The Ford Barn

JHFORD51 · 12-12-2015, 06:26 PM

My 50 ford has been giving me some trouble lately with the O.D. Trouble started with O.D. engaging as designed but once you drove it 10-15 miles the O.D. would disengage. I added an additional ground wire directly from one solenoid mounting bolt to the chassis with no change. Removed solenoid, cleaned points, and it bench tested fine with crisp engagement. Today, I unhooked all the factory wiring to rule out the govenor, relay, etc. and operated the solenoid directly from a toggle switch. I hear/feel the solenoid clicking but never get any O.D. lock-up. My next step is to install a different solenoid and repeat testing. Can the wires within the solenoid can lose insulation and break down so that the solenoid works with no load but not be strong enough to push the pawl into the spinning ring when the transmission is turning?

12-12-2015, 06:26 PM	#1
JHFORD51 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 259	50 overdrive My 50 ford has been giving me some trouble lately with the O.D. Trouble started with O.D. engaging as designed but once you drove it 10-15 miles the O.D. would disengage. I added an additional ground wire directly from one solenoid mounting bolt to the chassis with no change. Removed solenoid, cleaned points, and it bench tested fine with crisp engagement. Today, I unhooked all the factory wiring to rule out the govenor, relay, etc. and operated the solenoid directly from a toggle switch. I hear/feel the solenoid clicking but never get any O.D. lock-up. My next step is to install a different solenoid and repeat testing. Can the wires within the solenoid can lose insulation and break down so that the solenoid works with no load but not be strong enough to push the pawl into the spinning ring when the transmission is turning?