Re-Con Gearboxes

[SolihullBeast]

Currently I am on the search for a re-con LT77S and LT230, and started by searching the forum so see what people recommended, and the overwhelming opinion is ashcroft transmissions, and it is quite obvious they have great rep. However as much as I would like an ashcroft box is is beyond my price range as a scrimping student! So i began trawling the web to see what the options are and have come up with the following;

http://www.freewebs.com/tmtransmissions/

http://www.awtransmissions.co.uk/priceguide.html

http://www.simmonites.com/gearbox.htm

and a little more expensive- http://www.mdengineering.co.uk/index.php?act=category&cat_id=3

Now from what I can see it seems awtransmissions are the cheapest, however I am aware there is a price to pay for quality have to ask two questions

1. why is there such a disparity in price if you compare awtransmissions to ashcroft from the description of the recon process it seems the both provide the same service and give a 12 month warranty, could it be that ashcroft use better parts?

2. Has anyone had any experience with any of the companies mentioned above? I'm keen to know the quality of service before I part with hard earned pennies!

I have a feeling that there must be a reason there is such a big price difference!

Thanks

Sam

[Paul Humphreys]

Some places "recon" a box by just replaceing the broken bits. Others do a proper job.

Paul

[bishbosh]

Wot he said. Some just presure wash them, irrespective of what their advertising says.

[forkrentfitter]

where abouts are you? it may be more cost effective to have yours repaired.

[yella 90]

my friend has re-con box's from awtrans.

his items are spot on, however he only replaces whats required but fits all new bearings from what i was told

hope that helps

dan

[landy andy.]

From my understanding Ashcrofts only change what needs replacing, they say this quite clearly on their web site.

Quote from their site

"we cannot pretend we change every part or we would not be in this business very long but to give you an idea we change approx 40% of pinions, 50% of layshafts and about 60% of reverse and 5th gears"

There is also Aztech Engineering, who are cheaper than Ashcrofts. And talk a good job, but I have not used them. I have used Ashcrofts, and have had problems with them (on a transfer box that leaked, was noisey, and difficult high to low), but they dealt with this well and the replacement is top notch. On Friday I ordered a gearbox from Ashcrofts and hope all to be good first time.

One of the reasons I have choosen Ashcrofts is their location, just in case there are pobs.

Andy

[Maverik]

I got an R380 shorty and tansfer box from AW transmissions. Had very good service etc. Unfortunatly I've only "dry run" the box as yet as still building up my rig, but speaking to Andrew he did exactly what Ashcroft do, but when I was specing the transmission, speaking to the Ashcroft people I kinda got the immpresion they didn't need/want work I could give them so I went with AW instead, he practically bent over backwards to accomadate me.

*Yet to see how the box gets on!! but its sounds alright from some no load tests.

Mav

[Hybrid_From_Hell]

Blew my box apart, and Dave at Ashcroft did me a recon one.

Frankly if he hadn't have been able to help I would have waited.

And, if he had been unable to do one then I would have strugled to trust antyone else.

With me + Near 280 BHP and a Ashcroft Box I doubt I'll have a warrnaty claim

Price isn't everything, back up service is when the odd problems occur, which they

always will in life irrespective how much effort goes into the product

Nige

[Aragorn]

on the other hand though, i fail to believe that no-one else in the country can build boxes as well as dave and provide an equivalent service...

Lack of choice leads to a monopolised market which only hurts our pockets at the end of the day.

[Hybrid_From_Hell]

There are a number of gearbox reCON firms I can think of.

Prob is to do it well isn't chap, needs skills, parts and attitude.

Sadly many of the other ReCON builders have the attitude, but its the wrong one

Monopoly maybe - until someone else comes along to knock ashcrofts off their perch, or unless ashcrofts lose the plot

and start to drop quality then I vote with my wallet.

I do not expect cheapest as the best option - this already throws many people into a quandry

So yes I agree ashcrofts may have a monopoly - prob is this has been earnt over time, and even

more difficult it has to be mainatained as bad news can travel like lightening, so a monoploy can be

a pressure and well as a blessing

Nige

[Aragorn]

Ye, i dont dispute the reputation appears to be well deserved, but its always a good idea to seek out other firms and get decent reviews of what their work is like, as it gives more choice.

The problem is the level of expense involved usually means people will spend a bit extra and go for the "safe" option, rather than take a risk with a less well known company.

A thread like this with reviews of other companies is imo invaluable in helping someone take that choice, but it really doesnt benefit from a million posts saying "use ashcrofts", as everyone (including the OP) knows of their reputation already.

[SolihullBeast]

I agree with the last comment from aragorn, I have learnt from a certain amount of experience that the cheapest is more often then not, the cheapest for a good reason! And it is quite clear by talking to anyone that ashcrofts are the best, and as it has been said there position at the top of the trade is well deserved, and there is nothing I would like more than to go for an ashcroft box, however finances restrict me from doing this, hence my interest in other firms, good to hear some feedback about awtransmissions, I am very keen to go for one of there boxes based on what I have heard, and I know I will be paying for a re-con NOT a re-build, thanks to all for your input

Sam

[nicks90]

i know i'm a bit late into this topic - but my personal opinion is find a good landrover specialist and get them to repair/recon your gearbox.

Do not under estimate the skill and diligence and workmanship of your local enthusiastic landrover specialist!

you might be pleasantly surprised at how cheap it will be and it is probably much more convenient as they will be a local garage. Plus they will know how to rebuild a box just as well as any transmission specialist, as they have probably rebuilt many boxes on their own motors and for other customers. The knowledge a good specialist garage has gathered over time is worth its weight in gold and should be utilised to a)keep them in business, b) save you money.

I have had 2 gearboxes rebuilt by dewsbury 4x4 - a series 2a box and a disco lt77 box.

Both were proper knackered when i ripped them out and dropped them off, both were in superb condition when i got them back. In both cases they gave me a list of all the parts replaced and a full warranty on the rebuild. Plus they were done for HALF THE PRICE of some of the leading companies mentioned earlier in the thread. The disco the lt went back into got scrapped due to rot after about 20k miles so cannot comment on its longevity, however the s2a gearbox is still going strong 12 years after the rebuild in the hands of its new owner.

nick

[M&S]

Well said Nick!

I think that it is unfair to say that "x" is the best, they may have the best reputation and be the best known, but there are plenty of other equally competent folk out there.

This is where, I think, being part of a local club pays dividends. I often ask the guys in our club for recommendations. Many have owned Landys for most of their life, and know which "back street specialist" to use for which job. Saves a fortune, and I mean a fortune, on jobs I can't do myself.

[Bowie69]

Do not under estimate the skill and diligence and workmanship of your local enthusiastic landrover specialist!

Agreed, I saved over £250 by getting my LT230 rebuilt locally rather than exchanging it at Ashcrofts, and no problems or leaks to speak of, and as quiet as the Borg Warner box I pulled out. I am rural so the number of land rovers they have had through there is the hundreds... the guy offered me a kit, spoke me through the rebuild and then I decided to hand it over for them to do instead, partly due to time, partly hassle

They were also only 5 mins down the road, which means I get a warm glow from supporting a local business, *AND* save money in the process.

Don't get me wrong, I am sure Ashcroft do a fantastic job, but if I can use local firms I will always try to, assuming the quality is up to snuff

[wozza35]

Permenant can you let me know who did your t box as i need mine doing ? and Ashcrofts arent what they are cracked up to be either my mate had to have 4 boxes fitted by Devon before they got one that worked and the first one didnt even have a reverse gear !!!

[Bowie69]

Gearchange @ Burtle

[Gruntfuttock]

Gearchange @ Burtle

I had a replacement from Beaumonts and it was very noisy, worse than the one I took out. I had it replaced with an Ashcroft, its much better.

Part of this could be explained be the photo on this page

http://www.4x4gearboxes.co.uk/profile.htm

Its not a good idea to have a bench grinder on the same bench as the one with a stripped gear box. But what do I know!

Gravity is a myth - the earth sucks!!!

[SolihullBeast]

Well I have read all the various comments and as advised tried my local land rover specialist, they asked for almost double the price of most other places, and after several phone calls I realised that they do not do it in house either, they send them away, now fair enough, but as I have stressed money is a factor, so in light of this I have now placed my order with AW transmission, spoken to a fella there who seems to be genuine and knows his stuff, so I let you all know how it goes!

Sam

[Def V8 90]

Hi

I have just done the first run with my ashcroft - recon'd LT85 / LT230, and (yes, early days!!) am absolutely delighted with it. As has been said before, reputations are hard to earn and easy to lose. Yes, everyone will know a situation where there was a problem, we are dealing with 60's technology, and there are sometimes things that go wrong, but the reassuring thing is the after-sales service you get from Ashcroft, I had a P38a that had a warranty rebuild of gearbox, worked fine for a while then "popgrindbang"! I was struggling for weeks without a vehicle as they(not ashcroft) argued the toss about a new recon box. I doubt this would happen with Ashcroft from what I hear.

Incidentally I have a LT77 (not an "s", but F suffix so not the problematic type) that came out to make way for the LT85 - it had apparently just been refurb'd when I bought the 90 2 years ago, so may buy you some time if you need to save up for an ashcroft recon (it comes complete with LT230 t/f box and both have never given a hint of a problem) - yours for not many notes if you want it?

Good luck, hope the decision you end up making is a good-un!

VBW

GG

[rusty_wingnut]

I do my own. Did a series box when I was at college and it's still working now - approaching 10years service.

I will do my R380 when the time comes.

[pedro]

anybody used this guy?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/LAND-ROVER-R380-300-TDI-DISCOVERY-DEFENDER-GEARBOX-/110575232114?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM

he insists he FULLY recons the gearbox and uses cross drilled input shafts. Also included 12month warranty, £375!

[Aragorn]

The term "fully" is pretty meaningless though.

Its not possible to replace every single internal component for the money hes selling the entire box for, so they'll do what ashcroft and everyone else does, which is strip it down, measure everything and only replace the parts that are worn past tolerances.

Thats the whole point of reconditioning something.

If you want a new gearbox, you need to buy a new gearbox.

I'm with rusty_wingnut and am going to do it myself. I figure that yes, i'll have to spend out and buy a DTI and puller etc, but the cost of two recon boxes (ie R380 and LT230) buys a LOT of tools, and the tools will remain in my collection afterwards, whereas the money spent on the recon box will just vanish under the truck. If i happen to blow the tranny or whatever in years to come, then subsequent rebuilds will only cost the parts.

The LT230 is already in bits, just waiting until i get paid so i can buy the tools and replacement bearings etc.

[SolihullBeast]

Well here is an update, I dropped the boxes of at AW transmissions last saturday, the owner is a really helpful guy, and immediately removed both inspection plates on the lt230 and explained to me (I am not familiar with the internals) what exactly was wrong, and what parts would be replaced. I opted for a recon and this essentially as mentioned afore on this thread involves replacement of all seals, gaskets, bearings(timkin I was pleased to see!), flanges, and repair/replacement of any worn/ broken or faulty items, and many other standard replacement internal components that I cannot remember. He showed me all the kit used in the recon and that the parts were of good quality and was helpful in answering my questions.

So under a week later the shiny reconditioned units arrived on a pallet with a 12 month warranty, amusingly the 10p coin which was found jammed in the LT77 remote was also returned! Prior to their arrival the owner phoned me to tell me what he had done/found and give me the postal tracking code. So far so good, really chuffed with the service, he couldn't have been more helpful, very easy to get hold of, and opened the workshop on a Saturday to accommodate for my arrival, so as far as the service is concerned I am tempted to say that it must be up there with ashcroft, but I am yet to fit the boxes, however when I do I will update. But at the present I am a happy man

Sam

[need4speed]

Sounds like the guy provides a good service along with a good attitude.

Im watching this one with interest.. Loving the return of the 10p

Phil