Lt77 Defender hard to get third

Hi folks. Just upgraded my Defender from a 2.5td to a 2.5tdi, Disco engine. (1986 C reg Defender, 124000 miles). Done about 1000miles since and it is now very hard to find 3rd. Other gears are fine and it is very quiet. I really can't afford another box so am considering stripping myself if that is the answer
Any thoughts about this issue. Anyone seen it before and can offer advice. What might be the cause?

if you can wait a wee while i will have taken the lid off mine, and i can show you pictures etc.

Mine is knickered, reverse is shagged. Im gonna fit a new one and try to repair mine, so if you can hang on ill have lots of piccies and tips waiting for you!

Thanks..... Waiting ....

Syncros gone on it, I have no syncro on 2nd and 4th in the 90 and simply live with it because its too cold out and I can't be bothered doing it until the summer.

The key to living with it (its worth learning a new skill here as its cheaper than a new box) is to learn how to match your engine and road speed for the different gears. I am a great believer in doing this all the time in any vehicle as it puts less wear on the baulkrings etc...

General rule of thumb is for every 1000rpm in first you do 5mph, then 2nd 10... 15, 20, 25 as you climb the gears.

So using that as a rough calculation method you can work out that if the vehicle is doing 40mph in 5th (1600rpm ish) and you want to drop into 4th, so clutch while you increase the engine revs so the engine is doing about 2000 rpm, then pull it into 4th it should go without fail. You don't need to get it to sit at 2000 dead on (you will begin to learn the engine note at which is just right though) if you go slightly faster then slightly pull back into fouth as the engine drops it will catch and fall into 4th as it hits the right point. Going up gears you need to let the revs fall obviously, I find that if you accelerate to 30 in 3rd, then pull out of 3rd and pause for about a second then pull it into 4th it goes no bother.

I have used this technique when my clutch failed completely and it got me home no bother using all the gears (doesn't work from a standing start you need to select 1st and then start engine).

You might crunch away for a bit but you should be able to get the hang of it fairly quickly, you need to change up through the gears quicker too.

Might let you get by until landy funds and more available.

I had no 2nd gear in the cold when I bought my 90 and I got persuaded to cough for some oil from Difflock. Damn pricey but its like I've got a new gearpox. -5 and slick as you like and dead quiet. and I thought it was character!

Not buying it for my axles though, they leak like the Amoco Cadiz!

Also check all your oils are the correct type and correct level. Mine started crunching badly into third after i had it serviced by a garage ages ago and i checked the oil level and they'd way over filled it. Emptied a load out and at the right level it stopped doing it. Also the correct grade of oil is important.

and talk to Ashcrofts.

LT77 and R380s take ATF BTW