Inliners International Forums General Discussion Drive Train B. W. overdrive

I am looking for a manual operator to be used in place of the solenoid for a Borg-Warner overdrive. I saw one years ago but can't find it now, anybody know how to make one or have an old one to sell? Ican't use the regular solenoid since I have a 6 volt electric system and all solenoids I know of are 12 volt.

These overdrives were used in many brands of cars and light trucks, such as chevy suburban models "in the day" and many if not most were six volt applications. Willys for instance used them in their two wheel drive station wagons and Jeepsters. Six volt solenoids should not be a problem to find. In fact it seems, IIRC that a link was posted here in a discussion regarding these overdrives to a company who supplied solenoids in both 6 and 12 volts.
Hope this helps..I'm sure someone else with more knowledge/better memory will jump in here momentarily.

Paul...aka xerxes

All of the OD solenoids before '55-'56 were 6V. Most of the solenoids that quit do so because they became oil soaked and sticky. That caused the lead wire to melt at a soldered connection under the cap. I really don't know if it was intended to be a fuse-able link or not. The old one can be repaired if you can find a shop that will mess with it. I had one fixed when we broke down in Kingman. They often come up for sale on eBay. I found some stuff once from a site for Suburbans. I think it was called the Old Burb Club and there were posts about working on BW ODs.

Try George Asche
1693 Fertigs Road
Venus, Pennsylvania 16364
(814) 354-2621

I'm sure he has a 6v unit for you. He doesn't deal with the internet so an old fashioned phone call will be required.

Maybe there is an electronic gadget that will take the 6V and make it 12 Volt just on that one line. Radio Shack might have something. It would basically be a STEP UP Transformer. It dont have to be High Amp just enough amps to handle the Solinoid on your transmission.

Just completed a full tear-down of my Borg Warner T-96 with R10 overdrive a month ago.

The 12V solenoid might actually work at 6V -- try it!

Its's a VERY HEAVY pull-in coil, with a pair of contacts that open, and leave a "hold in" coil energized.

There's no practical way to boost 6V to the 12V needed for the solenoid; think of the solenoid as a "current" device, not a "voltage" device; it's very low resistance, wants a crapload of amperes to pull in. Like a starter motor. All 6V->12V converters assume a fairly low and constant load (1 to 10amps sort of thing).

I'll trade you one of my 6V solenoids for your 12V.

Beater, I will take you up on your offer to trade a 6v for a 12v. I have several 12v solenoids, what length is the 6v plunger as it protrudes from the mounting flange? I will get you a matching size, there are several sizes. Contact me direct at chevman32@aol.com
Thanks, Don Rowland

Don, I'll pull one out tomorrow and let you know. Mine are all from Studebakers but BW made all the ODs. Tom

Don, I found two that I believe are 6V. One was clean and in a drawer of Stude Trans stuff. I think it was One of several I was cleaning up looking for a good 12V when my son and I were putting his Stude wagon together. The other I just took from a BW T-86 today. Both look good. The inner link is not melted. I'l send both to you. Check them out. Use one if you can. Send the other back with your 12V. Is that OK? Beater

Beater, please measure how far the plunger is out from the mounting flange, there are several lengths of them.
thanks, Don

Don, From the mounting surface to the end of plunger is 1 1/8". Here are some pictures.


solenoids