Advice Please

On or around Wed, 24 Nov 2004 20:51:24 -0000, "k"
<[email protected]> enlightened us thusly:

>Hi Austin.....you seem to know about the 'cross drilled shaft' syndrome
>which seems to have more versions of half truth, invention, rumour and
>confusion surrounding it than just about anything else I've read about Disco
>mechanicals. Can you clarify whether my late N Reg 300TDi will definately
>have this problem or not?

aha. that's the bit I can't do, no. late N would probably make it a
1997-built vehicle? trouble is, about then is when they started doing it.

>Despite having a complete main dealer service
>record, they cannot say for sure whether the gearbox was modified at
>factory, or retro modified or unmodified and vulnerable to early failure.
> There arrears to be no simple inspection process or marking that can
>estblish if the mod has been done.

>Other people say the better mod is some kind of simple oil deflecting baffle
>fitted to the box.Others say you can look into the box and if it's near
>death all the upper cogs and shafts will be dry and dusty with metal shards.

That bit's true, I reckon. Seen pictures, you get rusty 'orrible looking
crud in the end of the gear/shaft. Also, by removing the PTO plate at the
top/back of the transfer box, you can see the end of the shaft and the gear
- by moving the vehicle back and fore slightly, you can look for play.

>Others say if its quiet and smooth, leave it alone and don't even change the
>oil! All a bit confusing and pretty serious confusion for a prospective
>terminal failure...Any views?

Always change the oil. intervals are 24K miles, ISTR, and either ATF or
SAE75 synthetic gear oil. The latter makes for slightly stiff shifting when
it's stone cold, but otherwise seems to perform well. Don't put SAE90 in it


but yeah, if it's smooth and quiet it's OK. FSVO quiet, mind - transmission
whine is common; later ones have a Transfer box designated LT230Q which is
for Quiet - different gear teeth, I'm given to understand.

If yours has the cross-drilled gear it should be OK. However, the oil
feeder is not expensive, and appears to be beneficial - it can't do any
harm, as far as I know.

In article <[email protected]>, Austin Shackles wrote:
>
> aha. that's the bit I can't do, no. late N would probably make it a
> 1997-built vehicle? trouble is, about then is when they started doing it.
>

N would be '95/'96 wouldn't it? My 110 is P reg and was 'born' in
February 97 according to the log book.

Someone once told me that 97 onwards R380's should have the cross drilled
gear, also for a while Land Rover were fitting something similar to the
Steve Parker oiler thingy.

--
simon at sbarr dot demon dot co dot uk
Simon Barr.
'97 110 300Tdi.

On or around 25 Nov 2004 08:50:45 GMT, Simon Barr <[email protected]>
enlightened us thusly:

>In article <[email protected]>, Austin Shackles wrote:
>>
>> aha. that's the bit I can't do, no. late N would probably make it a
>> 1997-built vehicle? trouble is, about then is when they started doing it.
>>
>
>N would be '95/'96 wouldn't it? My 110 is P reg and was 'born' in
>February 97 according to the log book.

could be, could be, I was guesstimating at it. sod it, yeah, yer right. I
got me datum year 1 off, so yes, N is 95-96, and therefore it'll maybe have
the modded gear if yer lucky.

>
>Someone once told me that 97 onwards R380's should have the cross drilled
>gear, also for a while Land Rover were fitting something similar to the
>Steve Parker oiler thingy.

never heard of that, but that don't mean anything.

In article <[email protected]>, Austin Shackles wrote:
> On or around 25 Nov 2004 08:50:45 GMT, Simon Barr <[email protected]>
> enlightened us thusly:
>
>>
>>Someone once told me that 97 onwards R380's should have the cross drilled
>>gear, also for a while Land Rover were fitting something similar to the
>>Steve Parker oiler thingy.
>
> never heard of that, but that don't mean anything.

I can't remember where I heard it so it could be the friend of a friend
of a friend sort of thing. This means it could be complete bollocks so
treat it with caution!

--
simon at sbarr dot demon dot co dot uk
Simon Barr.
'97 110 300Tdi.

On or around 26 Nov 2004 08:46:08 GMT, Simon Barr <[email protected]>
enlightened us thusly:

>In article <[email protected]>, Austin Shackles wrote:
>> On or around 25 Nov 2004 08:50:45 GMT, Simon Barr <[email protected]>
>> enlightened us thusly:
>>
>>>
>>>Someone once told me that 97 onwards R380's should have the cross drilled
>>>gear, also for a while Land Rover were fitting something similar to the
>>>Steve Parker oiler thingy.
>>
>> never heard of that, but that don't mean anything.
>
>I can't remember where I heard it so it could be the friend of a friend
>of a friend sort of thing. This means it could be complete bollocks so
>treat it with caution!

found a picture of it, as related elsewhere. fitted to LT230T but not all
of 'em.