Wiring up a Columbia 2-speed rear end?

[John Kennedy]

Not mine, but a friend's Columbia. In a '41 Ford. There's a vacuum switching valve with two solenoids on it.
My question: Is this activated by a momentary SPST switch, or a standard SPST switch?
In other words, do the solenoids need to stay energized to keep the vacuum routed correctly? We don't have the original switch.

THANKS~!

[4dFord/SC]

Check with John Connelly at Columbia Two Speed Parts: www.columbiatwospeedparts.com, (951) 719-4077.

[blucar]

The shifting of the electric/vacuum Columbia's is controlled by two switches. The up shift to overdrive is controlled by a two position toggle switch that is "off" in the center position and self cancelling in the "on" position.
The down shift is controlled by a switch connected to the clutch via a small rod.
I have attached a couple of pix that show the clutch safety switch... It should be noted that my car is a '36 Ford, I changed the Columbia to the later style, '42-48 electric/vacuum.. I did not like the looks of the solenoid/valve assembly attached to the left head so I mounted the valve assembly onto the fender splash panel with the speedo shift assembly inside of the car on the firewall.

[steve-cook]

I believe you may need a SPDT single pole double throw switch if you are using the valve originally designed for duel gas tanks

[slopokpete]

The switch is a SPDT style switch but it is a momentary contact switch. You disengage with the dash switch or if the car is equipped with clutch disengagement linkage it disengages when the clutch pedal is depressed. You don't need to use the clutch linkage switch to make the system function.
I don't run it as I like to have total control without it disengaging when I down shift.
Jeff

[blucar]

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To control the down shift of my Columbia I added a separate 'kill switch" into the system, that way I could shift the two-speed into low over and/or second over, kill the power and avoid a down shift when I changed gears..
The multiple gears of the Columbia came in very handy when I was younger and did a lot of street racing with my Ford.. Passengers eyes would really pop when I could "pin the speedometer" in second gear... Of course I did not bother to tell them that I had shifted into second OD.

[John Kennedy]

I'm still confused some... if I want to control it manually, can I just use a momentary SPDT switch then? Or should it be non-momentary?

[jimTN]

Why not obtain a copy of the original Columbia installation instructions which are readily available from all the peddlers? I assure you, there are detailed instructions from brackets to wiring and troubleshooting.

[slopokpete]

The dash switch should be a momentary contact switch.

[John Kennedy]

Originally Posted by jimTN

Why not obtain a copy of the original Columbia installation instructions which are readily available from all the peddlers? I assure you, there are detailed instructions from brackets to wiring and troubleshooting.

Good idea of course, but for now we just want to get it up and running. I didn't want to energize the solenoids 100% of the time if they're supposed to be momentary.