 | Home > Td5 > Down shifting difficult |
 
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| blackwolf Member Since: 03 Nov 2009 Location: South West England Posts: 16892   
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To an extent it could just be the nature of the R380 gearbox, which is a balky and unrefined unit on the whole, although some are better or worse than others. They are also oil-dependent, LR specified a particular oil, MTF94, to get round some of the issues. Many people swear by more modern alternatives (search the forum for "MTF94" to find quite a lot of info).
It could be a clutch-related problem, although the fact that you say that it's ok stationary suggests not. It could be due to worn synchro hubs/rings in the box. Overall I'm afraid it's difficult to diagnose without driving, and may not be easy even then. Dare I say that if it is your first R380 it could be an "expectation" issue. Every R380 I have driven has always worked better if downchanges are double-declutched (in fact out of force of habit I always ddc downchanges on manual 'boxes of any age, there is no downside and many upsides), so as a first step I'd try this. It may solve all your problems. |
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29th Jan 2022 12:03am |
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| kenzle8a Member Since: 12 Feb 2020 Location: None Posts: 1074 
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I think the shifter design has a lot to answer for as well. I’ve got an R380 in my TD5 and I’ve got the slick shift fitted which did help. I’ve also driven two R380s I’m father in laws Morgans both of which are a lot easier to shift with due to the placement of the shifter
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29th Jan 2022 12:11am |
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| Leamreject Member Since: 19 Dec 2020 Location: Middle Earth - Leamington Spa Posts: 956  
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Mine does the same but improves when it gets warm. Wondering if a gearbox oil treatment might help?
Molyslip or a slick50… any thoughts? Ride like you stole it!! If I’m not on a bike it’s because only a 4x4 will do… 2011 2.4 Puma 90 HT |
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29th Jan 2022 7:15am |
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| Reivilo Member Since: 03 Jul 2022 Location: Bredasdorp, Western Cape Posts: 8 
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Any success sorting your down shift problem without ddc yet?
From cold start my gears shift down just fine for the 1st few kms. However after approx 50kms I experience the same problem coming down from 5th to 4th/3rd for speeds in excess of 50-60km/h. With gearbox warmed up finding R is also difficult without ddc. On advise of a reputable local LR service agent I recently exchanged old ML94 oil (strong burnt smell, luckily without any sign of metal-gear grit in it) with ATF. For the 1st 1000kms thereafter it shifted slick but now the stubborn stiffness "problem" is back and quite frustrating gearing down at inclines or overtaking. Reivilo (Western Cape, South Africa) |
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4th Jul 2022 6:14pm |
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| GREENI Member Since: 22 Aug 2010 Location: staffs Posts: 10363
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Using your brakes to slow down is always better, pads and discs are cheaper and easier to replace than a gearbox.
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4th Jul 2022 7:36pm |
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| lightning Member Since: 23 Apr 2009 Location: High Peak, Derbyshire Posts: 2259
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lt will most likely be the clutch, l've had this on all but one of the Defenders l've owned, a new clutch transformed the gear change quality every time.
l had a 300tdi that was a nightmare to get into first gear when hot, gearboxes and "selector top replacement" was suggested but after a new clutch was fitted it was perfect. Similar, our 2004 TD5 okay when cold, hard to change down when hot. And our other TD5, a 2003, similar issues. |
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5th Jul 2022 1:00pm |
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| landy andy Member Since: 15 Feb 2009 Location: Ware, Herts Posts: 5424 
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Swapping out standard oil to fully synthetic oil improved my box.
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5th Jul 2022 1:10pm |
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| Reivilo Member Since: 03 Jul 2022 Location: Bredasdorp, Western Cape Posts: 8
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Most En-lightning, thank you!!!
I inspected the bell house nuts and it seems untouched - so I added "check clutch" to my growing to do list. Meanwhile I'll keep exercising my ddc muscles... |
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5th Jul 2022 5:17pm |
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| Penfold_6290 Member Since: 22 Sep 2021 Location: Dorset Posts: 274 
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Where is the clutch bite point relative to the bottom of the stroke? You can adjust this by moving the position of the pedal relative to the clutch MC push rod, you need to sacrifice a couple of 13mm spanners to do this without a struggle. The spanners need to be ground down with a grinder so they fit in the assembly and can turn the nuts. You might just find a little bit of 'extra pedal' disengages the clutch by the required amount.
I've always slowed on the brakes then give the engine a small 'blip' on the throttle while changing down a gear, it's just habit and I even do it in my Passat. Not a full on crash gearbox double declutch but I find the gears do snick in nicer. Another thing to check is the gear stick throw when shifted into neutral. The bias springs should line the stick up perfectly to slot into 3rd or 4th, if they're a bit tired or the turret is badly worn you may find you're forcing the gear stick as it is not resting in the correct position between 3rd and 4th. |
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8th Jul 2022 11:05am |
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| Reivilo Member Since: 03 Jul 2022 Location: Bredasdorp, Western Cape Posts: 8
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Hello Penfold,
As it sits my clutch stroke seems just fine, not too high nor low. And the shifter is sturdy running the gates smoothly going up through the gears. My semi-difficulty is definitely related to running a warm gearbox, and funny enough not ALL the time/drive. "Thanks to Mr. Putin purring the throttle and/or ddc becomes all the more expensive... my foot seams to have developed a gaspedalfobia (same as my wallet)." But thanks for the tips and help. |
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8th Jul 2022 1:02pm |
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