Vibrations on acceleration R380

tom1979 · Jul 8, 2022

A friend of mine recently had a recon Ashcroft R380 and had it fitted by a local garage. They drove to Wales and back and had some issues with earths which they asked if I would look at. whilst sorting that I noticed a horrible vibration when accelerating. everything seemed normal until I checked the gearbox oil - it had what smelt like Ep90 in it. So I drained it put ATF in.

They have driven probably 250 miles - what damage could have been done? Wondering if the vibration is related. Having never put EP90 in an R380 I don't know what happens

but they said there were no gear change issues

tottot · Jul 9, 2022

If vibration goes away when powering off could be a drive shaft problem, flange loose ? The lot has been apart to change box.

tom1979 · Jul 9, 2022

tottot said:
If vibration goes away when powering off could be a drive shaft problem, flange loose ? The lot has been apart to change box.

Yes it does go away as far as I know. If they've put EP in it then any number of other things could have been done wrong too!

Brown · Jul 9, 2022

I think the major problem with EP 90 in the R380 gearbox is that it's a bit too thick to let the synchromesh mechanisms work properly so the gearchanges are poor. If it's only been out on one trip with the wrong oil in, I doubt if it will have destroyed itself in just a couple of hundred miles. I'd be looking elsewhere. The propshafts are obvious candidates. A tiny bit of slack in a universal joint can lead to a lot of vibration. Check them with the handbrake off if possible, as if the propshaft is under load it may not show up when wobbled by hand. The other thing that can vibrate is the dual mass flywheel, which of course is a gearbox out job to change. So try the easy things first.

tom1979 · Jul 9, 2022

Brown said:
I think the major problem with EP 90 in the R380 gearbox is that it's a bit too thick to let the synchromesh mechanisms work properly so the gearchanges are poor. If it's only been out on one trip with the wrong oil in, I doubt if it will have destroyed itself in just a couple of hundred miles. I'd be looking elsewhere. The propshafts are obvious candidates. A tiny bit of slack in a universal joint can lead to a lot of vibration. Check them with the handbrake off if possible, as if the propshaft is under load it may not show up when wobbled by hand. The other thing that can vibrate is the dual mass flywheel, which of course is a gearbox out job to change. So try the easy things first.

I think they had a solid flywheel kit

Brown · Jul 9, 2022

tom1979 said:
I think they had a solid flywheel kit

Well, one of the reasons some people don't like them is the vibration . . . .

tom1979 · Jul 9, 2022

Brown said:
Well, one of the reasons some people don't like them is the vibration . . . .

They think it was a decent kit they left with the garage to sort out. I haven't seen issues with the solid kits yet but I know they didn't have a good reputation years ago. I'd still always go for a DMF personally...

Vibrations on acceleration R380

tom1979

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tottot

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Brown

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tom1979

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tom1979

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