Overdrive question, thoughts?

[steveplym]

I was wondering as I am planning on driving my car in a parade next Saturday and hadn't really thought of this much as I don't usually drive in parades. I've got the R-10 OD in my car and would it be best to lock out the OD while in the parade to avoid wear to the free-wheeling clutch in the OD?, or does it really matter?

[greg g]

Well in our 2 village parades (Memorial and 4th of 7) I don't even have to start my car as it is about 4/10ths of a mile on a down grade, before going slightly uphill for the last 2/10ths.

So I just neutral it witht he engine off till we hit the upgrade.

But yes I would disengage the OD till after the festivities.

[james curl]

I run the free wheeling on the R-10 in my Chevy pick up all of the time because I do not like to have the knob pulled all the way out. It gets in the way when getting in and out of the truck. Besides I am too lazy to pull it out while driving and push it in when getting out of the truck.

[TodFitch]

What kind of freewheeling mechanism is in the overdrive? On my 1933 the factory freewheeling is a roller and cam device which I think would not suffer wear from use. If the freewheel in the OD is similar, which seems likely to me, then there should be no wear issues in parade use.

I prefer to leave the freewheeling locked out as I like to be able to use engine braking. Especially true on a mountain down grade. But also true for in-town driving.

[Young Ed]

Steve do you keep the OD engaged all the time? Dad and I only engage them when at speed and ready to go into OD.

[suntennis]

Your OD has a clutch much like the one mentioned on a 33 car. There should be no wear from using the OD in the parade. The advantage of using the OD may be that you would not need to depress the clutch as much. Enjoy the show.

[steveplym]

Yeah Ed I just keep the knob in all the time. I just put it in reverse and put on the emergency brake when I park it. If I parked on a hill I would probably pull the knob out. I've been running it that way for a year with no problems.

It is much easier to drive to me. I never grind into gears and can always get into first at a slow roll. It does great. I guess the reason I wondered was the steps on the clutch wear over time and then the roller will not go into the cage. This is what was wrong with this od when I got it. Had to have NW transmission parts reman one for me.

Thanks for the input guys I appreciate it.

[MarkAubuchon]

I leave my on and ready to go all of the time. Although I have a switch for the power, which I keep off. Just make sure the e brake is working.