5th gear went Pop

[sooty_10]

So my 5th gear went pop this morning. Going around a bend and suddenly lost all drive with a grinding/crunching noise. Shifted straight down to 4th and away I went. Bugger #*#!

Anyway mine is a '01 TD42t with about 220k km on the clock.

Rang a few places and waiting on some quotes for a repair.

Fluidrive (transmission shop) here quoted about $2k for rebuild with new bearings seals and shaft/gear.

Or

$2700 drive in/out with brand new genuine upgraded gearbox.

I have found a 2nd hand gearbox for $550 ('03 GU 130k km) no warranty on ebay.

Most others I've seen at wreckers are around $800-$1300 and unknown history's but 3 months warranty.

The second hand ones I need to add labour costs or my own time and patience, sweat and blood.

I'm starting to think the brand new one might not be too bad value.

Anyone else had theirs repaired or replaced recently?
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[mudnut]

I bought a secondhand box through a local business. After towing a van to the wreckers, it developed a whine in a cluster bearing,(1st, 2nd, 3rd and 5th). 4th is perfect. The box was only in my Patrol for 25000 before the noise started. I believe I should have at least bought a reco box.

The one on Ebay, may not have the upgraded 5th gear, so you might end up in the exact same situation in no time.

[dom14]

I bought a secondhand box through a local business. After towing a van to the wreckers, it developed a whine in a cluster bearing,(1st, 2nd, 3rd and 5th). 4th is perfect. The box was only in my Patrol for 25000 before the noise started. I believe I should have at least bought a reco box.

The one on Ebay, may not have the upgraded 5th gear, so you might end up in the exact same situation in no time.

What is the mileage on your troll? What is the mileage the gearbox said no more?

Mine's still turning at around 350k. Not much van pulling, but have done enough heavy trailer pulling though.

[the evil twin]

What is the mileage on your troll? What is the mileage the gearbox said no more?

Mine's still turning at around 350k. Not much van pulling, but have done enough heavy trailer pulling though.

Different boxes, Cobber

[dom14]

Different boxes, Cobber

Yep, I was wondering about the reason why some RB30 boxes crap themselves around 250-300k mark or even fair bit earlier, while the others go on to hit 400k+. I'm not particularly gentle with mine, but can't say I've been thrashing it a fair bit on off-road tracks.
Then again, @mudnut isn't thrashing his one either. I think it has lot to do with previous lives our trolls lived before we get them secondhand.

[dom14]

I bought a secondhand box through a local business. After towing a van to the wreckers, it developed a whine in a cluster bearing,(1st, 2nd, 3rd and 5th). 4th is perfect. The box was only in my Patrol for 25000 before the noise started. I believe I should have at least bought a reco box.

The one on Ebay, may not have the upgraded 5th gear, so you might end up in the exact same situation in no time.

BTW, assuming you still have the old bad gearbox in the garage, it may worth getting the rebuild kit from Bearings Wholesalers and have a crack at it yourself. I don't think the kit comes with gears, but comes with all the bearings and synchros. A dial indicator may be necessary for the job, but you can buy an adequate one from ebay. You probably wanna open up the old one first and see if there are any broken gear splines, 'cos buying those gears new can be pretty pricey.

I have sworn few times in the past not to touch transmissions at all(manual or auto), but the temptation is still here. What I don't have is the time and space.

[the evil twin]

snip... So my 5th gear went pop this morning. Going around a bend and suddenly lost all drive with a grinding/crunching noise. Shifted straight down to 4th and away I went. Bugger #*#!

Anyway mine is a '01 TD42t with about 220k km on the clock.


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Known problem with that era Gearbox... the spline on 5th was shorter than the later jobbies.

For $2700 drive in/drive out I'd go the new box for sure

[mudnut]

I was making the point that buying secondhand gearboxes can be a waste of money, but buying reco or new is the way to go. The original gear box in mine (FS5R30A) only did 270,000km and died while towing my light camper trailer up and over Mt Cole. The vehicle has only done 310,000 km and I am up for another gearbox when I can get the money.

The FS5R50A (GQ) FS5R50B (GU) are definitely tougher, heavier gearboxes. As ET posted, a new one with the upgraded splines would be bullet proof. If funds were limited a reco unit with the upgrade would be the second best option.

[dom14]

I was making the point that buying secondhand gearboxes can be a waste of money, but buying reco or new is the way to go. The original gear box in mine (FS5R30A) only did 270,000km and died while towing my light camper trailer up and over Mt Cole. The vehicle has only done 310,000 km and I am up for another gearbox when I can get the money.

The FS5R50A (GQ) FS5R50B (GU) are definitely tougher, heavier gearboxes. As ET posted, a new one with the upgraded splines would bullet proof. If funds were limited a reco unit with the upgrade would be the second best option.

No argument about the above comment on buying second hand RB30 gearboxes.
You never know how good or bad a gearbox that is put on bench for sale.
You take the seller's word and 90% of the time end up getting screwed.

Tell me bit more about the RB30 Patrol gearbox upgrade options. I didn't know that I can have choices there.

I know it won't be long before mine fails. I've been thinking about storing a used gearbox, and they are fairly cheap.
I could've picked up a 'good' one from a bloke I know who said it was removed as a good running one.
I didn't go for it 'cos of reluctance to store heavy stuff in the limited garage space at that time.

I've heard it is the synchros of the RB30 box that fails, rather than actual gear spline wear, but of course that all depends on the driving style and terrain of the owner.

[dom14]

The original gear box in mine (FS5R30A) only did 270,000km and died while towing my light camper trailer up and over Mt Cole. The vehicle has only done 310,000 km and I am up for another gearbox when I can get the money.

They can't be that bad, do they?
I like to believe the reason gearbox failed on that mileage might be 'cos the previous owner has been bashing and thrashing it around.
For example, mine doesn't look that good in terms of other parts of the vehicle, like the engine, suspension, diffs, etc 'cos all of them gave me lot of crap trouble, but not the transmission. I doubt the tranny has already been through any work on it.

You can source RB30 boxes cheaply, but might be necessary to take a chance with them, which is something you probably don't wanna do now 'cos you've already got burnt by a used one.