Just joined the series ownership club.... but..gearbox woe

Well I bit the bullet and got a runabout series 3 lwb 2.25 petrol - amazingly original condition, perfect interior, perfect bodywork, really sound chassis, and low mileage (genuine 80k) and all the paperwork you could want.... but...

gearbox issues - only engages drive in 1st, 2nd and reverse.

some grindy noises and nowt else in 3rd and 4th.

what's the story/ any ideas? I always thought 4th was direct drive, so confused.

Cheers series folks.

(by the way it was only 350 quid, so can bear a bit of bad news long as its no too bad)

Maybe its broken.. maybe your syncros are broken.. try double clutching it in.

What it really comes down to is you're going to have to open it up anyway.. no matter what the problem is.. in all likelihood.

So .. why not pop the top and look in.. or just start chasing down a used tranny.

I am sure there is someone here with a very accurate short list though.

The syncro springs like to pop off.. sometimes the problem with come out the drain plug as well.

If its been sitting for some time the gear slector sliders get sluggish.
So a bit of a work out and a lube may help.
Also it could be your clutch dragging (Again a work out could help).
Do the oils and the fluids.

Ah yes.. the clutch... That may be dragging.
Bleed new fluid through it. If its been sitting though.. be prepared for a slave failure.

thanks..

thing is it was driven 8 months ago but the reason it was stopped being driven was because of the sudden gearbox failure - no 3rd and 4th gear.

anyway - I go and pick it up today so will have a good gander for anything obvious. I noticed when I was looking over it a lot of oil all over the handbrake drum so probably lost all its oil and gearbox died.

I ran it about gently on their land and the clutch seemed spot on in 1st 2nd and reverse. A mate said it was probably a "selector fork" but i know nothing about gearboxes.

(started first time, on the button perfectly by the way, ran sweetly - gearbox apart it's a beauty)

Sounds lke a bargain to me. I got my gearbox fer me 90 off ebay fer £50 after me first one fooked up. Then, when me tranny box let go (the week after me noo gear box was fitted!), I got a re-con one, again off ebay, for £125. So if you need a 'new' one, it doesn't have to cost the earth. It was an LT77 tho. Wots yours?

erm HB - its a SERIES! - they dont use LT77's - they use Series boxes.

It just so happens a gorra spare Series3 box - spares and repairs coz its state is unverified. PM me if you are interested.

The Mad Hat Man said:

erm HB - its a SERIES! - they dont use LT77's - they use Series boxes.

It just so happens a gorra spare Series3 box - spares and repairs coz its state is unverified. PM me if you are interested.

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Thass why I asked wot is was

one of us aint woken up yet - he sed (post1) it was a series 3, so thats a series3 box and Tbox - or have i had a whoosh?

The Mad Hat Man said:

one of us aint woken up yet - he sed (post1) it was a series 3, so thats a series3 box and Tbox - or have i had a whoosh?

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I didn't know that Series landies have a 'series box an trannybox'. I was tryin to be elpful and oppturmystic that it need'nt be an expensive thing to remedy. Dunt cop the ump wi me just cos yer socks an shoes int dried out yet!!

i int all umpy - i just was confoosadiddled - you know it happens frequently, so I thort i wud clarify (or is that butter) the sitooashun!


an yu is only pist coz yu werent there

The Mad Hat Man said:

i int all umpy - i just was confoosadiddled - you know it happens frequently, so I thort i wud clarify (or is that butter) the sitooashun!


an yu is only pist coz yu werent there

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Aye, gutted I missed the mud. But anyways! Am sure that your nice shiney second hand box will be perfect for him and we'll all live happily ever after..

oooooooooooooooo!

muddythelandy said:

thanks..



anyway - I go and pick it up today so will have a good gander for anything obvious. I noticed when I was looking over it a lot of oil all over the handbrake drum so probably lost all its oil and gearbox died.

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thats unlikely as the only way yer gearbox oil will come out the rear T/box will be if the seal between the two boxes leaks or perhaps who ever was last to fill it dint realise that yer had two boxes to fill and only filled the t/box. but its more likely a selector fault.

drain it, and see what come out if there are bits of teff and other mettally lumpy bits yer either gonna have to strip and rebuild it or get anuffer of fleabay fer £20.

HybridGirl said:

Dunt cop the ump wi me just cos yer socks an shoes int dried out yet!!

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Snigger!


Or 'is starter motor!

reet - that duz it. wotcha doin tonite then , Grippa.?

slob said:

thats unlikely as the only way yer gearbox oil will come out the rear T/box will be if the seal between the two boxes leaks or perhaps who ever was last to fill it dint realise that yer had two boxes to fill and only filled the t/box. but its more likely a selector fault.

drain it, and see what come out if there are bits of teff and other mettally lumpy bits yer either gonna have to strip and rebuild it or get anuffer of fleabay fer £20.

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My money's on selector fork.

I've not had a Series yet that's ever needed the tranny box topping up. All of mine 'automatically' fill frum the G/box! I just remove the Tranny filler bolt once in a while to drain off the excess!

Haven't done the rilly tight thing & poured the excess back into me G/box ......yet!

Grippa said:

I've not had a Series yet that's ever needed the tranny box topping up. All of mine 'automatically' fill frum the G/box! I just remove the Tranny filler bolt once in a while to drain off the excess!

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an wot went BANG! on yo last motor?

Grippa said:

My money's on selector fork.

I've not had a Series yet that's ever needed the tranny box topping up. All of mine 'automatically' fill frum the G/box! I just remove the Tranny filler bolt once in a while to drain off the excess!

Haven't done the rilly tight thing & poured the excess back into me G/box ......yet!

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dint someone say this " but its more likely a selector fault."

ee is still trying to dry the water out of his ears after his Capn Pugwash impersonation.