Classic/Antique Car Repair: T86 w/od (R10), coarse thread, pipe thread

Question
I can seem to get the governor threaded back into the case.  I believe it is standard pipe thread.  I didn't put it in until I had the tranny back in the car so as not to bang it up.  Is there any trick you know of.  I may need to run a thread die in the case, and clean up the male end on the governor as well.  Also,  can you explain why a governor is used ?  Does it work for/with the OD unit ?  Or just happen to be mounted on the R10 case.

than you so much
Chris

Answer
To answer the last question first, the governor is essential to the operation of the overdrive - it is the main thing that tells the control system that the car is going fast enough to allow the overdrive to engage - usually around 28-32 MPH.  When you accelerate to that speed, you will hear a click and depending on what brand of car you are driving (you didn't tell me that) a light may appear on your dashboard telling you that the overdrive is ready to be engaged - at which point you have to let off on the gas for a moment until you feel the "clunk" which tells you the overdrive has engaged, at which point the light will go off and you are in the economy gear.  When you slow down, you will hear another click, which tells you that the overdrive has to release because the speed has dropped below the cut-in speed. If you haven't already taken your foot off the gas to let it drop back to direct drive, do it now, because the overdrive is not designed to stay engaged below about 25 MPH - it can't handle the full torque of the engine at low speeds, especially in the lower gears, especially if you have a powerful high torque engine like a Packard straight 8!

The governor has a very coarse thread - I don't know that it is pipe thread, but I doubt it.   It should screw in easily, and seat against the o-ring seal that is slipped onto the threads of the governor before it is installed. If there is something preventing you from threading it in, you'll have to investigate the cause. I have worked on many of these systems, and every one I have worked on, the governor threads in very easily.  Inspect the threads and make sure you are installing it at the right angle.  It should go in very easily.  If it doesn't, inspect the threads on the governor and on the housing- something is messed up somewhere!

Dick