The first 24 hours...

Picked up my Defender 90 yesterday, 2006, leather heated interior, silver, big red button on the dash that I have no idea what it does, really smart. Absolutely loved it from the minute I saw it.

Picked it up in Chester and had a 125 mile motorway trip back to the Lake District, an interesting ride on the motorway that’s for sure, but I loved the commanding position and it was fairly comfy. Although I did notice the clutch felt pretty heavy pushing back on my foot, not sure if that is normal.

Parked him up for the night and this morning headed into the lakes to walk the Coniston fells, parked in a park a little bit off road, because well I could, and got a couple of pictures of Rory in his natural environment! Went for our walk and set off home, not taking long for the smile to come back on my face.

Got to a roundabout close to home and slipped it into first, scratchy sound of a missed gear, nothing. Unable to move. Managed to get out of immediate danger on the dual carriageway, by slipping it into diff lock - that is the only way to get movement. Nothing in high or low, just diff lock and it will bunny hop very slowly. So 2 hours later, still sat in the back of Rory waiting for the recovery truck to come and get us home... :-( my mechanic has been out and thinks it is either front diff, front drive shaft or transfer box, any thoughts?

I am gutted, I have had Rory 24 hours and I bloody love him to bits, he has put a smile on my face from the start, and now I just want to cry :-( I get the idea this could be a long ownership. Maybe I should have pressed the red button.

It’ll get better, mate......once everything is replaced!
Seriously, don’t be disheartened. Problems often crop up but deal with them one at a time and keep up the maintenance ( properly) and you will eventually be rewarded with a faithful, reliable and enjoyable vehicle for many years!
It’s also a great way to learn about diy mechanicing which will also keep the costs down!
Rich

Yeh I was hoping that would be the case with the teaching myself, I think the transfer box on day one might be a tad ambitious though bloody loved it until this point!

Might've just stripped a halfshaft. Get 8t home and pull the halfshafts then take it from there

Could be a snapped half shaft or half shaft spline slipping, easy fixes if so, also check both prop shafts are still intact, its nit unknown for a hub bolts to become unscrewed and slip out, in which case and even easier fix.

Engine ECU aside, it’s all nuts and bolts really. Plenty of info out there and on here if ya struggle!
I admit, it isn’t the best of starts but sometimes sh*t happens and you just have to deal with it.
Was the landy bought from a dealer or private? If a dealer you really shouldn’t be paying anything out at all. If private, it may be the reason it was for sale in the first place or it may just be one of rose random things and Rory is just getting to know you and exploring the boundaries (like a naughty puppy) to see how far he can push you!! (Or how far you will push him!!!)

Rich

Yes it sounds like a half shaft reading through the forums - doesn’t sound a particularly difficult job and I reckon I could give it a go, I will have a look at how to do this for future but I got a 6 month warranty and a day after I pick it up, I expect that to be replaced?? The garage have said they can pick it up Monday so I will probably just let them carry on?!

TeddyBS said:

Yes it sounds like a half shaft reading through the forums - doesn’t sound a particularly difficult job and I reckon I could give it a go, I will have a look at how to do this for future but I got a 6 month warranty and a day after I pick it up, I expect that to be replaced?? The garage have said they can pick it up Monday so I will probably just let them carry on?!

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If you have a warranty let them do it dude!

And find out what it was and let us know. My second landy took the center out of the clutch plate after just a week but went on to be a reliable truck for many years.

Yeh Exactly and they can foot the bill for 250 miles on the back of the lorry!

Out of interest looking around it seems it’s a half shaft potentially, why does that prevent movement in high or low range? Or even the engine stalling. So basically I could put it into gear and just pull the clutch out and there was nothing? I am surprised that a half shaft being knackered would prevent that?

tottot said:

And find out what it was and let us kno. My second landytook the center out of the clutch plate after just a week but went on to be a reliable truck for mant years.

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Yes I absolutely will

TeddyBS said:

Yeh Exactly and they can foot the bill for 250 miles on the back of the lorry!

Out of interest looking around it seems it’s a half shaft potentially, why does that prevent movement in high or low range? Or even the engine stalling. So basically I could put it into gear and just pull the clutch out and there was nothing? I am surprised that a half shaft being knackered would prevent that?

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If a half shaft or spline has gone it will just spin, the drive through the diff will put all the power to that side, its the same as one wheel spinning in snow or ice preventing drive the the other wheels, the drive takes the path of least resistance, putting it in diff lock locks the diff so drive is applied to all wheels allowing you to move. High or low range will make no difference, you are just changing the gear ratios,

Thanks

So what prevents the engine stalling when you pull the clutch out? Is it basically just going into gear easily because all the power is going through that one wheel, basically thinking I have done a slick gear change.. ?

Drive will all ways go to the axle / wheel with little or no resistance. A broken shaft has no resistance so all the drive will go there. Put center diff lock in and drive is sent to the remaining good axle and truck will go. Folk often get home on one working axle but in this case it is best to remove prop shaft to broken axle to prevent further damage to said axle. You need to learn how and when to use the diff lock. Good luck with repair.

Yes there is no resistance to stall the engine, it would be the same as jacking all 4 wheels off the floor, you would be able to lift foot off the clutch and wheels would spin and not stall, in the case of half shaft problem all drive is going there and not driving the wheels so no resistance to stall engine.

Scooby22 said:

Yes there is no resistance to stall the engine, it would be the same as jacking all 4 wheels off the floor, you would be able to lift foot off the clutch and wheels would spin and not stall, in the case of half shaft problem all drive is going there and not driving the wheels so no resistance to stall engine.

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Makes perfect sense, thanks

I have read reports of hubs not being tightened down correctly after maintenance resulting in lost drive, I wonder if the dealer did any work on the landy before you bought it, replacing seals or swivels etc. Or in some cases over tightened resulting in snapped bolts.

Scooby22 said:

I have read reports of hubs not being tightened down correctly after maintenance resulting in lost drive, I wonder if the dealer did any work on the landy before you bought it, replacing seals or swivels etc. Or in some cases over tightened resulting in snapped bolts.

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Not sure what they did - I asked them to do whatever service they needed to do to ensure the whole drive train was covered by the warranty as I was wary of transfer boxes etc... glad I did now!

TeddyBS said:

Out of interest looking around it seems it’s a half shaft potentially, why does that prevent movement in high or low range?

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Because a deafener is only one wheel drive. Two wheel drive with the centre diff locked. there are lots of vids on the tube of U explaining how it all works

Hope its sorted quickly, I am sure you will enjoy your landy after this glitch is sorted out.