low range locks wheels on possible buy????

ive finally decided to get back into landies after several years as im getting bored with not having control currently got a merc 190 auto with all the toys that is great for every day fun but i want some weekend fun so im going to look a '72 series 3 swb landy tonight but the owner says that when you put it into low range the wheels lock up what should i be worrying about he says when he got it a few months back he got a spare diff with it but doesn't know if this is the prob it is also crunches though the gears

im not really that up on this but am i looking at a new gearbox rather than a diff??? or any other ideas as to what the prob could be and a rough idea of cost to fix and how much of a diy job would it be

i know it needs has a a few other probs door tops a semi siezed brake cylinder but has a replacement one to fit and been told it got through mot with it

it has nearly everything i want outta series but with the probs it has me wondering the price seems ok bearing in mind the known problems but have a feeling i know there are others but any info before hand would be good

Does he mean lock up as in dont move or lock up as in locked diff?

this is what it says in his ebay add so all i really know at the min before i head down tonight

i will start off right away with the bad points .1 the brakes pull to the left there is a siezed wheel cylinder in the o/s/f drum i managed to free it off enough for the mot. there is a new one that will come with the sale. just no time to do it.2 when you change the selector for the gear box to hi and low it will drive a short distance and then it locks the wheel up i dont know much about these. so i dont know if its the box or a diff thats at fault. but if got it going in the selection that i put it in and its been going fine through all the gears ok. they crunch a bit but thats the way most of these old landrovers are i guess.3and last the door tops could do with replacing or patching as they are a bit rusty. and the window runners are almost gone . well thats it appart from that thats all i can see wrong with it if been using it every day for over two months now with no faults.the good bits now 1 great engine starts no bother and not smoky.2 tyres are almost brand new.3i put a complete set of new lights on it.4i also bought a new set of metal number plates to put on it.5the chassie is solid no welding been done on it.the rest of the body is good too but needs a paint job to get rid of the horrible green.i bought 2 and a half leters of bright yellow 2 pack paint for it as i was gonna paint it this is not included in the sale unless a price can be arranged. i also have a spare set of nearly new tyres as well that im willing to sell speratly too.it is also tax exempt too. I FORGOT TO SAY THE GUY I BOUGHT IT FROM GAVE ME A SPARE DIFF. THAT MAY BE WHAT THE PROBLEM WITH THE SELECTORS IS. IT WILL BE GOING WITH THE SALE.

Click to expand...

it might have different ratio diffs front/rear in it. on a grippy surface like a road it would appear as locked, but on mud/grass it might drag itself along.

series landies should have 4.7:1 diffs, although range rover classic/early discovery diffs also fit but have 3.54:1 ratio. other earlier Rover car diffs (P3, P4, P5 etc) also fit and have alternate ratios.

check by counting turns of front and rear props against turns of the wheels.

TheSmiths88 said:

it might have different ratio diffs front/rear in it. on a grippy surface like a road it would appear as locked, but on mud/grass it might drag itself along.

series landies should have 4.7:1 diffs, although range rover classic/early discovery diffs also fit but have 3.54:1 ratio. other earlier Rover car diffs (P3, P4, P5 etc) also fit and have alternate ratios.

check by counting turns of front and rear props against turns of the wheels.

Click to expand...

not the easiest thing to check on a test drive around the block before you buy but does it sound more likely the diff could be the problem which would be easier to replace than a gear box

if we are talking 80-90% likely to be diff i can live with but a 50-50 diff gear box its not really what im wanting to go for as i dont mind a bit of work but but that could end up too much of a project

Check the front and rear tyres are the same size - it'll have the same effect as different diff ratios if they're not.

oxides said:

Check the front and rear tyres are the same size - it'll have the same effect as different diff ratios if they're not.

Click to expand...

why would it only happen changing to low range or (showing my ignorance here) does low range kick in 4 wheel drive???

Correct

ok cheers

ok saw the landy and walked non of the interior electric where connected he had 3 speedos lying in the back the fact he could find time to fit a air horn and halogen bulbs but not fix the brakes the rear hubs were soaked in oil

it looked rough even for a landy just not cared for but going for far too much money and he said it was his 3rd and not knowing what half the levers where for all added up to dodgy to me there are plenty of good uns out there so will keep looking

ps the the wheels were all the same size but thanks for the help guys