Comments on: Fairey Overdrive Fitting

By: Nick

Nick — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 12:05:21 +0000

I don’t have the Fairey unit any more, so can’t help with dimensions, but I think making up the levers is a bit unrealistic – the bracket and lever itself would be simple enough, but making the pivot assembly and accurately machining the connecting rod’s slots and clevis pen holes is not a DIY proposition unless you have high-precision equipment. Craddocks sell the parts, and Rocky Mountain can help with some of them too.

By: Ian

Ian — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 11:19:46 +0000

Hi,
Great blog, very helpful and well presented. I have a Fairey o/d unit but no levers. Can anyone tell me the lengths of the operating rods so can make up a set?
Ian

By: Nick

Nick — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 16:49:35 +0000

Glad to hear you have it sorted out, John. Sadly, my experience of second hand or even professional reconditioning matches your experience with this overdrive making me very distrustful of second hand or rebuilt assemblies. In fact, the only reconditioners I trust apart from the original manufacturers (like buying engines or transmissions directly from LR or PAS steering boxes from Adwest) are Turner Engineering. I learnt a long time ago to treat all second hand units as suspect and always strip them prior to use, reconditioning them myself, just like the Tdi engine and the new axles for the 109.

By: john

john — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 14:45:46 +0000

Hi Nick.
your advice on none selection of drive with overdrive not selected worked a treat
Had a good look at the selector fork; and guess wot; no brass shoes or guides left. [not sure of there technicle name].so as you suggested the selector would not move the requred distance to select.
Bad mechanics; but learnt my lesson not to trust sellers that a second hand unit is fine.
On the plus side; new guides fitted; And it works as it should.
Hope this comment may help other land rover owners in the future.
Once again many thanks Nick. John.

By: John

John — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 19:50:18 +0000

Thanks for the info Nick.
I will try and sort it tmz and let you know the cause.
beer time now try and get my head in gear.ha.
Thanks John.