Anybody see one of these?? It's the unit in my Tudor. All I can get it to do is "freewheel" when engaged, there is no engine braking. It coast really good. It has 2 levers with cables that go to it. Does this thing have another gear? Am I not using right??
Looks like an old Brownlite Auxilliary Transmission. Known as a "Brownie Two-Speed". Definately not a Columbia
no, that's the Borg Warner overdrive that is normally installed on the back of an open driveline transmission, looks like someone went to a lot of trouble to put it in a torque tube!
It sure looks like an overdrive unit. The round device with a strap on it is the solenoid to engage the overdrive. It should have one or two wires on it or a spade lug. You needed a relay to operate the solenoid. They pulled 20-25 amps or so. You have a add a fuse or circuit breaker in the circuit. Check out old overdrive wiring diagrams to wire it up. They had all sorts of interlock devices so you could not engage overdrive at low speeds. Once you figure out the solenoid, the overdrive shoud work fine.
If there is an end on that cable and you pull it, it will stop free wheeling. That will lock it in direct. You are missing the governor. It goes in that hole that is blocked. I have no idea about the strap going to the solenoid. Very unique set up. I hope you can get it to work. I sure liked mine in my 60 Chevy.
Thanks for the response guys! I knew it was an overdrive of some sort, just never seen one like this, It was in the car when my Pop got it. I'll look for the wire connections. But, does this have another gear ( higher range ) in it? If I get the solenoid hooked up correctly, how do I operate it??
There are two levers, if I push one down, it freewheels, I'm afraid to push the other one down. Do you operate this thing at speed after you shift to 3rd?? Do I push the clutch in and push the other lever down?
See if you can find a web page that explains how these overdrives work, then see if you can figure out what yours is set up to do....it's weird... The solenoid has been gutted, and instead of being run by electricity, it is now run by a mechanical linkage. You don't have a governor because there's no need for an electric speed sensor since the solenoid is no longer electrically controlled. You have to mechanically operate the solenoid linkage. I think you should only do this when the cable linkage is shifted to overdrive, which is when it freewheels. Also you'll have to take it out of overdrive manually to be able to use reverse gear. Good luck!
I kind of get the idea that It is in OD when it freewheels. If you are talking about engine braking. And would be in direct when you push in the other lever. At which time maybe it wouldn't freewheel. I would get somebody to turn the motor by hand, in high on the stock trans, and observe what happens when you engage one or both levers. Less brakage that way.
Yeah, I was thinking about doing that Rich, thanks. Squirrel, that,s what my thoughts were on the solenoid. Hopefully the sun and planetaries are not blown out!
not sure if this is what you have but it might help....http://www.tocmp.com/manuals/trans/Borg-Warner Overdrive/index.htm
1-when your free wheeling its in the OD mode--At that time you activate the lever on the gutted solenoid and it should lock in the OD gear--You dont need the governor and if you want to replace the solenoid with a working electrical unit its easy to do and would only require a toggle switch to activate a common relay like a fog lamp unit found at most part houses. The solenoid only requires 6 volt but can work fine with 12Volts. I have my 52 ford set up as above and its worked for 5 years. Above post states that reverse is locked out--He is right on and you simply turn off the toggle when approaching a stop or red light-This is how I do it.
There is at least one guy doing this Model A conversion commercially...searching Borg warner on Fordbarn would turn up his name.
I think the top cable in your pic goes to the OD selector and when the lever is back it is OD (Lever in). If you drive it with the lever in get to about 30 mph in 3rd gear. Let off of the gas and throw the 2nd lever and that should place iyou n actual OD. You should be able to leave the first lever in most of the time and even back up in reverse. When you come to a light or stop change the position of the 2nd lever then repeat the process above 30 mph. You will not be able to use reverse with the 2nd cable in the OD position. Jim
This is exactly what I did................and the friggin' thing WORKS!!!!!! Woo Hooo! Man, does it really bring the rpm down. I'm guessin' I could do 65 easy! But I'll be happy with 55 at much lower rpm. Now I can go on one particular long cruise I was a little worried about. Thanks for all the input guys!!!!! This place is friggin' awsome!!!!
Yup, Borg Warner unit. Whatever you do, do not run in reverse with the overdirve engaged in the upshift position. You will explode the unit.
Ok, had her up to 67 mph just chuggin' along a nice long empty stretch tonight. It's got alot more to go, but I ain't goin' back there anytime soon!!!
Now that I have the thing working, what oil do you guys recomend for this thing. I have some 15w40, will that do ok? I read not to use EP oil in this thing. It had gear oil in it, I drained it out. Thanks!!
Back in the 70s when the Model A guys got real and began driving around the country instead of just the county all manner of OD conversions were tried to reduce engine rpms and give a little better mileage. Now there are new units that bolt in in place of the original torque tube and others.
80 or 90 weight gear oil only!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And the ****** and OD units need to be filled individually
Make darn sure it is topped off with gear lube. 90 wt is good, if it seems to take a while to engage add about two ounces of ATF to free it up. Someone spent a lot of time and machine work to put that in, fun isnt it!
You'll also need what they called the "Governor Switch: and overdrive relay, if you want it to run in full auto mode. Opposite the speedo drive (left to right) on the tailshaft is another threaded bung for the governor switch, yours is probably plugged. The governor runs off the speedo drive gear. It upshifts the OD at 26 MPH and downshifts at 23 MPH. The relay needs to be rated for continuous service and not momentary contact like a horn relay.
Im pretty sure, that this 83 year old guy makes these still. I believe it looks like his set up, he is out in Hershey ever year. He is still building them himself, send him your torque tube and shaft, and he'll make you one. Super cool old guy! I may have his paper work, not sure where though. I'll look...
I looked, couldn't find it. It may show up... found some other good stuff, ha. If I remember correctly, he was in the Chocolate field.. if even the same guy.
Hey Mel, Now that the OD is working, I may be able to bring the A up for some coffee! Motor Speedway??
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