[Mac VP]

One further test you could do is to remove the solenoid from the OD adapter. Leave the wires connected to it and add a temporary ground wire from the solenoid base to any nearby good ground. With the ignition switch on, ground the governor. This should pop the plunger out and hold it there as long as you keep the ignition on. This test would prove that the solenoid functions correctly as wired up to the existing wiring and control devices. You were able (as previously stated) to bench test the solenoid before and it worked normally. If it does not work now, you’ve got a failure in the circuit between the relay and that solenoid…..wires, connection terminals, etc. Original wiring can be broken inside the insulation for example.

If the above test proves the operation of the solenoid to be good, the problem may be wear on the pawl….the part that the solenoid physically connects with, preventing it from sliding in and out. The suggestion above about using a screwdriver to move the pawl yourself is a good test for this. Keep in mind that the pawl engages in one six slots in the balk gear….the pawl has to line up with one of the slots to move in and out of it. Get the rear wheels off the ground or disconnect the back end of the driveshaft. This allows you to slightly rotate the transmission output shaft (with the overdrive cable “in”). This will allow you to slowly turn the balk gear enough to line up one of the slots with the pawl. If you cannot get the pawl to slide into one of the six slots, it may have a burr on it. This would involve disassembly of the overdrive section of the transmission to repair the pawl.