Gearbox of dispair

[Patrick Kramer]

Dear friends at the motorworlds´ most helpful website.
Having been a faithful TR7 owner of a 79 DHC, silver beauty the past 5 years, and loving my car to death. I decided to change the transmission oil recently. I had this done at a local Land Rover workshop (I don´t have a workshop available) where the proprietor claimed to have worked for Layland at one time. There was nothing wrong with the transmission. When I got it back, I could barely move the stick from først to second gear. After a few weeks of observation it seems that when the car is warm, there is no problem at all. When cold, again hard as heck to get from 1-2. Is this viscosity or level problem or something else? Hope anyone has had something similar or any ideas of where the problem is.

[saabfast]

At that age it would have the 5 speed gearbox. The BL recommendation was for ATF (automatic transmission fluid) to be used, partly I believe as it could be very stiff when cold with heavy gear oils. It sounds as if your garage has used an normal EP90 or similar. There are other specific transmission oils used by others (try a search), but I think they all have lower viscosity than traditional hypoid gear oils.

Alan
Saab 9000 Stg 1
'81 TR7 DHC

[busheytrader]

Patrick,

I agree with Saabfast, your garage has refilled it with the wrong oil.

The original gearbox oil that was reccomended by BL was Hypoid EP75 I believe. I haven't been able to get hold of it for many years. Anyway, using this oil made the change from 1st to 2nd slow in cold temperatures. It was easier to move the gearstick from 1st into neutral and then into 2nd a halfsecond later. BL then changed the lubricant to Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF) in an effort to make the gearchange slicker but this lost out in long term protection. BL didn't mind as the gearbox would be well out of warranty by the time it wore out.

Using EP90 makes the gearbox very stiff between the 1st two gears. I made the mistake of topping up with EP90 as the old label had fallen off. The car was almost undriveable for the first 10 minutes on the road. I've used ATF in the 'box this summer as it was the only stuff I could get after draining the gearbox of all the EP90. It works fine but I'd rather have the comfort of a gear oil with V8 power. I'll sort this out next summer.

Cheers,


Adam



TR7 V8 DHC Jaguar Solent Blue. 9.35cr Range Rover V8, Holley 390cfm, JWR Dual Port, 214 Cam, Lumention, Tubular Manifolds, Single Pipe Exh, 3.08 Rear, 200lb Spax & Solid Bushes, Anti- Dive, Granada Vented Discs & Calipers, Green Stuff, 4 Speed Rear Cylinders, Uprated Master Cylinder & Servo, AllyCat 5 Spokes. No Door Stickers.

[Hasbeen]

As above. I've been using AFT in my 7s gear boxes for 7 or 8 years.
I also use it in the 280 BHP 4.6L box, in the 8. That is a ZF auto,
but it still has deal with the power.

Many of our US mnembers use synthetic gear oil, a search should find
the info they have posted. From what they say, it may be better than
old AFT, but, if you can't find the info, changing the box back to
the AFT, that must have been in there, will make the car usable in
the mean time.

It was bad enough here, in a hot climate, it must be bad in yours.

Hasbeen

[Patrick Kramer]

Thanks guys! I am sooo impressed by the level of interest and help on this website. You are all terrific. I will get on the shift of gear oil and let you know how it went. You have really saved me a lot of grief and money!

All the best. Patrick Kramer, Oslo Norway.

[TR Tony]

Castrol SMS Synthetic is good in the LT77. I have it in mine.

Tony

<font size="1">1981 2L FHC Cavalry Blue
1980 3.5L V8 DHC Jaguar Regency Red</font id="size1">

[FI Spyder]

In the mean time you can use the double clutch technique into second when the transmission is cold to ease the shift.

TR7 Spider - 1978 Spifire - 1976 Spitfire - 1988 Tercel 4X4 - Kali on Integra - 1991 Integra

[john 215]

Hi,
I use MTF 94 oil in mine, Rover used it in there PG series of front wheel drive boxes. Its also used in a number of other boxes including the 'new' (BMW) Mini and older BMW rear wheel drive boxes (E36, E39 ect). Have seen it rec on most forums for 'our' boxes.
Cheers John

LIVE LIFE A QUARTER OF A MILE AT A TIME!
1979 3.5 FHC(STATUS PENDING!!)

1982 2.0 DHC NOW A 4.6 WILL BE ON THE ROAD VERY SOON!
Read My Blog http://www.waringstowntr7s.co.uk/blogs/ ... hp/John215

[Troy ODoherty]

i am using Castrol Syntrans 75/85 synthetic in our rally boxs The shift is fine hot or cold. I also fitted a pressure switch in the back of the box that operates a warning light on the dash. The lowest switch I could find comes on below 4 psi. These boxes make more than that with cold oil at idle and in full competition at the end of 50km of competitive it takes about 3000 rpm in 4th to get the light to go out.I did this as we lost a couple of boxes early in the competition history of the car and wanted to know if it was the pump failing first or as a result of other problems.
I did try redline oil in a couple of boxes but the shift quality is inferior to a normal synthetic. The syncros develop a "sludge" behind the baulk rings and this slows the change regardless of the temp. This was also noted in other boxes (mitsubishi evos and nissan rear wheel drive )
Hope this helps.
Cheers Troy