R380 noise - how far can I drive?

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Originally Posted by PWat

Hey Brains Trust.


My R380 gear box (in a 2000 TD5 130) has a loudish whirling noise in 5th under load. All other gears sound ok and it occurs in low-range as well as high. The gear box oil level is fine.


The vehicle has lowish km (135k) but I've just done 35k around Australia headily loaded (3.5T ish) and it was previously an RFS vehicle and may have done some towing.


Tricky thing is we're in Alice Springs, heading home to Sydney (3000km or so) over the next 3 weeks. We've just driven 800km from Uluru in 4th which was ok but unusually quiet.


Questions:

• I'm assuming the rear layshaft bearing is on its way out. Anyone have an alternate theory?
• Our intention is to drive back to Sydney in 4th. Does anyone have experience with how long I can run the box for without it completely dying?
• Special bonus question: does anyone in (or near) Alice have a recon box lying around?

Thanks - Phil

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Well did you get it home??

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Originally Posted by dromader driver

Well did you get it home??

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Not yet - we don't have to be back in Sydney for another week and are taking our time. Heading into NSW tomorrow - 3000km down (about half on gravel roads), 1000km to go!

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Originally Posted by PWat

Hey Brains Trust.

• Our intention is to drive back to Sydney in 4th. Does anyone have experience with how long I can run the box for without it completely dying?

Thanks - Phil

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Parents had an LT77 that ran dry. Did a 1 400 Km in 4th. Layshaft input gears were non-existent. Shaft bearing were also a very pretty colour (that's bad).

We're now safely back in Sydney after slowly following a direct-ish route through SW Queensland and then diagonally across NSW. We stayed in 4th which reduced cruising speed by 20km/h and fuel consumption by about 1L/100km. Now to get it fixed....