Hello and I believe in Faireys.

Castor · Mar 16, 2015

Morning chaps,

I just bought a LWB series 3. Yay!

I don't actually have it yet - have to go and collect the beast on Friday. I had one years back and it was the most astonishing bit of kit - climbed in and out of quarries using trees as ramps, that sort of thing. So I have bought another to support my bee-keeping activities, to wit, transporting quantities of large sticky boxes up hill and down dale.

So this creature I've bought is the basic beast with free-wheel hubs but no overdrive.... so I'm going to fit a Fairey. Ooo-er Mrs.

Where's the best info to be had, chaps? And where would I find the best Faireys?

divie · Mar 16, 2015

Fairey overdrives are around used and parts are now becoming available again, (not seen any yet) Most of them are very well worn and noisy. Prices are/can be silly money upwards of £300 is not unusual, add to that the rebuild cost. I would run the Landie for a year to sort out all the other issues that you will find and take you time looking for an overdrive. Roamerdrive is available new at around £1300 but mixed feedback some folks have had bother with them. Good luck with the new motor.

Castor · Mar 16, 2015

divie said:
Good luck with the new motor.

Thanks for that.
Yes, I mean no, I'm not going to rush anything here..... I expect there will be plenty to sort out first, and I won't be doing great distances....

dominicbeesley · Mar 16, 2015

If you're using it seriously and can afford it a Roamerdrive is worth looking at.

It's big advantages are that it can be used in any gear (including low ratios), are a lot stronger than a Fairey, easy to fit though I managed to get a duff one and bugger it up, doesn't require its own oil - it shares its oil with the transfer box.

It's been dead useful - especially on hills where you want a splitter between 2nd/3rd, 3rd/4th etc

Castor · Mar 16, 2015

dominicbeesley said:
If you're using it seriously and can afford it a Roamerdrive is worth looking at.

Noted, thanks. A lot of money though.....

divie · Mar 16, 2015

"A lot of money though" yes but factor in the cost of a used one plus rebuild and maybe searching for the correct levers. The maths then start to add up if your pockets are deep enough. You can leave it engaged for most of the time when lightly loaded.

Castor · Mar 16, 2015

divie said:
"A lot of money though" yes but factor in the cost of a used one plus rebuild and maybe searching for the correct levers. The maths then start to add up if your pockets are deep enough. You can leave it engaged for most of the time when lightly loaded.

Indeed - however it remains to be seen how the Landy gets used; I'm inclined to discourage longer trips in it and lack of o/d will do that!

urena · Mar 16, 2015

come to newbury sort out castor end of april
you will get one there m8 cheep hopefully

honolulujoe · Mar 17, 2015

another option is to fit the Ashcroft transfer box iirc, it gives you higher top range but keeps your low range the same.

btw fairey overdrives are going to be produced again but the date keeps slipping, it was supposed to be last year originally but now it looks like june

Fairey Overdrive by RDS Parts

Murtle · Mar 17, 2015

Shop4autoparts have new Fairy overdrive parts at a lower cost than that, much lower in fact. Just bought a new main shaft for £140.

Castor · Mar 17, 2015

urena said:
come to newbury sort out castor end of april
you will get one there m8 cheep hopefully

Ahhh yes - the old Sod......

honolulujoe · Mar 17, 2015

Murtle said:
Shop4autoparts have new Fairy overdrive parts at a lower cost than that, much lower in fact. Just bought a new main shaft for £140.

yes I thought they looked pricey on parts too, guess it depends if their parts are better quality or just the same as everyone elses.

I put the link up really for confirmation of the launch date for the remanufactured complete unit.

Not sure if rds are making it or fairey are and rds are an outlet, if they are an outlet I presume there will be other vendors possibly cheaper

Castor · Mar 17, 2015

honolulujoe said:
Not sure if rds are making it or fairey are

The casting in the pic has RDS on it.....

Murtle · Mar 17, 2015

Well the main shaft I got from Shop4Autoparts is spot on. Also thinking about it you can just about build a new overdrive using parts from them, so Short of copy casting the housing I do not see what's new with RDS.

Murtle · Mar 17, 2015

One other thing I forgot to say is why does everyone think the Fairy overdrive is weak? To me it seems better designed and built than the Series Gearbox it attaches to.

blue beasty · Mar 17, 2015

Murtle said:
One other thing I forgot to say is why does everyone think the Fairy overdrive is weak? To me it seems better designed and built than the Series Gearbox it attaches to.

They tend to fly to pieces if used hard in 1st and 2nd.

Castor · Mar 17, 2015

blue beasty said:
They tend to fly to pieces if used hard in 1st and 2nd.

Everything these days must be designed to protect the consumer from his own rank stupidity.
This looks to me to be pretty tough:-

Murtle · Mar 18, 2015

They are tough, the achilles heal of them is the input spline on the coupling sleeve (RTC7170), this wears until there is a failure and you loose drive in all gears. This spline only wears because the LT76 standard Series gear box has so much end float due to relying on plain bearings and not tapered roller type bearings.

honolulujoe · Mar 18, 2015

Castor said:
The casting in the pic has RDS on it.....

guess I shall be off to specsavers then

honolulujoe · Mar 18, 2015

imagine the new rds od will be pretty expensive then

Hello and I believe in Faireys.

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Leaks an prone to bits dropping off

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