucas smoke displacement and the shock effect. Could this SHOCKING problem be part of the puzzle?

 

[bugimike]

Threads certainly do have a way of making full circle!!! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/jester.gif

 

[recordsj]

what about if a mgb gearbox and overdrive was placed into it? Would it fit up to a MG Midget 1500 engine? I am now trying to figure out where the gearbox and overdrive came from.