Did I just break my gearbox?!

[grogan197]

No, I haven't tried driving it yet. So far my best guess is the output shaft is out of alignment with the driveshaft but not too sure on what step to take next. It's definitely quite strange that when rotating one wheel the other goes the opposite direction to what it should be going!

I've got a friend who is an engineer and quite good with gearboxes etc who is going to have a look at it hopefully Monday so I might just hold on till then unless I come up with something else to try.

[the dutch guy]

If you rotate 1 wheel the other wheel should go in the opposite direction, that is how the diff works. But usually you only see this with rear wheel drive and a locked gearbox (in gear, engine off).

[grogan197]

If you rotate 1 wheel the other wheel should go in the opposite direction, that is how the diff works. But usually you only see this with rear wheel drive and a locked gearbox (in gear, engine off).

Yeah, that's what I was expecting one to go clockwise and for the other to turn anti-clockwise. They both turn clockwise now though

[the dutch guy]

that means the diff is probably not happy. my guess is that one of the little gears has locked up the diff and/or skips teeth. driving at this point (putting real power on the gears) would probably break the gearbox apart.

please tell me you have rear wheel drive and can simply service the diff and not have to take the gearbox to bits...

[ake]

Put it on the ground and try to drive it.

[Punto443]

If you rotate 1 wheel the other wheel should go in the opposite direction, that is how the diff works. But usually you only see this with rear wheel drive and a locked gearbox (in gear, engine off).

Yeah, that's what I was expecting one to go clockwise and for the other to turn anti-clockwise. They both turn clockwise now though

Has it got an lsd?

[the dutch guy]

unlikely, lsd's are extremely rare.

[Punto443]

Rare or not, worth checking before condemning.

[grogan197]

that means the diff is probably not happy. my guess is that one of the little gears has locked up the diff and/or skips teeth. driving at this point (putting real power on the gears) would probably break the gearbox apart.

please tell me you have rear wheel drive and can simply service the diff and not have to take the gearbox to bits...

Nope front wheel drive unfortunately. I'm not sure about an LSD it's got the standard MT75 box as far as I know.

Hmm. Wonder what my best option is? I don't want to have to drop the box until I have tried everything else to try and work out what the problem is.

A bit more info that may be relevant is that when I spun the hub nut I spun the wheel backwards as if the van was reversing but it turns out it was in first gear.

[the dutch guy]

set it down and move it back and forward a bit and listen for crunchy noises. if you dont hear anything then make a sharp turn SLOWLY and listen for noises.

[grogan197]

set it down and move it back and forward a bit and listen for crunchy noises. if you dont hear anything then make a sharp turn SLOWLY and listen for noises.

Thanks. By moving it do you mean trying to drive it, or by pushing it in gear?

[the dutch guy]

set it down and move it back and forward a bit and listen for crunchy noises. if you dont hear anything then make a sharp turn SLOWLY and listen for noises.

Thanks. By moving it do you mean trying to drive it, or by pushing it in gear?

good luck pushing in gear.

just drive it and use a feather on the clutch. and listen carefully for any un-transit-like noises from the drivetrain. if you hear any crunching and stop immiedialy and prepare for a gearbox replacement.

[grogan197]

set it down and move it back and forward a bit and listen for crunchy noises. if you dont hear anything then make a sharp turn SLOWLY and listen for noises.

Thanks. By moving it do you mean trying to drive it, or by pushing it in gear?

good luck pushing in gear.

just drive it and use a feather on the clutch. and listen carefully for any un-transit-like noises from the drivetrain. if you hear any crunching and stop immiedialy and prepare for a gearbox replacement.

I was thinking of using my other van to tow it slowly but yes pushing would be a struggle

I've got a friend coming over later so will get him to lend an extra pair of ears for anything unusual!

[the dutch guy]

with towing you dont put force on the gearbox so the test is useless. you should also never tow-start a transit just as a FYI.

[grogan197]

Right, so it turns out the gearbox is all fine. It turns out it was just me being a twat and not understanding how the diff works

I was thinking turning a wheel should meet resistance as it would be trying to turn over the engine but didn't realise it just turns the other wheel the opposite way. So crisis averted!

Thanks everyone for the help and advice.