Furthermore, what better than an extra gear that could be utilised in between all other gears? Effectively making a 4-speed gearbox a 7 or even 8 speed. When fuel economy became a major priority for car manufacturers the thinking back then was that it was far easier and cost effective to utilise an external add on to an existing gearbox design rather than go to the effort of designing one from scratch. Why was the Overdrive used and what oil do you use?ĭeveloping gearboxes has always been a pricey business. Image credit: (mechanics)#/media/File:Triumph_Gearbox_without_Overdrive_-_2.jpg At first Overdrive would be available on just top gear but later models were able to offer capability on 2nd, 3rd and 4 th gears. When activated the overdrive engages to reduce the engine speed, relative to the driveshaft. The gear set was activated by an electric solenoid and gave the driver a reduction in gear ratio at the flick of a switch or press of a button. Laycock Products manufactured the units hence the name and they consisted of a planetary gear set in a bolt on unit between the main manual gearbox and driveshaft. Edgar de Normanville was the Brit responsible for inventing the Overdrive gearbox that became so prevalent amongst many of the iconic classic cars of the 1950s and 1960s.
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