Series 2a fairey overdrive issues

Hi all, picked up my first series 3 today (fitted with 2a gearbox and fairey overdrive) the issue I'm having is specifically with the OD.
Driving along perfectly normally, come to a stop and put her in first, with the OD in position "out" set off normally, 90% of the time the overdrive just clatters, and I've got no drive. (Bear in mind I've not touched the thing) Tying to pull the lever back into "out" just grinds until eventually it will pop back in , although even when the OD clatters and I've got no drive the lever seems to still be in the "out" position it's certainly not in the middle at neutral.


Similarly, I can be driving along a dual carriage way, with the OD engaged, working fine. I come to slow for a stop and put it in "out" and it seems to work fine, no issues. Until I go to set off again. More often than not, clatters and not engaged.

It's getting rather troublesome, especially when I'm still getting to grips driving the thing, and going to set off at almost every junction temporary losing drive.

Is there any adjustment thay can be made, or is it gonna be a rebuild, are parts still avaliable etc?

When we had ours it would jump into neutral position if going over a pothole for example. Used to cable tie the lever into position when it was annoying, greenlaning for example.
Might need rebuilding or adjustments.

Congrats on getting your series 3, is it diesel or petrol and any piccies, people normally only use when in 3rd or 4th gears, are you using your clutch when engaging OD and also changing gears slowly
When the od lever pulled back(OD not engaged ) is pulling away , driving ,stopping , braking as normal as it should be.
Have you checked the oil level in overdrive and the other gearboxes while at it
I have OD on mine and never took it apart but the oil level does change and level can change in main gearbox, transfer box and OD , it’s probably down to worn seals somewhere

You could also check the main shaft nut is tight

steve2286w said:

Congrats on getting your series 3, is it diesel or petrol and any piccies, people normally only use when in 3rd or 4th gears, are you using your clutch when engaging OD and also changing gears slowly
When the od lever pulled back(OD not engaged ) is pulling away , driving ,stopping , braking as normal as it should be.
Have you checked the oil level in overdrive and the other gearboxes while at it
I have OD on mine and never took it apart but the oil level does change and level can change in main gearbox, transfer box and OD , it’s probably down to worn seals somewhere

You could also check the main shaft nut is tight

Land Rover FAQ - Repair & Maintenance - Series - Options - Fairey Overdrive Installation Manual Pg8

Click to expand...

I'd drain the od unit oil, looking for bits. Then the transfer box for the same. I haven't yet rebuilt an od (although I have one to do) but understand that spares are available. I'd be hoping that it's the main nut as suggested by @steve2286w - which would be indicated by bits in the transfer oil.

It should be completely silent in use, and obviously shouldn't pop out. On the previous SIII the kids used to do all the gearchanges, using od in all the gears.

Nicks land rover excellent site well written plenty of pics , if I need to work on my od I’ll have a close look at how he did it




Also a link from above will lead you here

I rebuilt mine last year, you can buy relatively complete rebuild kits and its not rocket science but you will need a press. Some larger parts are sometimes unavailable so it really depends on what is wrong with it.

Thanks guys, I'll investigate. Here are some photos of said series. It's a 200tdi 109

(photo inverted)

I didn't realise that you drove on the wrong side of the road in Yorkshire?

All sorted. Turned out the selector wasn't central, so wasn't engaging the out position fully. Hence it popping into neutral all the time.

Happy days