The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline Borg Warner OD in reverse

I've read that the BW OD will self distruct if used in reverse. Does this mean that the solunoid should not be engaged? Or does it also mean that to go in reverse the dashboard cable must be pulled out (disengaged). I'm thinking most units would have been ruined over the years if it was the cable - but want to be sure. I have the BW manual, but it does not have any reference. Thanks.

When wired correctly the solenoid cannot engage OD until the vehicle reaches a predetermined speed. This prevents the solenoid from engaging in reverse.

There is also a rod in the case that blocks the solenoid from engaging when the transmission is put into reverse. It is actuated by the shift fork.

Key words here "When wired correctly...". I plan on wiring my next one so that others can drive my truck. As it is set up now, I can split shift to 6 forward gears. The danger here is that you are in OD, say at a stop on an (even) slight hill. Rolling backwards would chew up the expensive and increasingly rare gears. I bought a spare B-W overdrive and the od was completely chewed up I suspect by not having the od properly wired. Some may call my way of doing it risky, but ten years after a home rebuild and vigilant daily driving only vehicle of 60 K miles the od is going great.

That said I totally concur with Cletis, set the od up properly according to the manuals.

Cosmo

Thanks for the responses. I was told at one point that the OD could be used as a hill holder. Judging from what Cosmo said I wont take a chance with that. Thanks! Dave.

Yikes for sure. I don't see how. In fact that transmission free wheels in any gear but reverse. You need to train yourself to always park in reverse and set the brake.

The overdrives are factory wired so as to not to go into OD in reverse. However, 50 years ago I always wired my OD so it would work in reverse and they do not self destruct. They are a challenge to drive with the rear of the car steering. A friend of mine rolled a 55 Ford on straight road right in front of the drive in movie while he was going backwards in OD. Its about like driving a fork lift. I had quite a Few T86 BW transmissions with OD. The cluster and clutch gear went bad quite regularly which left me with no 1st or reverse. I still drove them in 2nd and 3rd until I found some gears. I just had to remember to park where I could pull out frontwards. The T85 and T89 were a lot tougher, but not totally bulletproof. I have about come to the conclusion that its impossible to tear up either a R10 or R11 OD as long as you keep oil in them. The hill holder was a Studebaker thing. It actually worked with the hydraulic brakes. It kept the car from rolling backwards on an incline while the clutch was depressed. I think other cars may have had a hill holder, but Studebaker really advertised it. It made it a lot easier to start a manual transmission on a steep incline.