TR2/3/3A Looking for advice in driving a TR3 with overdrive

[Got_All_4]

Looking for does and don'ts in driving with an overdrive. I have installed a early TR6 A type overdrive in my TR3a and a good chance this weekend I'll drive it with a overdrive for the first time. It does have 2nd, 3rd & 4th enablers . Looking at questions as to what speeds or RPMs is best to drive in. How often should it be used and what about down shifting and any other advice? Little concern too is I just tested it up on jack stands with no wheels on kinda free wheeling and the tranny is smooth until I engage the OD. Then it gets loud and thumpy. Is that normal?

 

[Geo Hahn]

Mostly I use it for highway miles to keep RPMs down and in the mountains to keep RPMs up as needed, especially in 3rd.

Loud and thumpy doesn't sound normal - but I have never run it the way you describe. I assume this was at low RPMs, i.e. lower than driving speed.

 

[TuffTR250]

On my TR250 I put switches for 2nd, 3rd, and 4th overdrive. However, due to cautions noted on 6-Pack, I put a toggle switch in the ground wire for the 2nd gear switch. I usually run with the toggle switch in the OFF position to prevent accidentally down shifting into 2nd gear when the engine was at high revs. It was recommended to use 2nd gear overdrive only for auto crossing.
Regards, Bob

 

[tdskip]

Agree that loud and lumpy is not right. Does it pop into / out of overdrive crisply?

 

[CJD]

You sure it wasn't just because the wheels were turning faster? Or it may have just been bouncing with the drive line play after the engagement.

 

[GTP1960]

That loud & thumby is nothing like my 6 A type OD.
It should shift in/out of OD gears as smooth as clutch shifting regular gears ( I use my clutch to shift in & out of OD, BTW, just because it seems right). Like Geo, I use 4th OD routinely at hi way speed (50-80)
but dropping out of 3rd OD has proven useful as a quick downshift.
i rarely use 2nd OD, But I haven't driven in Mts. Either.

 

[Got_All_4]

I didn't notice the noise when I had the wheels on and thought maybe because there wasn't anything to dampen it . I should get to drive it today and see how it works. Up on jack stands and no load it did go into overdrive kind of a good thunk and didn't make a noise coming out.