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Overdrive (mechanics)
Overdrive can refer to two different things. An overdrive is a device
which was commonly used in automobiles to allow the choice of an
extra-high overall gear ratio for high speed cruising, thus saving fuel,
at the cost of less torque. Usually the final or top gear is called
overdrive. Non direct drive gears increase torque multiplication at the
expense of higher engine rpm and thus, decreased fuel economy.
Usage
Generally speaking, overdrive (OD) is the highest gear in the transmission. Overdrive allows the engine to operate at
a lower rpm for a given road speed. This allows the vehicle to achieve better fuel efficiency, and often quieter
operation on the highway. When it is switched on, an automatic transmission can shift into overdrive mode after a
certain speed is reached (usually 70+ km/h [43+ mph] depending on the load). When it is off, the automatic
transmission shifting is limited to the lower gears. For an automatic transmission, it is almost always best to select
overdrive and allow the transmission to control engagement of the overdrive. (It may be necessary to switch it off if
the vehicle is being operated in a mountainous area or when towing a trailer). With a manual transmission, overdrive
should usually be selected when the average speed is above 70 km/h (approx. 43 mph).
The automatic transmission automatically shifts from OD to direct drive when more load is present. When less load
is present, it shifts back to OD. Under certain conditions, for example driving uphill, or towing a trailer, the
transmission may "hunt" between OD and the third gear, shifting back and forth. In this case, switching it off can
help the transmission to 'decide'. It may also be advantageous to switch it off if engine braking is desired, for
example when driving downhill. The vehicle's owner's manual will often contain information and suitable
procedures regarding such situations, for each given vehicle.
Virtually all vehicles (cars and trucks) have overdrive today whether manual transmission or automatic. In the
automotive aftermarket you can also retrofit overdrive to existing early transmissions. Overdrive was widely used in
European automobiles with manual transmission in the 60s and 70s to improve mileage and sport driving as a
bolt-on option but it became increasingly more common for later transmissions to have this gear built in. If a vehicle
is equipped with a bolt-on overdrive (e.g.: GKN or Gear Vendors) as opposed to a having overdrive built in one will
typically have the option to use the overdrive in more gears than just the top gear. In this case gear changing is still
possible in all gears, even with overdrive disconnected. Overdrive simply adds effective ranges to the gears, thus
overdrive third and fourth become in effect "third-and-a-half" and a fifth gear. In practice this gives the driver more
Overdrive (mechanics) 2
ratios which are closer together providing greater flexibility particularly in performance cars.
Overdrive in Europe
The vast majority of overdrives in European cars were manufactured by an English company called Laycock de
Normanville (later GKN Laycock), at its Little London Road site in Sheffield, which is now demolished and
remanufactured in the UK by an ex-Laycock de Normanville employee trading as Overdrive Spares [1]. The system
was devised by an Englishman, named Captain Edgar J de Normanville (1884 - 1968)[2] , through a chance meeting
with a Laycock Products Engineer. De Normanville overdrives were found in vehicles manufactured by Ford, British
Leyland, Jaguar, Rootes Group and Volvo to name but a few. Another British company, the former aircraft builder
Fairey, built a successful all-mechanical unit for the Land Rover, which is still in production in America today.
The first production vehicle to feature the Laycock system was the 1948 Standard Vanguard Saloon. The first unit to
be created was the A-type overdrive, this was fitted to many sports cars during the 1950s. Several famous marques
used A-type overdrives, including Jaguar, Aston Martin, Ferrari, Austin Healey, Jensen, Bristol, AC and Armstrong
Siddeley. Later the A-type overdrive was to be fitted to the entire range of TR cars.
In 1959, the Laycock Engineering Company introduced the D-type overdrive, which was fitted to a variety of motor
cars including Volvo 120 and 1800s, Sunbeam Alpines and Rapiers, Triumph Spitfires, and also early 3-synchro
MGBs.
From 1967 the LH-type overdrive was introduced, and this featured in a variety of models, including 4-synchro
MGBs, the Ford Zephyr, early Reliant Scimitars, TVRs, and Gilberns.
The J-type overdrive was introduced in the early 1970s, and was adapted to fit Volvo, Triumph, Vauxhall/Opel,
American Motors and Chrysler motorcars, and Ford Transit vans.
The P-type overdrive marked the last updates and included both a Gear Vendors U.S. version and a Volvo version.
The Volvo version kept the same package size as the J-type but with the updated 18 element freewheel and stronger
splines through the planet carrier. The Gear Vendors U.S. version uses a larger 1.375 outer diameter output shaft for
higher capacity and a longer rear case.
Over a period of 40 years, Laycock Engineering manufactured over three and a half million overdrive Units, and
over one million of these were fitted to Volvo motorcars.
In 2008 the U.S. company Gear Vendors, Inc. of El Cajon, California purchased all the overdrive assets of GKN to
continue production of the U.S. version and all spares for J and P types worldwide.
The system features an oil pressure operated device attached to the back of the standard gearbox operating on the
gearbox output shaft. Through a system of oil pressure, solenoids and pistons, the overdrive would drop the revs on
whatever gears it was used on by 22%. For instance, the overdrive system applied to a Triumph TR5 operates on
2nd, 3rd and top gear. When engaged, the overdrive would drop the revs by approximately 450 rpm. The advantages
this had on fuel consumption was quite marked over long distances.
Overdrive (mechanics) 3
External links
• "How Automatic Transmissions Work - Overdrive" [4] (with a Flash interactive animation)
[http://www.odspares.com/ "Technical Site"
References
[1] http:/ / www. odspares. com/
[2] "Obituary: E,J.de Normanville". Motor: page 112. date 27 January 1968.
[3] " Kenny Loggins Lyrics, Danger Zone Lyrics >> (http:/ / www. stlyrics. com/ lyrics/ topgun/ dangerzone. htm)". Stlyrics.com. . Retrieved
2009-10-24.
[4] http:/ / auto. howstuffworks. com/ automatic-transmission8. htm
Article Sources and Contributors 5
License
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported
http:/ / creativecommons. org/ licenses/ by-sa/ 3. 0/