R380 Gearbox exchange Suppliers / reconditioners in QLD

[clankilpatrick]

Arvo All,
gearbox died today in a big way in my 97 300tdi deefer. Can do figure 8's with the gearlever and find no gear. Have basically 2 options. Find someone who does reconditioned (and improved) boxes and buy one of them or take the old one out and give it to a re-conditioner to fix up if possible. Of course can't ring anybody on a Saturday arvo so would really appreciate any suggestions as to suitable/reputable businesses that can do the jobs for me. I have sent a heap of emails out to businesses such as Rovacraft as apparently they have Ashcroft boxes but would prefer to deal with someone in Far North QLD if at all possible as it may just reduce the time i am forced to drive around in a Corolla as well as cut down on freight costs. Thank you in advance for any advice and help.
cheers
Dave Kil

[Blknight.aus]

my goto guys are MR Automotive in Redcliffe but for further north you need to talk with Tim of landrovers only fame in townsville.

Tim may not have a reco box on shelf but will likely have a good second hand unit.

[Scouse]

Wasn't there a problem with a grub screw coming loose at the base of the gear lever on these boxes?

It definitely sounds like a selection issue rather than a gearbox internal failure.

[Scouse]

Yep, Google it & you'll see lots of problems like this.

Here's one:
Difflock :: View topic - 300tdi, r380 gearbox failure

[Bazzle218]

Pm me your details, Tims a mate so i will pass on his number. Be paitent as hes flat at the moment. Baz

[justinc]

Wasn't there a problem with a grub screw coming loose at the base of the gear lever on these boxes?

It definitely sounds like a selection issue rather than a gearbox internal failure.

True, I have done some in situ by removing the reverse lamp switch and tightening it using an allen key. I remove them and put loctite on the thread too, just use a magnet to make sure it doesn't drop into the box

JC

[sdt463]

True, I have done some in situ by removing the reverse lamp switch and tightening it using an allen key. I remove them and put loctite on the thread too, just use a magnet to make sure it doesn't drop into the box

JC

That was the problem with mine as well. Sounds like I might have gone the long way about fixing mine, took out the transmition tunnel and removed the gear stick assembly, but still not a big job.
Dave

[justinc]

That was the problem with mine as well. Sounds like I might have gone the long way about fixing mine, took out the transmition tunnel and removed the gear stick assembly, but still not a big job.
Dave

No, that is the way, I just didn't mention it so as not to discourage him

But like you say, isn't a big job really, just takes time and is especially frustrating
when you see 13 radios and accessories attached to the cubby box and dash and console etc etc ....wiring everywhere,


JC

[clankilpatrick]

Afternoon everyone,
got the truck off the back of the RACQ tipper and pulled all the covers off the transmission tunnel etc and going to give everything a good clean before starting to really pull things apart. Just thought i'd tell you some of the symptoms that were occurring prior to losing the gears.
I had just come back from a week playing out bush without any problems at all when it started getting sticky and difficult to down change from 5th to 4th. if I went from 5th to 3rd I could then find 4th. I soon worked out that when coming out of 5th, I needed to move the lever across to the left hand side in the neutral gate and I would hear a click somewhere in the box which would then allow me to find 4th or 3rd. I did show this to a diesel mechanic up here and he reckoned that there was nothing too serious to worry about, but obviously that wasn't the case. I did find a reference to this on the ashcrofts website

"The R380 gearbox in my 300 tdi DefenderDiscovery has recently started 'blocking' when I shift from 5th to 4th, to get 4th gear I have to nudge 3rd then it will drop into 4th no problem. Why?
A common fault on the early R380 gearboxes was the 4th gear baulk ring. The slot locating the synchro slipper wears and allows the baulk ring to rotate too far. This blocks the synchro assembly. It will be necessary to rebuild the gearbox, and replacing the baulk ring with a later type will eliminate this fault".


I should tell you that I did find a gear today when mucking around but when I put the gear lever into what is the usual 1st gear position it had obviously found a gear that was much higher as the vehicle was almost stalling.

Is this grub screw problem you gents have been talking about a fairly simple fix for a novice mechanic or is it something that should be left to the pro's?
Does it still sound like a complete gearbox removal job?
again many thanks for the help and support.
cheers
dave

[clankilpatrick]

Justin,
just put some info up and would really appreciate your thoughts. You still thinking about coming up this way eventually. 29 degrees C today, bright sunshine and blue skies.
cheers
Dave