3rd Gear Problems

Hello,

Over the last few weeks I've noticed that my 1986 90 with original gearbox doesn't want to go into third gear. Double clutching normally works to some effect, but I haven't had to do this in the past. If I change up from second to third, a good wiggle of the stick usually gets it to select, but not always and it's really annoying me! It does change down from 4th to 3rd a little easier.

Is there anything I can check or do such as oil top-ups or anything like that, or is my gearbox fecked?

NB, just a quick thought: I have noticed that sometimes, even with the clutch fully pressed, it sounds as if I'm trying to put it into 3rd without the clutch full stop - just a load of grinding

Thanks in advance for any help!
-Pos

bleed and then topup the clutch fluid, sounds like it's low or your clutch is on it's last legs

unlike the **** in the link below allways check the simple things first

www.mud-club.com :: View topic - Clutch Pedal gone........south

Mine does that when it's cold, i think the gearbox might be starting to show its age - and it's only third gear - but i find that double-d-clutch can help, but also a slight pause coming out of second and then gently coaxing into third is far sweeter than brute force. When it's warm it's better - is this thesame as yours? I think LRO did something on gearbox overhaul and something sticks in my mind that 3rd gear is on a separate shaft to the others so specifically means something when it grinds (other than the gearbox is fookd!) - will try and look it out and see - specifically 3rd gear problems definitely rings a bell!

I've just checked the clutch reservoir and it is almost full to the brim. My gearbox does make a horrible rattling noise when sat idling, but any revs or a press of the clutch stops whatever it is from rattling about. Could a bleed be of any help even if there is plenty of fluid left in the reservoir?

I'm just hoping that the box isn't knackered!

Thanks again!
-Pos

I think the rattling is wear in the transfer box (it doesn't do it when the clutch is down if like mine). I think it's the syncro for third gear that's on a different shaft to the others so is prone to being a problem in its own right. This was the advice from my local indy as mine is the same, he said they go on for ages like this but it's a first sign of wear.

Thanks Odenne, do you have any idea how much it could cost to get this sorted?

Still tryin to remember where i saw the article, will have a look thru lro this eve coz i think there was something useful in there in amongst the adverts and chatlines and articles on how to "drift" your defender (what a waste of trees and ink!) recently.

alright thanks! Much appreciated

on my searches found this which i reassuring...

"My gearbox rattles on idle, in neutral, with the clutch up
This is very common on both the 200 and the 300 TDi engined vehicles. The clutch friction plate has a ring of springs, which are there to soften the knock of the diesel engine to stop it being transmitted to the driveline. Often especially with a new clutch these springs are quite tight and a lot of the engine knock goes through to the gearbox and makes the gears "chatter" together when the box is in neutral and the clutch up, it goes when the clutch is depressed. This can sound quite bad and does vary from car to car but is not detrimental to the life of the gearbox and we view it as an undesirable characteristic of the LT 77 and R 380 as opposed to a fault with either the gearbox or the clutch."

There is quite a lot of info on here about crunchy gears - info i have gleaned is that third and reverse are on the same shaft so if they are both crunching it's the same problem, quite often crunching problems are resolved by changing the fluid which is NOT yellow transmission fluid as you'd expect, it's red hydraulic fluid (and putting in the wrong one mashes your syncro in no time), you can get a recon LT77 for £400 (exchange) from ashcroft - for a grand they'll fit it, re do the clutch and do a general check over. (www.ashcrofttransmissions.co.uk). Also i've found comments along the lines that when the engine is revving heavily, the crunch is far more common, which thinking about it is true in my case as it normally happens at the top of the hill out of my town. Dunno where i saw that article, i'll keep an eye open but there is a lot of stuff out there (and in here) on it if you google it.

Pos I would say your syncro is gone on 3rd...

On mine its 2nd, however I don't notice it much because I try to change gears with road and engine speeds matched as best as possible so the syncro is almost doing nothing. If you can learn to drive like this then you won't even notice it. Double declutch on the way down and give it a blimp of throttle and you will never know its there...

Many thanks Odenne, that's great help and quite a bit of re-assurance! I'm going to go for a quick spin in 5 mins just to see if I can find a way around the problem!

Disco - I'll try that method out in a few mins!

Many thanks
-Pos

Any luck?

Well it seems to have run absolutely trouble free today, so I don't know what's going on! I'm going to have a look underneath and check the levels / top the gear box oil up, just to see f I can smoothen it up a touch more.

pos said:

Well it seems to have run absolutely trouble free today, so I don't know what's going on! I'm going to have a look underneath and check the levels / top the gear box oil up, just to see f I can smoothen it up a touch more.

Click to expand...

Don't forget, not oil in the LT77 it takes ATF (Auto transmission fluid) else you will have problems with your syncromesh in no time.

I'll double check before I start filling! Thanks again!

-Pos