Defender TD5_Gear Shift 1st-2d

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Julien_Paris

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43
Location
Paris
Hi All,

At what speed do you up-shift first to second ? If I exceed 15 km/h, the gearbox doesn't let me go into 2d gear.

Defender 90 TD5/ R380 Gearbox / Fresh MTF94

Many thanks for your feedbacks/experience.
 
Anaconda said:
I set off in 1st gear and straight away I change into 2nd gear. I don't know what speed it is, barely much faster than walking speed. Basically I have found 1st gear is only for setting off after coming to a stand still
Click to expand...
Thanks for your speedy reply Anaconda.
If you don’t change straight away to 2d, and rev high and keep it in1st, does it let you go smoothly into 2d gear, or you have to wait ?
 
Julien_Paris said:
Thanks for your speedy reply Anaconda.
If you don’t change straight away to 2d, and rev high and keep it in1st, does it let you go smoothly into 2d gear, or you have to wait ?
Click to expand...
I have never really tried it to be honest.
The gearbox isn't happy if I try to change quickly into 2nd when it's cold, you need to make a steady gear change. If that makes sense .
I use atf oil in the gearbox.
 
If you do the gear change nice and slow it allows the synchros, which may be slightly worn, to disengage and engage.

You cannot do quick snatch gear changes on any older landrover gearbox.

And change from first to second almost as soon as the wheels are rolling. You can also double de-clutch to engage easier.
 
Chalky. said:
If you do the gear change nice and slow it allows the synchros, which may be slightly worn, to disengage and engage.

You cannot do quick snatch gear changes on any older landrover gearbox.

And change from first to second almost as soon as the wheels are rolling. You can also double de-clutch to engage easier.
Click to expand...
Bonjour Chalky
Thanks for the speedy reply. Is this a normal behavior for an R380 gearbox ? Is it like this from new ? Don’t know if you had the opportunity to drive a new one….
Thanks in advance for your feedback
 
Chalky. said:
If you do the gear change nice and slow it allows the synchros, which may be slightly worn, to disengage and engage.

You cannot do quick snatch gear changes on any older landrover gearbox.

And change from first to second almost as soon as the wheels are rolling. You can also double de-clutch to engage easier.
Click to expand...
Mine shouldn't be worn as it was a recon box the previous owner had fitted. Then it all depends on well the recon was done I guess..
 
Julien_Paris said:
Bonjour Chalky
Thanks for the speedy reply. Is this a normal behavior for an R380 gearbox ? Is it like this from new ? Don’t know if you had the opportunity to drive a new one….
Thanks in advance for your feedback
Click to expand...
Synchros wear with use and age, but the boxes are always been of a design where a slower gear change than your normal car is required.
 
It's just the way the synchro design is, with wear it's exacerbated, and really high mileage i think double de clutching works wonders. I do it on mine sometimes, even though it's not required, because it snicks in so much more nicely. I also use atf in mine as recommended by Dave Ashcroft.
 
Julien_Paris said:
Thanks Anaconda. So even on a recon gearbox (means not worn), this 1st to 2d up-shift behavior is normal ?
Click to expand...
I wouldn’t call not being able to get a gear normal !! I agree if it’s cold, it will be slightly stiffer to go from 1st to 2nd, but you should still find the gear. What is the best oil to use in this box has been debated many times. Some say atf is fine, and it probably is, but I use proper MTF in mine without issue. Is this a recent issue, or has yours always been like that ? If it’s recent, have you done anything that could have influenced the box ? Are all the other gears smooth ? If not, could your clutch be in the early days of failing ??
 
Julien_Paris said:
Hi All,

At what speed do you up-shift first to second ? If I exceed 15 km/h, the gearbox doesn't let me go into 2d gear.

Defender 90 TD5/ R380 Gearbox / Fresh MTF94

Many thanks for your feedbacks/experience.
Click to expand...

You can also in most situations , just take off in 2nd gear. Play around with second in gear when your taking off, may help you.

Worth a mention, There is a lighter spring for the clutch pedal you can purchase for a softer pedal and shorter gear lever to reduce the travel on your gear shifter. it sounds like maybe this could benefit you.
 
meego said:
I wouldn’t call not being able to get a gear normal !! I agree if it’s cold, it will be slightly stiffer to go from 1st to 2nd, but you should still find the gear. What is the best oil to use in this box has been debated many times. Some say atf is fine, and it probably is, but I use proper MTF in mine without issue. Is this a recent issue, or has yours always been like that ? If it’s recent, have you done anything that could have influenced the box ? Are all the other gears smooth ? If not, could your clutch be in the early days of failing ??
Click to expand...
It's normal if your going quickly, and accelerating past a few mph in 1st to 2nd. You can drag it a out a small amount, but the change won't be as nice as if you change as soon as you wheels start to roll.
 
Chalky. said:
It's normal if your going quickly, and accelerating past a few mph in 1st to 2nd. You can drag it an out a small amount, but the change won't be as nice as if you change as soon as you wheels start to roll.
Click to expand...
My experience with this box is in my D2, but it shouldn’t make a difference I would have thought in a Defender. The only issue I have had with gear changes is on a long run and it heats up, the selector at the bottom of the gearstick becomes stiff. I’ve never noticed any issues from memory with 1st to 2nd.
 
www.landyzone.co.uk

Defender R380 gearbox driving style

Hi everybody & Greetings from Paris ! I own a defender TD5 year 2003. If I up-shift quickly with high RPM from 1st to 2d, or from 2d to 3d, I feel a crunch/grind in my hand (not so loud to hear it in the vehicle, I can just feel it with my hand). If I leave the RPM/rev normal, and leave a 1...
www.landyzone.co.uk www.landyzone.co.uk
We have been here before.
 
meego said:
My experience with this box is in my D2, but it shouldn’t make a difference I would have thought in a Defender. The only issue I have had with gear changes is on a long run and it heats up, the selector at the bottom of the gearstick becomes stiff. I’ve never noticed any issues from memory with 1st to 2nd.
Click to expand...
Discovery may have less resistance as the R380 gearbox is coupled to transfer box lt230 with1.2 ratio (this ratio is more for highway cruise with less noise than the defender), where the Defender lt230 is 1.41 ratio. This may influence the gear changes on low gears, or give more resistance with the defender. But am not an expert…
 
Last edited:
meego said:
I wouldn’t call not being able to get a gear normal !! I agree if it’s cold, it will be slightly stiffer to go from 1st to 2nd, but you should still find the gear. What is the best oil to use in this box has been debated many times. Some say atf is fine, and it probably is, but I use proper MTF in mine without issue. Is this a recent issue, or has yours always been like that ? If it’s recent, have you done anything that could have influenced the box ? Are all the other gears smooth ? If not, could your clutch be in the early days of failing ??
Click to expand...
Gears are like this since 6 years. This is a second car that I don’t drive too much, it’s not my daily car. All other gears are smooth. Cheers
 
Julien_Paris said:
Gears are like this since 6 years. This is a second car that I don’t drive too much, it’s not my daily car. All other gears are smooth. Cheers
Click to expand...
Hi All

Just to keep this thread live, anybody here had the opportunity to drive a TD5 with a new or recon R380 ? Is the above behaviour of up-shifting 1st to 2d normal even with R380 in good condition ?

Thank you for your feedbacks :D
 
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