Series 2a gearbox strip down, advice needed

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atkinsal

New Member
Posts
7
Location
Winchester
Hi all
Wonder if some wise folks can help.
I’ve a 2a SWB, 3.5 v8 with the ashcroft high ratio box that I fitted about 20 years ago.
Box has been ok in high ratio but has always sounded like a bag of rattling bolts when in low ratio which I’ve just ignored on the assumption that at some point it’ll need a full rebuild. Which it now does.
The box went bang a couple of weeks back. Loud knocking sound followed by no ability to move when in gear and some nasty crunching sounds. After removing and stripping the box over the weekend the culprit is a snapped layshaft, seems the rear layshaft bearing failed - as per photos.
Whilst I’ve got the box in bits I’ve decided to replace all the bearings but I’m not sure about the rest of gears. They all look ok. I’m still to check the end float on 2nd and 3rd gear so. I was hoping to post some photos on here over the next week to get views from folk whether they seem ok.

Couple of immediate questions.
The layshaft rear bearing: I can’t remove the shell of the rear layshaft bearing. I’ve tried the heat and hit casing option but it’s not budging. I did read you can drill holes in the casing and drive out. Anyone done that? I think its been made worse by the bearing failing.

I’m also a bit worried about the casing where the end of the shaft / bearing sits. There is a gouge out of the case where the bearing failed. I’m worried that will grind on the new layshaft end / new bearing. I thought I might try to gently grind it down to make it smooth. Any thoughts?

The transfer box. As above, its an Ashcroft HRT box.
The bearings seem pretty smooth. I’ve removed the intermediate gear, all seems fine.
There is a lot of play in the low ratio gear, proper wobble. I think this is ok but anyone have a view (as per vid below). There is also play / end float in the output shaft.
Ideally I’d like to strip this down but it looks pretty challenging to disassemble so I thought if it all looks ok I'd leave it be.
Anyone have a view on whether this looks / sounds within tolerance.
Here are the videos showing the play.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/OIBbxjuCp9s
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/KDYgjKKLz-8
Many thanks

layshaft.jpg
shell bearing.jpg



layshaft.jpg shell bearing.jpg
 
Put "series gearbox rebuild" into youtube, two particularly good ones on there by steamwally and croker. For S3 boxes but more or less all of it still applies to your box.
 
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I recently bought a dremel 3000/4000 with toolkit the tools are long lasting I used it to remove an outer bearing track on front wheel hub , you can use that to get the bearing out sometimes the bearings are loctited in to stop them turning,
The play on video looks a bit excessive good idea to dismantle and see wear and I if you can find shaft dims and mic up to measure any wear
As long as gouging not proud should be ok , test with end of steel rule
I’ve done 2 S3 boxes and not too complicated but the green bible manual very informative , that and take lots pics / notes as you go
http://www.retroanaconda.com/landrover/2010/03/series-iii-workshop-manual/
 
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If you've got a welder, try running a small bead of weld on the inside of the outer bearing race, as the weld cools it shrinks the race slightly and usually drops out...
 
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