Thread: Toro Overdrive refurbishment

Originally Posted by JDNSW

The bits you are likely to be missing are the drive dog (53 in above diagram)

Please excuse my insolence, but is the 'drive dog' and 'clutch sleeve' the same thing? Here is a picture of the clutch sleeve for a Toro..

I'm not that familiar with Toro bits, but that looks as if it is the same thing - the bit that goes on the mainshaft coming out of the gearbox. A much more substantial set of teeth than the Fairey one. These bits tend to get separated from the overdrive when they are taken off, same as with the lever, linkage and bracket, but whereas the lever, linkage and bracket are easily made up by anyone with a bit of enterprise, a welder and a few tools, the drive dog needs machining capabilities, including a milling machine, plus the right milling cutter and broach, and heat treatment facilities.

John

Hey there,

I rebuilt my Toro OD a couple of years ago using the exploded diagram linked above. Its essentially the same as the fairey, just more "heavy duty". I only needed a couple of bearings, seals and o-rings - got these from a bearing supplies company over in Artarmon (from memory). Cost me bugger all (less than $100, cant remember exactly).

Its a fairly simple process, but you wanna take heaps of photos and lay the parts out exactly as they appear in the diagram - it makes putting it all back together very easy. Also go very easy on any hammering of bearings and seals - I cracked the case on mine, had to strip it totally and get it welded up, that cost about another $100!

Setting the thing up afterwards was a real pain for me, but I learned a lot about it through trial and error (mostly error). In the end I have an OD that is totally quiet, does not get too hot, holds oil, never jumps out and shifts smoothly - well worth the effort.

The clutch sleeve/dog is going to be very difficult to find. You may spend the next 6 months scouring the earth for one. I spent about 2 years looking on and off for a spare and never found one. You may be able to get one made somewhere, if you can borrow one to copy - not sure how much that would cost though?

If you run into problems give me a PM - happy to chat on the phone or whatever to help out.

Cheers,

Adam

Thanks Adam.

I have a couple of small leads I am waiting on, you never know! I read that someone paid an engineering place $300 for knocking up a new one... But nobody has the original designs apparently.

Here is another link, does anyone know 'Kenyan'? TORO overdrives

Also, does anyone know anything about these guys and their overdrive?

Heystee Automotive BV

They may be based on the Santana, but I am not sure if there is any connection between them and the Toro...The exploded diagram on the site is identical to the one put up earlier in this thread. Here is a picture of the 'Heystee'



PS. Adam I think I saw you glide by on the pacific highway about a month ago, I was in the slow lane in a Thrifty van and was quite impressed to see a series dominating the overtaking lane!

300 is probably pretty fair for the sleeve?

My beastie goes pretty good, has a strong 186 and a very expensive exhaust system... Not real flash at the bowser though ;0). The rangie riffs and OD are king on a flat bit of highway... Not so much on a hill!

Originally Posted by series3

Please excuse my insolence, but is the 'drive dog' and 'clutch sleeve' the same thing? Here is a picture of the clutch sleeve for a Toro..

If you have the "Dog" to join the g/box shaft and the main shaft of the O/D then you should check the condition of the inside of the O/D maishaft where the needle rollers on the "Dog" run, I have not seen one (Fairey) that did not have grooves and chatter marks which makes them useless, cost of building up this area, having it machined and heat treated would be prohibitive, see if you can get an exchange one from where John (JDNSW) recommended, Regards Frank.

Thanks Frank.

I do not have the 'dog', all I have the actual OD unit pictured in the first post.

JDNSW mentioned 'Rovers Down South' who make complete Fairey OD's and parts. Although they are visibly similar, the dogs are apparently different and cannot replace each other.

I am going to email them to see if they have any idea of getting one, or whether they can use their own machining/drawings to make one to suit a Toro.

The annoying thing is there would probably be stacks of these dogs sitting in gearboxes all over the world, sitting there doing nothing.... and a lot of people would give their left nut for one.

If anyone does know the whereabouts of one, please let me know. Any condition would be greatly appreciated.

Sam

If you talk to 101 Ron, he may try to catch up with Jeff another occasional local to Ron, who at one stage had a couple of NOS mainshaft drive gears for the Toro.