1968 Series IIa Gearbox issue, Won’t work when in high gear.

[Gregp1962]

When it is in high gear, I can let the clutch out and nothing happens. I had to drive it home in low gear. Is this a common issue. What could cause this?

[Mike Koch]

Could you have snapped a rear axle shaft?

[Gregp1962]

Well, it works fine in low gear. If the rear axle shaft were snapped, wouldn't also not work in low gear?

[LaneRover]

When you say low gear, do you mean 1st,2nd or 3rd? Or do you mean low range?

When you put a series Land Rover in low range it automatically puts the Rover into 4 wheel drive - hence why it could point to a snapped rear axle.

[Gregp1962]

OK, I meant low range. All four gears work fine when in low range. But, in the other setting, all four gears do not work.

You;re saying that in high range, it is only two wheel drive? Maybe the rear shaft is the problem then. What is the weakest point in the rear shaft?

[Les Parker]

The most common failure is the RH 1/2 shaft.

http://www.roversnorth.com/store/p-2141-half-axle-rear-rh-series-iia-iii.aspx

[Gregp1962]

Does that shaft just snap or do the splines strip?

[Les Parker]

Usually the shaft makes a clean break, though there have been some postings on the BBS of some very peculiar distortions of the shaft, either before breakage or they look like they have had some very artistic twists to them and stayed intact, making removal nearly impossible.

[Gregp1962]

Weird. You'd think that they'd be noisy if they break. There is no noise coming from it. I won't be able to look at it until later tonight.

[LaneRover]

Mine wasn't that noisy when it broke and what you describe is exactly what will happen when an axle shaft is broken.

You can also push down the yellow nob to put it in 4 wheel drive and not be stuck only using low range to get home.

Brent

[BackInA88]

Push down the yellow knob and go 4x4 high range.

[Gregp1962]

Is this axle inside the housing? Can it be seen just by crawling under the car?

[Apis Mellifera]

The axle is inside the housing and can only be inspected by removal. There are a number of ways to check for breakage. The best would be to undo the bolts hold the axle to the hub. You can do this without even removing the wheels or jacking up the rear. Another way would be to isolate the rear axle by applying the trans brake. Then jack up one rear wheel. Try to rotate the wheel. If the axle is broken, the wheel will spin.

The next area to look at would be the transfer case:

[Tim Smith]

Put the truck in neutral, high range after blocking the tires. The crawl underneath and see if you can turn the rear drive shaft. If you can turn it, then you either lost a half shaft or, and this is far less likely, you could have pooched the rear diff.

The half shaft is a super easy job unless you get an end stuck in the diff. If that is the case, then you might have to pull the diff just to get the bits out. Keep your fingers crossed. Getting those bits out have been real trouble for me at least once.

[JimCT]

Cleaning rod

Carry a 22 caliber rifle cleaning rod, long enough to hit the broken shaft end. It fits past the spider gear pin, and if you push it up against the broken bit , then give it a good shot if shoots the broken piece out to wear you can fish it out with a coat hanger. Actually pretty fast when it all works.