New Puma - Change down 3rd to 2nd hesitant

[Lagerfan]

Okay so bit of an odd one but our 6 month old Puma 90 has one annoying feature (since new) which just doesn't feel right. When changing down from 3rd to 2nd gear there is a real hesitant spot where 3rd is too high and 2nd too low, you nearly always end up kangarooing and feeling like a goose. At first I just thought I was changing down too soon but I've noticed that if I stay in 3rd the engine lugs so that can't be right either.

Anyway, it's going in for a first service very soon and I thought I'd put it out there for any suggestions as to what to ask the dealer to look at. We also have the usual backlash issue but not really any worse than others mention around here.

Any suggestions appreciated.

Cheers,
Heinz

[one_iota]

I'll be interested in what others have to say about this, but I'd put it down to the big gap between 2nd and 3rd ratios which you will also notice (less dramatically of course) when changing up. I find myself easing the clutch out slowly when changing down to 2nd to minimise the "shock". So I think it is probably a characteristic of the puma Defender's gearbox. It certainly makes any driveline backlash apparent.

[BigBlueOne]

I only change down to second around 20km/h and don't get any backlash etc. Any faster and it hops along

[dawsey]

I tend to use 3rd gear as you would a 2nd in my puma,,do most of my cornering in 3rd..Just out of curiosity is the drive train slop (back lash) more pronounce in a longer wheelbase ie. 90 110 130 because of a longer tail shaft. I've never driven anything but a 110.

[Naks]

Not sure why you are trying to gear down to 2nd?

I very rarely have to gear down to 2nd when coming to a stop. By the time I've geared down into 3rd, it's clutch in and brakes to come to a full stop over a 10m-5m distance.

[Lagerfan]

Not sure why you are trying to gear down to 2nd

Well you're right, when coming to a stop it isn't really an issue, 3rd + brake and finally clutch in does that nicely, no probs there.

It's more low speed maneuvers, say like pulling into a car park, small roundabouts etc. sticking in 3rd too long causes lugging, change to 2nd and you kangaroo. I can certainly live with it (the <20kph rule is a good example BigBlueOne) but I guess my question is whether it is a problem or a feature of the Puma gearbox as one_iota says. My money is on the latter but just thought I'd ask for others experiences.

[Leroy_Riding]

with my 90 I rarely use first unless towing as the ratio is too low, so as said before 3rd is more of your second and 1/2 are more of one gear split in two, if I am going slow enough to be needing second generally that is low enough to not 'jump' while changing down, the puma will pull fine at 1000rpm and a bit less in 3rd by that time its fine to change down to 2nd. .

Leroy

[JamesB71]

Mine is the same mate. Must be a gear ratio thing.

Pulls like train in 3rd though. Very useful gear.

[one_iota]

My partner calls 1st and 2nd "1a and 1b".

[JamesB71]

My partner calls 1st and 2nd "1a and 1b".

Lol.