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[109 fever]

Hey guys,  I have only driven one car with a Laycock deNormanville over drive installed.  It was a long time ago.  It seems to me that there half gears that could be used by taking the overdrive in and out. 
I am having a Roamer drive overdrive installed in my '65 109 petrol CSW.  I have read that the overdrive is an aid in off roading but don't fully understand why?  Is the Roamerdrive essentially used for a fifth gear? =lower RPMs at speed, etc.
 
Can anyone shed more light on the overdrive?
Thanks

[nathanglasgow]

Where did you read that an overdrive is an aid in off road driving? Be interesting to read it in full. I've never used mine(Fairey) for anything other than a fifth gear.

[Gosney83]

The Roamerdrive can be used in all gears, but I can't see any benefit from using it for off-roading specifically. I use my one for an extra gear inbetween 3rd and 4th, and a 5th gear on the motorway.
The Fairey overdrive is only to be used in 3rd and 4th as it is supposedly weaker than the Roamerdrive.
Hope that helps?
All the best Gary

[Formerlyjeremy]

Fairey make no mention of only using the overdrive in 3rd and top in their instructions which are freely availanle on the internet - indeed I think they say it can be used in low ratio.

Its a confusion that's arisen with the Laycock which usually is limited to 3rd and 4th - but sometimes 2nd as well.

[nathanglasgow]

That's weird. The superwinch/fairey instructions I've got say different. Maybe after failures in service of folks using it as a splitter box when heavily load they updated their instructions.

[gilbo]

That's weird. The superwinch/fairey instructions I've got say different. Maybe after failures in service of folks using it as a splitter box when heavily load they updated their instructions.

Yeah, but doesn't the Stage 1 have a V8?

[Formerlyjeremy]

The stage 1 overdrive was different and so far as I know can't be fitted to the series box.

[autorover1]

I often use Fairey as a splitter  . I remember at Eastnor with a Land Rover Company 109 SW (with an overdrive) on loan , I couldn't get up a steep hill. 1st gear Low and you spun out near the top, and 2nd gear low it stalled. Overdrive  1st , strait up & over the top.  The Fairey OD for the stage one had the same internals as the standard 4 cylinder and was definitely not strong enough for lower gears than  3rd or 4th.

[Alan Drover]

I use the Fairey overdrive as a fifth gear. My MGB GT has overdrive but it's hydraulic/electric action and can only be used in 3rd and 4th. There's a switch on the gearbox which disengages the overdrive when the gear lever is moved to the 1/2 and reverse plane. Reversing with it engaged will destroy the uni directional clutch.

[Sunny Jim]

There is/was such as a thing as an 'underdrive' that gave ultra-low ratios for rock crawling and the like, maybe this is the origin of the confusion? I have an early 'Roverdrive' that I fitted 14 years ago - it is most useful in 3rd and 4th although there is no restriction put on it by the manufacturer for 'stock' engines.

Sunny Jim

[Alan Drover]

There is/was such as a thing as an 'underdrive' that gave ultra-low ratios for rock crawling and the like, maybe this is the origin of the confusion?


Sunny Jim

Ashcroft used to manufacture the underdrive but no longer do.

[109 fever]

The Roamerdrive can be used in all gears, but I can't see any benefit from using it for off-roading specifically. I use my one for an extra gear inbetween 3rd and 4th, and a 5th gear on the motorway.
The Fairey overdrive is only to be used in 3rd and 4th as it is supposedly weaker than the Roamerdrive.
Hope that helps?
All the best Gary

Thanks so much Gary.  That really helps.  I wanted the overdrive obviously for a 5th gear for all the know reasons.  But, when coming up to a rotary for example, 3rd is too high and one cannot really go into 2nd with ease.  I had hoped to be able to go into 2 1/2 gear if you will.  I realize that will not be the case.  She arrives tomorrow with the new OD, Fairey Capstan winch, Butler spot light to join the Bosch spot light already in place.  Cheers Gary

[genocache]

109, the Roamerdrive can be used in any gear. I find mine most useful when going up hills and 4th is not enough and 3rd is too much rpm, 3 and a half is perfect.

To downshift from 3 to 2; unselect 3, in neutral, clutch out, increase the rpms, clutch in, select 2, clutch out. It takes practice to matching the rpm's in neutral, generally you have to have higher rpm's than what you need in second to make the shift.

Your in the States, Ray at Global Roamer in British Columbia is only a phone call away for questions and answers.

[109 fever]

 . great help,  Thanks.

[strang]

My overdrive on my series one is really quiet - honestly! But that means I often forget to take it out when driving, and so have set off from stationary with it engaged  many times without any issues.