How does the Overdrive work on my 55?

[quadecz]

Hi everyone,

I've put about a hundred miles on Tina since she wenk back on the road at the weekend and all seemed to be going well with the variomatic: as I accelerate I could feel the car gear up progressively and then once I got anywhere over about thirty mph and eased right back on the throttle I could feel the revs drop and the car gear right up (I assume this was the overdrive function doing its thing). Once I put throttle back on I could feel the car pull the gearing down again until I got back onto a cruise and eased off. I'm assuming this sounds like it was working as it should.

I went for a drive today and the overdrive effect seems to have gone - I don't get the up-gearing when the throttle is eased back. How does it work? Is it controlled by the vacuum valve and how do I test the system?

Many thanks for any advice.

[Nick]

hahaha first thing to check if you lose this effect is belt tension, they may have settled a bit now shes in use... otherwise look for vaccumn pipe shook off somewhere, cant wait to see some pics of her HINT HINT

[macplaxton]

Have a browse at the following:


D55_3_16_15_vacuum_system_EN_IT_NL_FR_DE_01.jpg by macplaxton, on Flickr

D55_3_16_15_vacuum_system_EN_IT_NL_FR_DE_02.jpg by macplaxton, on Flickr

D55_3_17_15_vacuum_system_EN_IT_NL_FR_DE_04.jpg by macplaxton, on Flickr

D55_3_17_15_vacuum_system_EN_IT_NL_FR_DE_03.jpg by macplaxton, on Flickr

D55_3_17_15_vacuum_system_EN_IT_NL_FR_DE_05.jpg by macplaxton, on Flickr

and this article:

How the belt toilers 01 by macplaxton, on Flickr

How the belt toilers 02 by macplaxton, on Flickr

How the belt toilers 03 by macplaxton, on Flickr

[quadecz]

Jan 22, 2014 23:17:12 GMT Nick said:

hahaha first thing to check if you lose this effect is belt tension, they may have settled a bit now shes in use... otherwise look for vaccumn pipe shook off somewhere, cant wait to see some pics of her HINT HINT

hi Nick, I did put some pics up elsewhere but I'll add some to this thread for you.

[quadecz]

Thanks for the pics Macplaxton, the vacuum system is one of the things I want to fully understand. Despite being a mechanic this part of the variomatic system needs me to look at the pictures and words so I have some chance.