Loud bang, dead rover - transmission?

[Apis Mellifera]

I don't think it's a matter of being fragile. It's an old truck and everything will eventually break. My frame is held together with nothing but hope and denial (waiting for RN to discount the 88 chassis or at least offer cheaper shipping) and along with that and my wobbly gear TC, I lashed a log chain to my storage building and drug is across my yard, spinning tires in 4lo. Friday I hauled a load and a half of firewood. I wouldn't abuse the truck, dumping the clutch etc, but I wouldn't have any reservations "using" the drivetrain.

I just finished playing with the SIII gearbox/TC I have on the shelf. It's very difficult to get the TC between gears, but I was able to do it and did produce a sound similar to that in the video. The lever detents that hold the the TC in gear are pretty robust. Although possible that the lever is being blocked from fully engaging, it seems pretty unlikely. The bottom of the red lever is bolted to the gearbox bellhoushing. A few inches up from that is a ball. This ball rides in a round bit that's bolted onto the end of the shaft that shifts the TC. There would have to be a lot of very tenacious debris wedged into the lever to prevent it from engaging Hi or Low.

I've been focusing on the TC, but it is possible that something in the gearbox has broken. If the layshaft or outputshaft broke, it might produce that same sound.

Good Luck and make sure you post pictures of the diagnosis.

[Bertha]

WHAT?!?!? Someone beat me to market with bacon vodka!?!? There goes my retirement plan

Thanks guys for the uplifting well wishes. I think my family was surprised by my mood, I've reached the zen stage of rover acceptance. It is what it is, it's not my daily driver and it will run again some day...it just might be a few months (and a lot of jabs from friends who just don't understand )

Im anxious to at least diagnose the problem with the hope that is may be something miraculous like a broken linkage causing it to be between high and low range.

the one thing I am worried about (b/c I think stanta's elfs already secured a winch and some other off road stuff)... are they all this fragile? I feel like they can't be - even for the age of these trucks, the videos and real life experience I have seen lives up to the hype. So why would pulling away from the curb in 4wd high cause the transfer case to have a meltdown? I guess if it was abused most of its life then it was only a matter of time... but I want to get the truck to the stage where I am not constantly fearful of something braking under relatively normal conditions (or is that called the joy of ownership )

I have also given some thought to finding a parts truck...

Nick
I feel your pain, however there is no cheap way to own a Rover. They are certainly not a fragile truck, however miles and miles of hard use will eventually take its toll on even the heartiest of drivetrains. By getting a truck from the UK, you initially saved some money, however in the long run, you will end up spending whatever it is you thought you saved on the unknowns. Unfortunately the only way to have a near bulletproof Rover is to go through every system one by one and replace what is worn out. Otherwise you go down the road that you are currently on, which is to fix things as they break. Don't loose hope, this is just the facts of owning an old car. Eventually everything that is going to break, will, and then you will fix it and all will be well. BTW a parts truck is not going to help you with your current issues as that presents you with a entirely new set of unknowns. Best to fix what you have and any fix you do, make it a quality one, so you dont have to revisit it again. Remember that, if in fact you do need to rebuild the trans, most places charge under 2K for this service(once you have removed the trans)

[SafeAirOne]

Take it from somebody with his engine in a million pieces in the garage right now...You didn't just buy an old land rover, you bought a whole lifestyle. Part of that lifestyle is having to fix the broken stuff. It happens.

[NickDawson]

Take it from somebody with his engine in a million pieces in the garage right now...You didn't just buy an old land rover, you bought a whole lifestyle. Part of that lifestyle is having to fix the broken stuff. It happens.

Ha! Thanks again guys - really am rolling with the punches on this one.

I'll keep everyone posted after the thaw and diagnosis is more complete.

[Moose]

Many, many moons ago, my truck did something similar. Nice big bang and complete loss of drive. After giving everything a good coat of looking at, I decided to yank the Over Drive off. Sure enough, the gear/spline thingy (don't want to get too technical ) stripped out, and that was that. Pretty poor design really as no oil can get in there to lube the splines and over time they wear till they fail.





I had had it apart at some point long before the failure and noticed some wear, so greased things up, but the wear was too far advanced and eventually it failed.

Yours may may have suffered the same fate. Pop the OD off and have a look. If that's is the problem, you'll need to have, or find, an original gear and rear cover to button things back up.

Brett

[Jim-ME]

I also think the OD is the cause of the problem. If that is the case the part can be replaced and you are going again. That would be my first check. Just hope the rest of the OD is OK if the drive gear is the problem.
Jim

[NickDawson]

Did one last bit of diagnosis work before leaving town - applied the parking brake - same whhhrrrr sound, clutch out did not stall.

[bpj911]

levers

Just move all the damn levers until something happens. I'd bet on the t-case lever.

[NickDawson]

Just move all the damn levers until something happens. I'd bet on the t-case lever.

Ohhhh believe me, I tried them all...I looked like Jim Henson in there pulling levers left and right...in fact I yanked the OD rod so hard that the lock nut came lose

Once it thaws and we are back home I'll start spinning wheels

[NickDawson]

So, the rover may move again sooner than expected...
Santa brough me a warn winch

more on that anyother time

[Bostonian1976]

...I looked like Jim Henson in there pulling levers left and right.

hilarious

[Nium]

So, the rover may move again sooner than expected...
Santa brough me a warn winch

more on that anyother time

Don't get it stuck up any trees! "Gods must be Crazy" reference.

Merry Christmas

[TeriAnn]

I've been focusing on the TC, but it is possible that something in the gearbox has broken. If the layshaft or outputshaft broke, it might produce that same sound.

Could be a broken overdrive. You can replace it with the stock gear & back plate to check. I'd go there first since you have already played with the levers. There's a reason why people with overdrives tend to keep all the old non overdrive parts in the truck so the OD can be removed away from home.

Layshafts commonly break and when they do it feels & sounds about the same as a rear axle snapping. When mine broke I still had fourth gear, which is lucky because I was at the California Oregon border and a long way from home. Fourth was the only gear I had.

Mostly the sound is associated with an axle breaking, transfercase popping out of gear, overdrive breaking or a gearbox shaft breaking.

Good luck & hopefully it is something easy & cheap to repair.

[JimCT]

Layshaft

I agree, the two times I have broken a layshaft I always had some gear left, usually 4th. Fun driving home using low 4th and hi 4 only!

[NickDawson]

We had an unexpected break in the weather this weekend so I got a chance to dig into the rover's issues for the first time since it died on me.

I've learned one thing, I still have no clue what I am doing

I've taken off the inspection panels on the over drive, transfer case and gear box (I think). The symptoms are strange. It occurred to me in the middle of the night last week that I could do an audible diagnosis - if engaging or disengaging the OD did not change the pitch, it must be the OD right? Well interestingly enough, the pitch changes but nothing is moving. None of the gears that I can see via access panels are turning at all.. in the fact the only time I see movement is when the OD is in its neutral (b/t engaged and disengaged) and the clutch is out (and sometimes even when it is depressed).

Anyone have any ideas or education for me? What does this tell us? I dont mind continuing to disassemble things and take the OD off...but not sure what that does for me yet. Could this be a clutch issue?

Have a look for yourselves: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDBZN3Qd8bo
I still cannot figure out how to use the youtube embed option on the forums... I've tried adding the URL and the video's code... any tips?