LT230 stiff to select high/low range

On or around 21 Jul 2005 04:11:32 -0700, snipped-for-privacy@bbc.co.uk enlightened us thusly:

I was about to say "linkage is crudded up", when I read the last bit. Not much clue about internal bits in the box, but it's not gonna be cheap to sort - box out and part-strip at least...

You are *sure* all the external bits are free?

A silly question but you are moving at 2-5mph when you are changing it?

Regards

Brian Tonks

Perhaps just try using it a bit and see if it free's it up?

I had one seize up in a similar fashion. The hi/lo lever works on a rod in a housing on top of the xfer box. Said rod has the gear selector on it. In my case the rod was seized in it's housing; it is only splash lubricated. The housing is held on (from memory) by 6 bolts, and I seem to remember it is visible and accessible with the gearbox/transmission cover removed. You might need to remove the floor panels to get it off, I can't remember if the floors are above or under the gearbox cover. Remove bolts, remove housing and free the rod. To prevent it happening again, use low range more often and/or tilt the vehicle to more extreme angles to slop the oil around a bit!

Oops, just seen that you're a RR man, in which case I don't know how to get at it, I was talking Defender. Anyway it's on top of the transfer box so might be a problem with a RR.

Gordon