Classic/Antique Car Repair: Overdrive, studebaker champion, overrunning clutch

Question
1955 studebaker champion 6 cy. Overdrive want engage. Gov works, od relay works, solenoid works. Grounding gov wire relay and solenoid actuate. gov contacts close correctly. with the od lever pushed in the car is free wheeling at any speed,slow or fast. Transmission is BW T96. What is your opinion ? what would need to be replaced in the od unit.
                         Thanks Robert

Answer
If you can actually hear the solenoid working when you ground the wire from the governor, and still the car freewheels, either the solenoid is not extending far enough to catch the balk ring, or the balk ring is not working right.  If this has happened only in cold weather, it could be that you have too thick a grease in the unit for winter use.  If you are using SAE140W grease, that could be your cause.  Try draining the unit and replacing the grease with SAE90W - that may help.

If that doesn't lead to a cure, then the unit will have to come apart for inspection - I can't guess what would be the problem for sure, but the overrunning clutch is suspect, and the balk ring operation.

Dick