Thread: Isuzu MSA Gearbox to LT230

Originally Posted by the_grubb

My understanding is that the LT230's are one of the strongest factory transfer cases available....

Originally Posted by justinc

murray i have seen bits of the drain plug magnet go up into that gear, causing similar results. yes these are a very strong transfer case.

jc

Thanks,
Yeah, I was pretty sure there was no real issues with the Lt230, and I didn't think you would be using the Isuzu box conversion if they weren't up to the task. I just thought I'd ask the question due to the failure of mine.

Cheers, Murray

Originally Posted by rijidij

The other day the Lt230 in my 130 Defender suddenly started making noise when off the throttle. I thought it was a uni because it was a knocking noise at just that sort of frequency, but on further inspection, the uni's were fine......

I have a reason for posting this here, so please bare with me.

..... After shifting into low range the frequency of the knocking was about doubled, so it was a transfer case problem of some sort.
Draining the oil didn't reveal any obvious metal shavings etc and the only visible damage with the main inspection plate removed is one tooth on an intermediate gear appears to have been squashed at one end (see pic below) There is no corresponding damage on the other gear it mates with. I haven't investigated any further at this stage.

Anyway, my reason for posting here is, I'm not too familiar with the Lt230 and I'm wondering if they are known for any particular weakness, thus making the transfer case the weak link in between the Isuzu box and a Sals diff. I'm lead to believe the Lt230 is generally a strong, reliable box, so is my problem just a case of bad luck, or something that could be somewhat expected of a Lt230.

I like the thought of eventually fitting my Isuzu gear box, so I just thought I'd question the transfer box strength and reliability.

Cheers, Murray

The gears do look worn to me? Hard to say in the pic.

They are usually very strong. Other than the known gear box out put sline flog (worse with no X drilled gear) The only failure I have had is the tapered bearings on the hi/low idler gear. Mine gets very severe use so put it down to overheating the oil, heavy low speed work making the bearing dry and having big thrust due to the offset low range gears.
I have now fitted a higher capacity winged sump and an electric oil pump so cools and lubes well under hard conditions. So far so good. This mod also lubes the top out put gear at low speeds

Would have nothing to do with the 4BD1T acting like a rattle gun under heavy loads

Update...

Done away with the LT85 style diff lock linkage that bolts to the side of the transmission and gone with this;

NewLink.jpg

This means a standardised fit no matter what gearbox was previously fitted and does away with the tab on the new housing.

btw, just towed a Disco on a tandem trailer behind the 110 for this project;

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/discovery-...ued-disco.html

And must say with air springs in the rear of the 110 the handling was very comfortable between 95-100 km/hr on flat ground... I couldn't go any quicker as I don't have a turbo yet

Originally Posted by the_grubb

btw, just towed a Disco on a tandem trailer behind the 110 for this project;

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/discovery-...ued-disco.html

And must say with air springs in the rear of the 110 the handling was very comfortable between 95-100 km/hr on flat ground... I couldn't go any quicker as I don't have a turbo yet

Along the flat ground a turbo is not needed to see 110kph + towing a 100 incher on a tandem my N/A county dose it quite easy tho the turbo will just help it get to 110kph quicker

G'day All, I have been reading/watching this thread with much interest, having owned our 110 for yonks, it recently had a failure (which I originally thought was G/box) but it turned out to be in the LT230 T/case.
I have bought a set of replacement gears x 3 from Ashcrofts in the UK, I will post pix of what failed in my T/case when I get the 110 back, if the noise persists I'm going with Isuzu G/box anyway watching with interest, cheers Dennis

Originally Posted by Dinty

G'day All, I have been reading/watching this thread with much interest, having owned our 110 for yonks, it recently had a failure (which I originally thought was G/box) but it turned out to be in the LT230 T/case.
I have bought a set of replacement gears x 3 from Ashcrofts in the UK, I will post pix of what failed in my T/case when I get the 110 back, if the noise persists I'm going with Isuzu G/box anyway watching with interest, cheers Dennis

Gday Dennis
Was the failure oil related or lack there of or did the 4cyl vibrator have ill effect on the bearings .

G'day All,, mate I think was just age/wear n tear, it had plenty of oil, but I haven't seen the bearing that let go either, just wish I had it back, I miss it cheers Dennis
ps 26 years isn't a bad run for a set of bearings,,.