240 Is it worth bench testing m46 with overdrive for OD operation?

dandeluca · 11-22-2021, 06:43 PM

Just looking for some opinions here. I have a m46 with OD I acquired for a swap. It was sitting in someones basement. Turns by hand easily drops into gear just fine. No obvious damage when looking through the top.

I was considering somehow hooking it up to an electric motor to spin it up and see if overdrive engages. Part of me whats to see what will happen before I spend $$$ more on machined flywheels, clutch kits and what not.

Another part of me says thats a lot of work and it might not really tell me that much.

What would you do?

2 old for this · 11-22-2021, 10:05 PM

Please make a video.

VolvoScout · 11-22-2021, 10:09 PM

It's absolutely worth testing before installing into the car (speaking as someone who's installed an OD only to realize that it didn't work)

This is how I tested:
Attach a corded power drill to the input shaft of the transmission via a short length of heater hose and hose clamps.
Open the top cover and pour the spec quantity of ATF type F, then close top cover.
Remove the test port plug on the OD and install gauge.
Set the transmission to 4th gear
Use drill to to spin-up transmission and check for residual pressure.
Engage OD by connecting solenoid to battery and check operating pressure.

A larger motor can be used to run the OD for several hours to test for temperature, slipping, etc... (Good idea if redoing all of the gaskets. My ATF got to about 165-170F after a few hours)
The motor will most likely have to somehow be attached to the transmission via a pulley system.
When connected directly to the input shaft, the 1800rpm motor I purchased from Harbor Freight would stall out when the OD was engaged.

The gauge can by purchased here: http://www.geocities.ws/jholekamp/

While the overdrive is out of the car, it may be worth replacing the valve seals, springs and shims.

I'll be making a video on rebuilding and testing the J Type Overdrive within the next few months. (Hopefully)

dandeluca · 11-23-2021, 09:01 AM

I have a couple questions, the OD would stall out the direct drive on a 1HP Harbor freight motor?

I have a 1/4 HP electric motor, I probably could hook up a pulley, but seems like I would need something a bit larger to do this successfully.

My second question is proper rotation. If I am looking at the transmission at the input shaft, should I spin that clockwise?

tintintin · 11-23-2021, 04:02 PM

Clockwise as when looking at it from the front. Same as engine rotation.

Redwood Chair · 11-23-2021, 09:26 PM

You'd have to get it spinning pretty good to get the excentric cam on the pump going enough to develop the couple hundred pounds of pressure needed to activate and hold it in OD.

Personally I'd put it together and see how it is because it's not a terrible job to remove the OD unit for service.

Usually it's the O rings which can be changed with the OD in situ.

In fact it's probably wise to change them anyway before installing.

2turbotoys · 11-23-2021, 09:27 PM

It never occured to me to test it, I just put them in and I suppose I have been lucky

283SD · 11-24-2021, 08:58 AM

I got a O/D tester from a trans shop years ago that closed, never used it. I ended up selling it to a guy that rebuilt trans and O/D units. I have rebuilt many O/D units, but they were out of the car.

dandeluca · 11-24-2021, 11:03 AM

I was pretty keen on bench testing the overdrive, but it seems I need a pretty serious rig to really do it. $150 for a decent electric motor $65 for a pressure gauge and plus all the time to set it up and run it.

All the little costs on this manual swap are adding up. (Such as finding someone to machine timing marks into my flat flywheel.)

Since I can always drop the OD and rebuild it if it does not work I think I am going to clean it out and replace some of the o-rings and take my chances.

OttoB · 11-25-2021, 11:29 AM

I saw a test rig for M46 and M41 when visiting Volvo at Köping. It was basically a electric motor and pressure gauge. In my total noobness it didn't take any pictures of details.

And picture of whole assembly is lost.

white855T · 11-25-2021, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dandeluca

I was pretty keen on bench testing the overdrive, but it seems I need a pretty serious rig to really do it. $150 for a decent electric motor $65 for a pressure gauge and plus all the time to set it up and run it.

All the little costs on this manual swap are adding up. (Such as finding someone to machine timing marks into my flat flywheel.)

Since I can always drop the OD and rebuild it if it does not work I think I am going to clean it out and replace some of the o-rings and take my chances.

STS machining will machine flywheel. Send them a message or email. Takes about a month to receive.

11-22-2021, 06:43 PM	#1
dandeluca Board Member Join Date: Jun 2020 Location: Bordentown NJ	Is it worth bench testing m46 with overdrive for OD operation? Just looking for some opinions here. I have a m46 with OD I acquired for a swap. It was sitting in someones basement. Turns by hand easily drops into gear just fine. No obvious damage when looking through the top. I was considering somehow hooking it up to an electric motor to spin it up and see if overdrive engages. Part of me whats to see what will happen before I spend $$$ more on machined flywheels, clutch kits and what not. Another part of me says thats a lot of work and it might not really tell me that much. What would you do?

11-22-2021, 10:09 PM	#3
VolvoScout Board Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Upstate, NY	It's absolutely worth testing before installing into the car (speaking as someone who's installed an OD only to realize that it didn't work) This is how I tested: Attach a corded power drill to the input shaft of the transmission via a short length of heater hose and hose clamps. Open the top cover and pour the spec quantity of ATF type F, then close top cover. Remove the test port plug on the OD and install gauge. Set the transmission to 4th gear Use drill to to spin-up transmission and check for residual pressure. Engage OD by connecting solenoid to battery and check operating pressure. A larger motor can be used to run the OD for several hours to test for temperature, slipping, etc... (Good idea if redoing all of the gaskets. My ATF got to about 165-170F after a few hours) The motor will most likely have to somehow be attached to the transmission via a pulley system. When connected directly to the input shaft, the 1800rpm motor I purchased from Harbor Freight would stall out when the OD was engaged. The gauge can by purchased here: http://www.geocities.ws/jholekamp/ While the overdrive is out of the car, it may be worth replacing the valve seals, springs and shims. I'll be making a video on rebuilding and testing the J Type Overdrive within the next few months. (Hopefully) Last edited by VolvoScout; 11-22-2021 at 10:15 PM..

11-23-2021, 09:27 PM	#7
2turbotoys Salaminizer Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Reading pa	It never occured to me to test it, I just put them in and I suppose I have been lucky __________________ Feedback thread https://forums.tbforums.com/showthread.php?t=144924 1978 242, 5.3 L33 1979 242, MS, R brakes 2006 V50 T5 AWD @ 17 PSI

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11-22-2021, 10:05 PM	#2
2 old for this Board Member Join Date: Mar 2018	Please make a video.

11-23-2021, 09:01 AM	#4
dandeluca Board Member Join Date: Jun 2020 Location: Bordentown NJ	I have a couple questions, the OD would stall out the direct drive on a 1HP Harbor freight motor? I have a 1/4 HP electric motor, I probably could hook up a pulley, but seems like I would need something a bit larger to do this successfully. My second question is proper rotation. If I am looking at the transmission at the input shaft, should I spin that clockwise?

11-23-2021, 04:02 PM	#5
tintintin Board Member Join Date: Sep 2012	Clockwise as when looking at it from the front. Same as engine rotation.

11-24-2021, 08:58 AM	#8
283SD Board Member Join Date: Mar 2008	I got a O/D tester from a trans shop years ago that closed, never used it. I ended up selling it to a guy that rebuilt trans and O/D units. I have rebuilt many O/D units, but they were out of the car.

11-24-2021, 11:03 AM	#9
dandeluca Board Member Join Date: Jun 2020 Location: Bordentown NJ	I was pretty keen on bench testing the overdrive, but it seems I need a pretty serious rig to really do it. $150 for a decent electric motor $65 for a pressure gauge and plus all the time to set it up and run it. All the little costs on this manual swap are adding up. (Such as finding someone to machine timing marks into my flat flywheel.) Since I can always drop the OD and rebuild it if it does not work I think I am going to clean it out and replace some of the o-rings and take my chances.

11-25-2021, 11:29 AM	#10
OttoB Board Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: E(Seattle!Vancouver! San Francisco!LA!) Helsinski	I saw a test rig for M46 and M41 when visiting Volvo at Köping. It was basically a electric motor and pressure gauge. In my total noobness it didn't take any pictures of details. And picture of whole assembly is lost.