New 3-Speed with OD failure.

[James_Douglas]

On the first long drive I have taken with the car in which Sondra has come along, the Desoto 3-speed with Overdrive that I purchased from George Asche failed.

The OD specifically failed. When I got home I did the Chrysler tests as outlined in the service book. It all pointed to the OD solenoid.

I took the wires off and took the nuts off to get to the points in the solenoid housing. When I took the case off, I got bits of metal raining down on my chest. It also smelled of molten or burned metal.

As you can see from the photo, the thinner and longer point arm melted right away.

I talked to George and asked if it could be related to my having wired the system wrong. He said that he doubted it.

It has worked for several weeks without any issue other than the 1st-reverse shifting engagement problems that crops up from time to time. George and I think it may require a little bit shorter rail shifter rod.

Anyway, George said he will send me out another one on Monday. So I guess no driving this week.

Best, James

[Don Coatney]

James;

Did the failure have any effect on the transmission other than overdrive did not work?

[Normspeed]

James, that is really odd. There must have been a heck of a lot of resistance in that contact to cook it like that. And the other contact looks fine. Hard to guess what could cause it, but just perhaps, the metal could have been age/stress cracked in the area where it melted off. Also odd that the fuse on the relay did not blow.

[James_Douglas]

Hi Guys,

The trans itself seem to be OK. George said that sometimes that point will stick.

Apparently there are 2 coils in the solenoid. One big one that pushed the pawl into place and a second one that holds it into place.

Once the pawl is engaged, the first larger coil is supposed to disengage and be held in place by the second smaller coil. George said that if the big coil stays engaged because the pints stick it can burn the point up.

I press him as to if there is any combination of wiring that would allow the thing to work, yet lead to the point no opening and thus causing the problem. He said he did not think so, and not to worry about the wiring if it was working for a couple of weeks.

He said Monday that he was shipping me out another one. I am wondering if this is a week area on these and I should get a couple of them. So that I can take a spare when on long road trips.

Best, James

[Norm's Coupe]

Hi Guys,

The trans itself seem to be OK. George said that sometimes that point will stick.

Apparently there are 2 coils in the solenoid. One big one that pushed the pawl into place and a second one that holds it into place.

Once the pawl is engaged, the first larger coil is supposed to disengage and be held in place by the second smaller coil. George said that if the big coil stays engaged because the pints stick it can burn the point up.

I press him as to if there is any combination of wiring that would allow the thing to work, yet lead to the point no opening and thus causing the problem. He said he did not think so, and not to worry about the wiring if it was working for a couple of weeks.

He said Monday that he was shipping me out another one. I am wondering if this is a week area on these and I should get a couple of them. So that I can take a spare when on long road trips.

Best, James

James,

When it comes to small vintage electrical stuff like this, it never hurts to have a spare, at home or on the road. Just like now, you may be able to buy another one, BUT, ya gotta wait for it. I have two new in the box NOS starter solenoids, one new in the box voltage regulator, horn relay, headlight relay, several sets of points, one new and one used headlight switch and a few light sockets, etc. in the cabinet. That's in addition to a complete set of dash gauges all in the cabinet. Hope I'll never need them, but wouldn't part with them either because then I'd need that one all of a sudden.

[Don Coatney]

James' date='

When it comes to small vintage electrical stuff like this, it never hurts to have a spare, at home or on the road. Just like now, you may be able to buy another one, BUT, ya gotta wait for it. I have two new in the box NOS starter solenoids, one new in the box voltage regulator, horn relay, headlight relay, several sets of points, one new and one used headlight switch and a few light sockets, etc. in the cabinet. That's in addition to a complete set of dash gauges all in the cabinet. Hope I'll never need them, but wouldn't part with them either because then I'd need that one all of a sudden.[/quote']

Norm;

If you had a starter solenoid fail when you back your car out of the garage do you carry the spare in the car with you or would you have to walk all the way from the driveway back into the garage to retrieve it? :confused:

[Normspeed]

Don, you're ruthless:D

It wouldn't hurt to have a spare around the shop, but on a road trip if it fails you lose the OD option but still have your regular tranny. You just lose some gas mileage.

[Norm's Coupe]

Norm;

If you had a starter solenoid fail when you back your car out of the garage do you carry the spare in the car with you or would you have to walk all the way from the driveway back into the garage to retrieve it? :confused:

Don,

As mentioned, they are all in the cabinet. So, guess I would have to walk a whole 20 or 30 feet in the situation you just described. Maybe, I should put one in the trunk. That way I would not have to walk so far. I do have tools in the trunk. :D