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TR2/3/3A Yard / Estate Sale Overdrive - What do i have ?

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TR Mike

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Hi all,

My TR3A is "TS 77971 LO". It came to me with an overdrive switch on the dashboard, but a non-overdrive transmission. It was obviously switched out at some point by a previous owner. Last fall I went to an estate / yard sale and bought the transmission in the pictures along with a spare engine. The owners could not provide any history or information on it.

I am pretty sure that this is an "A-type overdrive, but I am not sure about the rest of the transmission that is attached. There are several things that don't match the pictures I find on this forum or in pictures in the restoration books.

1. The flange on the back that attaches to the driveshaft is square instead of round.
2. The casting is shaped different on the left side by the clutch lever and on the right side by the grease nipple.

It is marked as TS 30261 (possibly TS 80261). The casting has several other marks on it "2D 59-- /", "60184", "61268", and "302551".

Questions:
1. What do I have here?
2. Will it work in a TR3A
3. How do I begin examining / testing it to determine if it is worth installing. I have downloaded what looks like an excellent document from Buckeye Triumphs that discusses overdrives, but I really don't want to tear this apart if it is not necessary.
4. Should I try to swap the whole unit into my car, or just concentrate on adding the overdrive to my existing transmission.
5. There is a crack in the top casting by the shifter. Could this be welded or should I look for a replacement part.

Thanks
 
Aloha Mike,

Your yard sale find is definitely a TR3 OD tranny - a very good score indeed! AFAIK, the square flange was used on TR2/3/4 and the round one on TR6. If the trans currently bin your 3A has a round flange, maybe your PO put a TR6 trans in to gain synchronized first gear. The TR4/6 trans did have different shaped castings for the clutch operating shaft. Experts here can crack the '2D 59' code, but it may mean a trans build date of 2 April 1959. Is there anything stamped on the top of the large flat ellipse (sort of) on the left side of the trans?

Since your car is a factory 'LO' car, you could put the whole OD trans in; although an inspection & rebuild may be in order since the condition is unknown. You can remove the top cover and look the gears over. If the crack is just in the shifter cap, it should be easy to find a used replacement.

Your 3A looks very nice, by the way.

Jeff
 
I would think TS80261 is more likely based on the starter bulge.

The square flange on the output may be correct - I have seen both on my TRs.

Where does one find yard sales like this???
 
Could be. The starter bulge changed at TS50001.
 
TRopic6 - Yes, stamped on the top of the ellipse on the left side is TS80261 (TS30261). One the right side in much larger numbers is "302551".
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unfortunately, the crack is in the cap but also in the large circle in the casting where the shifter comes through.

Geo Hahn - It was an unbelievable yard sale for a Triumph restorers. I also bought a lot of new TR-6 parts at almost give away prices. I should have bought more !!!
 
Hello Mike, Bottom line is if you do have a six or four all synchro box then it also, will have to come apart because you'll need a put in an overdrive mainshaft in it. So either way it will be an opportunity to check out the condition of bearings, synchros, bushings, etc. in which ever one you choose. The main gear boxes are really fairly easy too deal with (save perhaps the mainshaft circlip). But the overdrive is worth the effort.
 
That looks more like a cut to me, and it's not a likely spot for a crack anyway. I think someone had to cut the cap to get it off. Even if it is a crack, I'd wait to get the cap off to see how critical it looks. I think you can probably just leave it.

If not, it should be possible to convert your old top cover. A fair amount of work, you'll need to strip both covers then most likely drill & tap for the OD switches, and then rebuild the TR6 cover with the TR3 shift rails & forks. But still doable.

Not likely the leading digit is a '3', since that would be before the modified starter bulge and you definitely have the later one. An earlier top cover would also have the dipstick.
 
Thanks everyone, I do feel better now that I have what I wanted to buy. I was beginning to worry when I couldn't match up to any of the pictures I found.

I guess the next step is to clean the outside and then open it up a little to see how it looks inside.
 
Curious if it has the filler port/dipstick on the top. Not sure what the changeover number was...my 59 has it my 60 doesn't.
So, if it has the fill plug, you might want to modify your tranny cover to create an opening to access this dipstick.

Just cleaned mine up last week. If you want to take a look for comparison purposes, you can see it here

https://youtu.be/Sh8-1ZGh5x8

Cheers
Tush
 
Mike, I do see ti's missing a couple of parts on the outside. The levers for the solenoid and possibly the bracket. A set lever on the other side. Replace the oil and outer seals, turn it over with a 1/2 drill, pull the lever and listen for a click and see if the rear flange slows down. Or send it off and have it rebuilt, you are already way ahead of the game.

Wayne
 
It definitely looks like a saw or cut off wheel was used to remove the cap. if that is the case, replace the cap (if available) or weld the cut.
Berry
 
I cleaned it up and removed the top cover today. After cleaning it is definitely TS 80261. There is no "filler port /dip stick" on the top cover. Berry is right, someone has made a cut to remove the cap. What I thought was a crack is just a groove in the top casting where this cut was made. It only goes about 1/4 of the way through so I don't think it is going to be a problem. (Thanks for the offer Marv but it looks like I won't need one. I will probably just fill the groove with JB Weld or something similar.)
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Once I got the top off I was pleased to find everything seems to be in good shape. There was a label underneath the top cover that I didn't notice before. I probably will not have a chance to go much further until next weekend.

Thanks everyone for the input.
 
It wasn't really yard sale prices. I paid $1100 for the transmission and $300 for what is supposed to be a rebuilt engine. I haven't done anything with the engine yet. The bargains were the boxes of new smaller parts that I got at $10 - $20 each after I spent the first $1400. I left a lot of stuff behind that now I wish I would have bought. I have no idea who got what I left behind, but when I called later in the week it was all gone. There is an old saying "the best time to buy an antique is when you see it."
 
M_Pied_Lourd said:
Curious if it has the filler port/dipstick on the top. Not sure what the changeover number was...my 59 has it my 60 doesn't.
Click to expand...
Nominally TS 50,001 should be the first car with the fill plug on the side and the larger starter bulge (which went along with the flywheel and starter change). But it's quite possible there were a few that had the old style top cover after that point.

Or that someone has swapped in an earlier top cover, as I did.


I've even heard of people adding the dipstick to the later covers.
 
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