R380 Shift Problem

NPT90

NPT90

Well-known member
So I am driving yesterday and hear what seems to be something getting spun and striking the body on the underside of the defender. its a 'loose change sound' that doesn't seem to be consistent but I have to presume is coming from the transmission bellhousing.

I heard it several weeks ago briefly but it stopped and hadn't returned until yesterday.

Also yesterday while I was driving the truck slowly became difficult to place in first gear. Second was hard as well. Curiously enough both of these gears are easily found and shifted into when the engine is off, but not when the engine is running. I can get in the drivers seat, shift through all the gears, as soon as I start it up I can barely muscle the stick into first and have an equally difficult time getting it into reverse.

I have checked the shifter on top, I am getting ready to change the fluid (though I am not sure that will help).

What I cannot figure out is why this symptom only manifests itself with the truck running. Could I have shredded my throw out bearing or punched through my arm?

Is my throwout bearing shot and my clutch isn't properly dis-engaging?

Is that 'loose change sound' (literally sounds like someone throwing a fist-full of pennies into my flywheel) part of my clutch plate? Mind you it isn't consistent and I can't seem to replicate the sound.

Help
 
RDavisinVA

RDavisinVA

Technical Excellence Contributor
NPT90 said:
Sorry 300TDI with I believe a long bellhousing (Richards 300TDI chassis)
Click to expand...

That rules out the wrong release bearing.
Hopefully it's just the wear in or failing hydraulics.
Check the clutch fluid and adjust the clutch master and keep an eye on the fluid levels.
This could be a release bearing or clutch fork failure, but I hope not.
The next time we do a clutch, am going to use the release bearing style with the aluminum casting that replaces the plastic portion.
I've had to replace release bearings that were out of adjustment where the bearing face was spinning all the time and putting too much pressure on the plastic so it melted.
I also want to check to see if a series III clutch fork will work in an LT77 and R380, but have too much on my plate right now.
 
NPT90

NPT90

Well-known member
I am going to replace the whole she-bang out of an abundance of caution. The parts (including the clutch and cover) aren't expensive. Since I need to drop the transmission anyway to get it all done I am going to go ahead and do the drippy rear main seal that I have had in my parts bin for way too long.

In the interim I am sailing for bermuda next friday and can't be bothered to do this in the next 5 days. Currently the gulf stream crossing looks hurl-worthy. Gulf Stream diet, just what I needed...
 
NPT90

NPT90

Well-known member
RDavisinVA said:
That rules out the wrong release bearing.
Hopefully it's just the wear in or failing hydraulics.
Check the clutch fluid and adjust the clutch master and keep an eye on the fluid levels.
This could be a release bearing or clutch fork failure, but I hope not.
The next time we do a clutch, am going to use the release bearing style with the aluminum casting that replaces the plastic portion.
I've had to replace release bearings that were out of adjustment where the bearing face was spinning all the time and putting too much pressure on the plastic so it melted.
I also want to check to see if a series III clutch fork will work in an LT77 and R380, but have too much on my plate right now.
Click to expand...

I checked the fluid level, should it be up to the top cap?
 
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