Classic/Antique Car Repair: Packard overdrive, charlie cain, volt ohmmeter

Question
Dick - just wanted to give you a follow-up on my Packard R-11 o/d problem. Electrical checks were all OK, so I replaced the solenoid (expensive!). I am happy to report that o/d functions beautifully now, engaging and disengaging w/o problem, so apparently solenoid was culprit. Thanks again for your help.
Charlie Cain
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The text above is a follow-up to ...

-----Question-----
Follow up to your question - Correct; flooring the accelerator does nothing (engine does not cut out). Kickdown switch and governor have been replaced (new).
Thanks
Charlie
-----Answer-----
This site is acting strange - I guess my last message never went out.

Here we go again:


Anyway, I did study the schematic today - and yes, there is a connection between the kickdown function and the solenoid - there are a pair of terminals on the solenoid that must be closed in order for the temporary interruption of ignition (require for kickdown) to operate properly.  Whether or not the ability to rotate the stem of the solenoid is related to this function or not is something I cannot determine without having an operating system to test.  

But you can (and should) verify that everything else is OK and adjusted right before you spend the money to replace the solenoid.  If you take a volt-ohmmeter and connect it to the two sets of contacts (one at a time) on the kickdown switch, and watch to see that the switch is operating when a helper floors the gas pedal - if that happens, you know the switch is OK, and is adjusted right.

The two sets of contacts are:

1.  The two with yellow wires on them.  These two contact should be closed (continuity through them) when the accelerator is NOT pressed all the way down, and should open circuit when the pedal is floored.

2.  The two with green/black wires on them.  These should be open UNLESS the pedal is on the floor.

If that is happening, the finger points at the solenoid as the culprit.

I hope this is clear and helpful.

Dick

Answer
Thanks, Charlie;

I appreciate the update - I'll remember that the next time I run into that situation.  I have only one car with an R11 in my fleet now, and have not had any troubles with it so far (of course I've only been driving it since 1977, so it isn't really due for any problems yet!)

Dick