Columbia Rear Ends

These pictures help a lot. Thanks.

Found these in my files.. not sure if they will help or not....

There are four pages dedicated to the dual ratio in the Auburn service bullitins. I believe it is the very last item in the book. If your service bullitins are mising page three of this I have it.

The vacuum actuator on the rear-end may need a seal replaced. This is an easy fix.

Mark

Thank you. I am sure it is or should be the horn wire, I think someone took a new wire and tried to connect it to the old horn wire in the steering shaft. Neither the horn or the 2 speed rear end worked when I got the car. Reflecting on Mark's comment, clearly I was not thinking. There is a little spring outside of the vacuum valve, is that to return the valve to center? The vacuum hose had been disconnected, so I did not recognize where it went in. I think it goes in the top, where a little piece of cloth had been stuffed.

Thank you for your advice. I am starting the process of rewiring the car. I have the wiring diagram, the wires and am trying to layout the steps to wire things back up. The car has wires going to places they don't belong.

The engine is at Fremont Auto, I am trying to find a painter, brake are done, next transmission and rear end and of course wiring.

Marcus, the wire you are seeing is in fact your horn wire, it runs the length of a hollow tube and out through the bottom of the control valve and then to the horn. The tube the wire runs through is also connected to the valve at the bottom of the steering shaft. This tube rotates 1/4 turn thereby turning the valve inside the valve body and this sends vacuum to the required points in order to shift the rear. To my knowledge there should be no other wire in that area. I rebuilt my 36 Cabriolet 2-speed valve and cylander many years ago and am not aware of any written info. Bob Esten

No, it's not the horn wire. I take it there is no repair guide.

That is your horn wire. The rear end shifts on vacuum, not electric.

Is there a guide as to how the Columbia works? I noticed the tubes on my car connect at the bottom of the steering gear to some sort of valve. I believe the system is vacuum operated and the switching mechanism is on the steering column. Yet my car has a wire running from the valve at the bottom of the steering gear. Any ideas?

Thanks, Marcus