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Overdrive
Posted: Sat Mar 14, 2026 7:42 pm
by Chisler
Evening all,
I have a Fairey Overdrive fitted,
My question - is it correct and safe to go straight into 4th from 3rd with the overdrive engaged or do I have to come out of overdrive then into 4th and engage overdrive again .
All the best.
Re: Overdrive
Posted: Sat Mar 14, 2026 11:05 pm
by Neil Bymouth
That's perfectly ok. What shouldn't be done is to use the overdrive in first or second or any gear in low ratio. This can damage the overdrive by putting too much torque through it. Before I bought the Fairey overdrive on my Series 3 for £100 it had to be rebuilt because it had been left permanently engaged by its previous owner. I got it because the previous owner never paid the repair bill. That was in the early 1990's.
Overdrive 3rd is a very useful hill climbing gear when direct top is too high and direct 3rd too low.
Re: Overdrive
Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2026 9:51 am
by Chisler
Thank you so much for the reply,
I did once go from 3rd directly into 4th without disengaging overdrive and it didn’t make a devastating noise, however I have been disengaging overdrive each time because not sure.
So once again thank you.
Yes I was aware 1st & 2nd a no no
Cheers