Discovery desires - rot replacement

[Tayne]

.

[dollywobbler]

Not this one Tayne - the square bit protruded. Think they changed to a sunk-in type later, as per the Haynes BOL pics. 

[dollywobbler]

Now can haz new gearbox oil and no more side steps!

 

New gearbox oil has vastly improved the gearbox. I can go from first to second without a crunch, though third to second is still very tricky.

[Rusty_Rocket]

Looking good, they do look cleaner without the side steps.. 

Glad the 'box oil change has improved things, did you use ATF?  I did mine a few k's ago but there's no hiding the crunch if I rush 1st-2nd 

[dollywobbler]

Yup. Fancy synthetic Dextron III ATF fluid. It's definitely a lot better. Mind you, there were other issues in the gearbox too - it looks like Sauron has been working his evil magic on the synchromesh. He has now been evicted. 

 

If you don't like Lord of the (synchro?) Rings, this'll be lost on you.

[Rusty_Rocket]

Ha ha lord of the synchro rings!  Does your have an LT77?  Or has someone fitted a later R380?  That sump plug looks pretty normal but different to mine; that one has a small replaceable filter.... which was full of small shiny flakes that disintegrated between your fingers- very odd 

[John F]

200 TDi has the LT77, yes. Or it should do, anyway. The R380 is hardly an improvement, given its appetite for 2nd gear synchros.

[dollywobbler]

Yup. LT77. That's the mail drain plug, there's a separate one on the extension piece which has the plastic filter in it. That had some filings in it but cleaned up nicely - they can often be broken up.

 

The previous owner just said it crunched into gear, which meant she was just forcing second gear in despite the clearly knackered synchromesh. That accounts for why there are so many bits I think - you always expect a few but this was a bit extreme I think. You can get recon gearboxes for £570 or so, which is probably the only way to solve the problem. That's more than I paid for the car, so it isn't going to happen any time soon - nifty footwork it is then!

 

I'm leaving the thread title as is because I'll be trekking along the fabled Strata Florida greenlane this weekend. Looking forward to seeing how it compares.

[dollywobbler]

Just filled it up. 28mpg, which doesn't seem too shabby. IIRC, the official mixed figure was 27, and it really was mixed driving. Some motorway, some greenlaning, lots of hilly NSL roads and a fair chunk of running while it had the timing belt/water pump I suspect.

[Rusty_Rocket]

That sounds about right- very economical beasts considering their size/ weight/ drivetrain.  Do consider bio if thats your thing.  The 200tdi really does not suffer from using it.  I buy mine from a reliable source and the lower cost means I get the equivalent of 45mpg.  You don't get big 4x4 motoring for less.

[dollywobbler]

Finding a source is the tricky bit. I refuse to use brand new veg, as I'd rather it was used for food. Waste veg I'm very open to, but it's a nightmare to find. (mind you, so are most things around here!). Somewhere further afield could work as long as I was passing anyway - the fuel tank is enormous! It was just below half when I filled up today.

[Rusty_Rocket]

You're right, finding a decent source is difficult; I'm lucky in that the farmer behind our workshop makes a reliable supply, has it coming through a petrol station-style pump which is calibrated and is available all through the week.  I never put new veg oil in mine, or either used to be honest- I like the bio because it is properly processed to the correct viscosity and doesn't have a water content.

May be worth signing up to an alternative fuels forum to ask if there's anyone in your area happy to sell it on a regular basis.. I really begrudge having to pay top dollar for dino diesel nowadays !  My 106 van with its Bosch pump also smells of a chip shop all the time

[dollywobbler]

For a time, I received it in 205 litre drums when I lived in Cambs. Problem is, folk go into business selling the stuff, then realise there's no money in it and disappear again. Given the number if hippies hiding in the Welsh hills, there must be someone cranking the stuff out though.

[dollywobbler]

Mah Disco iz Om Noms ur boldurs.

 

A very enjoyable day on the lanes yesterday. Hard to get photos of yourself - hoping I'll have some more once friends complete their second day of laning and get the pics sorted out. The trip (especially the pictured section) revealed some backlash in the diffs - it was clonking around a bit - so I'll add that to the To Do list. The typical Brunelian tow bar helped avoid any vehicle damage on the Bombhole - both long-wheelbase Terranos that were with us had issues, as did the long-wheelbase Patrol. Nice to be out on the lanes with a mix of vehicles though. I do get tired of "X 4x4 is better than Z 4x4." Everyone just got on with it and had a nice time.

 

I did lose a mud flap. The other one has now been removed. The Disco did also manage to drip oil right into my eyeball earlier. Perhaps it didn't enjoy yesterday as much as I did...

 

I must concede though, the Disco is much better for laning around here than the Maverick - though it's a bit unfair to compare diesel with petrol. The Disco has far better low speed control as the gearing is slightly lower and diesels win for crawling over rocks/engine braking down slopes. 

[Guest Breadvan72]

Wowza!  Rocks: all your base is belong to Dollywobbler! 

[dollywobbler]

If anyone fancies an Autoshite laning trip in mid-Wales, I'd be happy to organise one. Only if someone brings a Lada Niva though. You don't need fancy kit for the lanes I tend to tackle, but remember this is beautiful Wales, not a Pay and Play site - speed will be limited.

[KruJoe]

I'm sure wor kid Will should be right up for that if he ever gets a couple full days off together. He has promised that getting Olga running again is top priority once Edd's MG-ZR-OMG-HGF-BBQ is sorted.

 

[John F]

Might it not be better getting Ian up to Yorkshire for a bit of laning then...? I'd be up for that.

[dollywobbler]

That could work too! Would be nice to do some Laning elsewhere. Just thought I'd offer a trip around the excellent lanes we have here.

[Guest Breadvan72]

Letz ov roooooooaaaaaaaadd!

 

Separate thread, perhaps?

[dollywobbler]

Ugh. Used the Disco for towing duties today to collect some logs. I think we may have overloaded the trailer slightly as it was snaking around like Axl Rose's hips at times. The Disco gamely tugged it up hill and down dale, but appears to have lost a fair chunk of oil in the process, from the oil cooler unions. I desperately need some O-seals for those I think!

 

However, it doesn't seem to be leaking badly other than when dragging lots of weight up a hill, so I'm going greenlaning again tonight...

 

We still needed to shift more logs though, so an old friend came in handy...

[rainagain]

Just read this from the start, looks great!

[dollywobbler]

Thanks! I think I've finally got the 'right' Land Rover. I really do enjoy tooling around in it, not just the green lane/off road stuff.

 

At the moment, I'm contemplating a full set of tyres. Spending £400 on tyres for a car that cost £450 to buy is proving a mental struggle though! (especially when other fleet members are also trying to drain my feeble funds!).

[John F]

Have a look on ebay, Ian. There are usually loads of full sets of wheels & tyres on offer for a fraction of the cost of new tyres.

[Rusty_Rocket]

I always buy another full set of wheels 2nd hand with good tyres.. so much cheaper than buying a set of brand new wheels.

The secret is to be very selective 

[dollywobbler]

Might well try that. Neighbour has offered me a pair of decent tyres with plenty of tread, but he wants £50 each and they're only Mud and Snows - a bit mild really.

[brickwall]

I'm no meteorologist, but I think snow is unlikely.

[John F]

4x4 tyre choice depends on what use the vehicle is going to get.

 

Mine spends most of its time on the road with occasional off-road use, so I went for General Grabber ATs: 

 

 

I'm quite happy with them. They don't generate any discernible road noise, have excellent on & off-road traction and were very impressive in the snow on last winter's trip to the Alps.

 

BF Goodrich All Terrains also have a good reputation.

[dollywobbler]

The Grabbers get good reviews. I'd like a set of ATs - covers most bases. Mind you, the Rangie seemed to cope very well on mud&snows.

[brickwall]

I have mud tyres on the RR at all times. It seems fine, just don't speed in the wet!!!!!