Wife's complaint about the gear change on my 300tdi.

Now then everyone.

The wife has started to drive my trusty Disco every now and again and I'm getting earache about how poor the gear change is.
Can't say I'd noticed it really but she's not used to this sort of car.
Can anyone advise what is usually worn?
Are there bushes at the base of the gear stick that cause the slack/slop?

Thanks in advance, Stuart.

I expect the bias plate has broken or the springs either side have snapped, take the center console out its a pretty simple job to do, have a look on youtube theres bound to be a video showing how its done ok

That wouldn't be poor or worn would it? That would just be broken
Might be worth a gearbox fliud change to fully synthetic lube.

First thing is to put fresh MTF94 in if its an R380. If its an LT77, fit an R380!

Next issue is worn synchro baulk rings causing rough changes. Springs and so on, on the selctor can be a problem as suggested. Most are knacjered by 150k plus as oil changes get forgotten and they just wear out. Mine was a bit notchy and unpleasant at first but an MTF94 oil change made it much better and helped the synchros out no end.

Fitting a recon box would be nice but not essential. If it helps, the 62 plate Astra I drive in work is not far off as notchy as my 174k R380!

Hi all.

As I am an HGV mechanic, my cars are always well seviced.
It's had gearbox, transfer box and diff oils changed in the past 2k miles.
I think it is a gearstick/selector issue, more so than the gearbox.
I'll pull it to bits and have a look.

Thanks, Stuart.

my gearbox was really sloppy and difficult to get selection (1995 300tdi), I'm no mechanic but using info on this forum I took the console out and changed the bias plate/springs for new.
Finding gears is now pretty good, massive improvement.
I still have a little notchiness or resistance as I change into 4th, but I'm hoping that a change of gearbox oil to the recommended MTF94 this weekend may help this final hurdle!
Good luck.

The base of the gearshift shaft wears where the sides rub against the spring, these can be welded up and reprofiled to remove the grooves and restore the correct spring bias weight each side. Also there is adjustment available of the plate that bolts to the top of the gearbox that holds the spring contacting the gearshift lever.

Hi guys,

I got this from landroveraddict.com by G10watch:

"MTF94 is a very thin manual transmission gearbox oil. Do not put any sort of 90w oil in a R380 or LT77 5-speed gearbox or it will die very quickly. The box, that is.

If you can't get MTF94 for your R380 gearbox a better alternative is a synthetic DXIII ATF like Castrol transmax Z or Shell Donax TX.

And if you want the best oil for the box, use Redline MTL as I do."

Gawd, now I am confused...

Cheers, Gents.

*edit*

Think I used ATF in mine! (manual)

TheLordJohn said:

Cheers, Gents.

*edit*

Think I used ATF in mine! (manual)

Click to expand...

If you used ATF then my advice would be to change it asap, as atf affects the working of the synchros, producing notchiness in gear selection.

You really should try MTF94 oil. (from a variety of suppliers, I got mine from :

MTF 94 Gear Oil Rover Honda Landrover 5 ltrs | eBay

My lady remarked on how far the gearlever moved to get the gears compared with our Astra she drove previously, but she soon got used to it.

Remember also that the R380 is a pumped lubrication box, having the wrong oil will affect lubrication.

Peter

I saw a quick shift kit for defenders the other day; slickshift it was called. Not for discos tho. This would help overcome a stiff synchro on changes.
I didnt know about the adjustments of the stick so ill give that a go. After the week of welding of course.....

Would a new woman help?