Thread: Weird Puma gear change problem

Just thinking back and what a crazy comedy of errors this saga has been!

It all started with a noise in 1st and 2nd gears, and I suspected either gearbox or clutch, so I took it to a gearbox specialist who could do either in house.

He found damage to a shaft and gears, which was a "normal thing for the 6 speed box". Although I was happy for him to rebuild the box, it was the same cost as a brand new one, so we went that way.

I asked him to check out the clutch and he said it was good, and it looked like it only had 10,000km wear. It had actually done about 100,000km but as I'm not hard on clutches, I was happy to hear that.

The gearbox warranty was separate to his install, and if there was any claim on it, the install cost would be charged out again.

When I got the vehicle back (it was tilt trayed back) gear changes were terrible. Reluctant to pay for another install, I changed the oil to my regular preference, and it did improve, but required slower more careful changes, which I adapted to. Some boxes are better than others, and I felt sure that it was a gearbox trait. I did over 30,000kms like that until it abruptly became worse.

I had considered getting the same gearbox specialist to fix it, but he quoted over $3k and said he doesn't do work on Land Rovers any more, but would "help me out". I knew that was way too dear, at about twice his original labour cost, so I pulled the gearbox out myself, to find that a clutch spring had popped out! There was also a lot of dents on the flywheel, and the previous spigot bearing had been drilled as well as into the flywheel itself, which would have affected its balance a little as well. This could only have been from the gearbox specialist's work. That might explain why he doesn't work on Land Rovers now! I don't get it! If I can do it, why would someone specializing in gearboxes botch it?

I installed a new LOF clutch, spigot bearing, etc and it now changes well, and the gearbox feels very good compared to when it was first installed. A bad vibration up hill under load which was likely due to the popped spring has also disappeared. I can only assume that the clutch plate had loose springs when the new box went in, and wasn't inspected properly, despite having to remove it completely to get the spigot out!

Funnily this gearbox specialist has (or had) a very good reputation. I guess it always pays to deal with Land Rover specialists, and this is my take away.

A crazy comedy of errors except its costs you money....

*I just about see or hear this weekly, numerous incorrect diagnostics from both owners and workshops that simply don't know enough about a model to correctly repair it.

*There is no way I would ever rebuild the mt82 gearbox and not do the clutch and all its hydraulics at the same time. I also would have asked if the adaptor shaft had been done and what one was in there.

*also when rebuilding the mt82 box they always get a new mainshaft, its the norm on that box.

If i'm unsure about a diagnostic I've made I generally steer owners towards another workshop that is familiar with a particular model.
It can be frustrating sometimes when I hear owners and workshops complicating and re-inventing the wheel for no reason.

Another thing that adds to this sort of situation is somehow workshops have it in their heads that if an owner brings a vehicle to them they are obligated to do the job.
If it's not a familiar model to me, I'm not touching it (yes the list is quite extensive).