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another OD question

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69tr

Jedi Trainee
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I have a different OD problem than TFR. I removed the plate at the OD shifter to replace the seal. I have it back together now and I can't seem to get the solenoid adjusted. I have used the procedure outlined in the Bentley manual. Using the 3/16 rod to hold the arm in place while I adjust the linkage at the solenoid.
The arm will move but it does not go into OD. I cannot test it for a while because I had to remove the gas tank to have it cleaned and sealed.(another story)

Another problem I am having is that the solenoid will not shift sometimes when the switch is operated. (either off or on)I know that it is not electrical because I can remove the neg. battery post and it still will not retract. I can "help" it a little and it will shift in either direction. I have adjusted the linkage several times and tried to move the shifter in and out on the rod to make sure it is not in a bind.

Thanks for any help, Pete
 
I forgot to mention that the car has been parked for over a year and I did change the transmission oil recently.

Pete
 
On the TR3, if it is the same OD, I had a problem with the shifter valve.

Check the movement of the valve rod. Remove the cap, ball and spring, stick something like a nail down the hole, and see what upward movement you get when moving the lever by hand.

I had no upward movement after my reassembly. When I had things apart, the transverse actuating rod had rotated too far, allowing the valve operating rod to drop down.

I used a dental pick to lift the fallen valve operating rod, and rotated the transverse shaft back into place. I reassembled the valve, and "timed" it by the book, and it works fine.

Good pictures of the valve On Page 14 at this link: https://www.vtr.org/maintain/TransRebuild/OverDriveA02.pdf

Also a picture from the parts book will help visualize what is going on.
 
:iagree: But be a little careful with that dental pick, since there's a precision seat under the ball that could be scratched. A straightened paper clip works well too, if you put a bit of kink in it so it just slides into the hole but puts some pressure on the sides.

If you've just changed the seal (and put a little pressure on it with the operating lever, like you're supposed to), then it's not unusual for the solenoid to not drop of it's own weight. Most likely it will start dropping once you get the linkage right, because that spring on top of the ball helps to pull the solenoid plunger down. But even if that's not enough, the downward force when the OD builds pressure will do it.

OTOH, since you're fiddling with the linkage anyway, it wouldn't hurt to remove the solenoid to disassemble and clean it. It's possible for a piece of rock to get in there and cause problems, especially if the little rubber bellows is missing (as mine is).

If the solenoid won't pick up, that's a different problem. Check first that it is getting power. If so, I'd suspect either the contacts inside it, or the pull-in coil. Although it's possible for mechanical problems (like that piece of rock) to keep the solenoid from pulling in; the pull-in coil will quickly burn out if that's the case.

Also make sure the little rubber stop that the solenoid plunger lands on is in place. If it's missing, it can let the solenoid over-extend and not pick up (leading to a burned out coil). Earlier ODs had a bolt instead of the rubber, which IMO is a worthwhile mod for the later units.
 
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