Balls - I think my gearbox is acting up!

[subheatadey]

Hi Guys,
I was getting all excited about getting off this year so i had a shakedown yesterday and booted it up the A64, It started acting strange it seemed to loose power and feel tight then loosen off so my mind was racing. Then i had a puncture so i though it may have something to cause it but after starting off again the same thing - the engine is fine good oil pressure and running souper cool. Anyway, i basically coasted back as it got tight and not so tight and i have relieved after 40 miles of getting back home. So I reversed into the drive and took my brother out and guess what it didn't misbehave.
I think reversing it pushed back whatever it was in the gearbox So i think I need to find someone who is knowledgeable on gearboxes and look at it and recondition it - i would appreciate anybody's advice as I am keen to use it a lot this year. I guess if anyone knows of a 'good' gearbox at reasonable cost then that would be an option too but there is always the possibility I could get the same issues - my gearbox is the original box.

So guys any advice or thoughts as to what it maybe - differential? and anyone know of a gearbox or someone i can take it to to recondition it in West/North Yorkshire

 

[sparkywig]

Are you sure it's gearbox related, and not sticking rear brakes?
Reversing it could have freed off the shoes if they were binding.

 

[sunnyside]

Definitely sounds more like brakes binding to me

 

[subheatadey]

I know its weird but I've had sticking brakes and collapsed lines in the past but no the brakes were fine all running cool and free wheeling. I think I will fill it with fresh gearbox oil and look out for a spare gearbox - does anyone know Of a decent gearbox ?

 

[subheatadey]

My current thoughts are the bearing case has collapsed, having dropped the gearbox oil and jacked it up and turn it over by hand in gear I feel there is ball case not behaving!

 

[67panel]

Not a drive shaft joint?

 

[subheatadey]

No, checked the driveshafts they seem to be behaving, I repacked them a couple of years ago. I was talking to a mechanic who said it could be a ball race collapsing. I need to find a decent gearbox so i can swap it over then i can have the fun of pulling it apart and seeing how all them gubbings work

 

[Mechanoid]

If you do go down the road of repairing the gearbox. John Walklett is your man. https://www.facebook.com/vwgearbox/

My gearbox started to sound like a WW2 truck whining away under load. It was a bad output bearing that had also worn the case so it had to be re-machined and a bush fitted. A couple of other bits and new seals put it right again. It wasn't cheap, (what is nowadays!) but it came back looking like a new box. Runs great now.

 

[K@rlos]

If you decide to get your box rebuilt, go to cogbox, Pete knows more about vw boxes than anyone on the planet.

 

['77 westy]

If you decide to get your box rebuilt, go to cogbox, Pete knows more about vw boxes than anyone on the planet.

I thought Pete had retired; I haven’t heard of him for a few years. Do you have an address, contact number etc?

 

[K@rlos]

I thought Pete had retired; I haven’t heard of him for a few years. Do you have an address, contact number etc?

Pete is still going! He doesn’t race his Fiat any more but is still building boxes. He’s literally just finished a beetle gearbox for me which I’m yet to collect. 020 8842 2580

 

[james_stan]

I thought Pete had retired; I haven’t heard of him for a few years. Do you have an address, contact number etc?

Four posts in nine years - that's some going.

 

['77 westy]

Four posts in nine years - that's some going.

Yea, I’m a lurker here, I’m a Late Bay guy as you can guess from my user’s name.

 

[ozziedog]

Yea, I’m a lurker here, I’m a Late Bay guy as you can guess from my user’s name.

We don’t mind a ‘lurker’ here at all. I was just up with a load of LateBay peeps in Lutterworth at their Techenders weekend. First day was great on the Friday drive up, but it all went a bit soggy after about midnight Saturday and didn’t let up until we were nearly back to Bristol at three or so in the afternoon.

Ozziedog,,,,,,,,,nice to hear from you too

 

[subheatadey]

Cheers for the info on the gearbox 'fettlers', as soon as get hold of a replacement off it goes