Laycock overdrive questions and comments
Laycock overdrive questions and comments
Hello Volvo Owners,
I am Chris, I live in Texas, and I own a Triumph TR6. I joined this community for the overdrive discussions, as we probably share similar problems and issues. The common overdrive is a popular option for our cars, and I have enjoyed mine for many years.
I wanted to share a few comments that we discuss regularly, and add one that isn't touched on much. One of the common discussions, and I see that here, is the solenoid function. I've haven't had issues with that yet, but being electrical, there are solutions to restoring one that is bad, and that tends to be what we do. Wiring, along with that, tends to be the other issue, along with fuse, and so forth. Another issue with engaging is oiling, fluid flow, as most TR6 gearboxes leak significantly that is due to mostly to a clogged vent hole, which we just rediscovered a few years ago. But with proper oil in the gearbox, the OD should function fine. Getting the oil back into the OD area takes some practice, filing at an angle, for example to insure the oil flows over the casing. Doubt vovlo owners experience this, but if so, be sure to insure proper gear oil in the gearbox.
I don't think is is related, but some of us run 30 weight, non detergent motor oil in our gearbox and OD. This was tested by gearbox restorer in the Northeast, Quantum Mechanics, and after testing regular GL4, redline, other synthetics, QM found this simple oil to lubricate well, and keep the internal pressures down. That may be issue with volvo gearboxes, I don't know, but it has certainly helped some of us stay on the road.
Lastly - when gas was expensive back in the 2007, 2008 years, I wanted to convert my OD to the volvo version. You probably don't know, but the Triumph J overdrive differs from the Volvo overdrive in its reduction. The TR is around 19%, and the Volvo is around 21%. There were marketing numbers that suggested the TR was 22%, and that the Volvo is 28%. I spoke with a former Laycock engineer at the time, and he shared with me the true ratios. I may be wrong, but just wanted to share that - shoot holes in it, all that. So, I have a TR6 with Volvo OD internals, and I really like it. One of the downsides to this was when I first installed it, my OD would "stick" after a bit of driving. Stick, as in stuck in OD. It would pop out after you parked the car and let it cool. We assume this is because the wear on the volvo sun set was larger, if only by a few thousands, than my exited TR sun was. If you've never seen these internals, its a big smooth wheel on the outside - goes back and forth in housing, and it supposed to be a specific tolerance. I don't know that I should have just used a volvo housing until I went thru this process. Regardless, its broken in now, working fine.
Thats enough chatter from me today - I appreciate you allowing me to share some comments, and I hope to help others down the road.
Cheers
Chris
#guvnal
I am Chris, I live in Texas, and I own a Triumph TR6. I joined this community for the overdrive discussions, as we probably share similar problems and issues. The common overdrive is a popular option for our cars, and I have enjoyed mine for many years.
I wanted to share a few comments that we discuss regularly, and add one that isn't touched on much. One of the common discussions, and I see that here, is the solenoid function. I've haven't had issues with that yet, but being electrical, there are solutions to restoring one that is bad, and that tends to be what we do. Wiring, along with that, tends to be the other issue, along with fuse, and so forth. Another issue with engaging is oiling, fluid flow, as most TR6 gearboxes leak significantly that is due to mostly to a clogged vent hole, which we just rediscovered a few years ago. But with proper oil in the gearbox, the OD should function fine. Getting the oil back into the OD area takes some practice, filing at an angle, for example to insure the oil flows over the casing. Doubt vovlo owners experience this, but if so, be sure to insure proper gear oil in the gearbox.
I don't think is is related, but some of us run 30 weight, non detergent motor oil in our gearbox and OD. This was tested by gearbox restorer in the Northeast, Quantum Mechanics, and after testing regular GL4, redline, other synthetics, QM found this simple oil to lubricate well, and keep the internal pressures down. That may be issue with volvo gearboxes, I don't know, but it has certainly helped some of us stay on the road.
Lastly - when gas was expensive back in the 2007, 2008 years, I wanted to convert my OD to the volvo version. You probably don't know, but the Triumph J overdrive differs from the Volvo overdrive in its reduction. The TR is around 19%, and the Volvo is around 21%. There were marketing numbers that suggested the TR was 22%, and that the Volvo is 28%. I spoke with a former Laycock engineer at the time, and he shared with me the true ratios. I may be wrong, but just wanted to share that - shoot holes in it, all that. So, I have a TR6 with Volvo OD internals, and I really like it. One of the downsides to this was when I first installed it, my OD would "stick" after a bit of driving. Stick, as in stuck in OD. It would pop out after you parked the car and let it cool. We assume this is because the wear on the volvo sun set was larger, if only by a few thousands, than my exited TR sun was. If you've never seen these internals, its a big smooth wheel on the outside - goes back and forth in housing, and it supposed to be a specific tolerance. I don't know that I should have just used a volvo housing until I went thru this process. Regardless, its broken in now, working fine.
Thats enough chatter from me today - I appreciate you allowing me to share some comments, and I hope to help others down the road.
Cheers
Chris
#guvnal
Last edited by L.O. Guvna; Jul 2, 2021 at 11:47 AM.
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