Overdrive kick-down problem

B

Bruce Compton Canada

Senior Member
My '54 Merc sputters and the ampmeter pegs to full discharge most times when I floor it enough to activate the kickdown . It eventually does kick down but takes a while, not like it did a short time ago. Any suggestions as to where to start? I've cleaned both sets of contacts in the solenoid and also the ones in the relay. I have not touched the governor yet. Although it does work eventually, I'd sure hesitate to attempt using it to pass someone on the highway. Thanks in advance: Bruce
 
Bruce, if it's a stick ******, when you floor it to kick it out of OD, it should kill the ignition for a split second to relieve the pull on the trans - but only a second at the most.
 
I have finally solved the kick-down problem. I've only had this car a few weeks, and was told by the seller that "the overdrive and wiring was completely gone through" but after many attempts to correct the problems, I discovered that the wire from the kick-down switch was connected to the battery side of the coil, not the distributor side. After installing the wire to the correct terminal, averything works perfect. Thanks : Bruce
 
Thank you for taking time to come back with the answer to your problem.

Knowing your solution gives the trouble-shooters on the site a little more insight on potential problems the next guy has.
 
You're welcome 40cpe. That's exactly why I posted the solution. This is a great site for technical discussions and problem solving, and the more info transfered ,the better it gets. I also discovered in my last few weeks of messin' with this '54 Merc. that it does NOT like anything but the larger diameter '54-'55 vacuum advance unit, although it will run (just O.K.) with the smaller '56 type. Thanks again : Bruce
 
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