Hi, friends!
I would like to tell you, a little story with big consequences!
Last year (August), I purchased 6.5 : 1 rock crawler. My ambition, was to be able to fit at least 31". I bought the tyres, as well as Lockright locker for my rear axle. Everything have been installed in same time. I drove with new tyres, rock crawler and locker for about 500 miles, tested all together and the only problem was a little disturbing noice from t- box. It looks, that is normal, because of run in time of gears and e.t. I am a seaman. And than , I went to my next contract and returned back home at 23.01.2012. Since that time, I am running my Jimny with all a.m. upgrades with the only problem- still that unpleasant noice which is coming specially when on 4-th gear. Any way, there is an upcoming offroad competition in Bulgaria and I decide to participate. Because , it is in two stages - long one 70 km and short enclose one, trial, I decide to purchase also suitable tyres for the long one stage. So, I purchased BFGOODRIDGE Mud terrain km2 tyres-215/75/15. After received the new tyres, I decided to test them. And than comes the trouble! On first slop with a lot of mud, my brand new rock crawler T-box, when fill a little bit tension, automatically switch off to neutral(free) position. After that was not possible to put any other direction and my Jimny remain totally dead. After small consult with Mr.Butler, he send me complete instruction, how to dismantle and inspect the T-box. So we did it. We found only one bearing slightly damaged( output to rear axle) and there was not enough clearance between speedo gear and distance bush close to it. Nothing ese was wrong, nothing damaged found, but the T- box was jumping to neutral position and was remaining blocked in that position. So today, we assemble again everything back and I made a test run. Still that disturbing notice, especially when on 4-th gear, was present, but not so loud as before. But unfortunately, again on first slop with a lot of mud, running on 1-st gear on 4 H, again my T- box jump to free position and totally stuck. Then my mechanic came and adjust the lever and together we tried and again and again, when fill a little stronger tension, my Almost new T-box was jumping in neutral free position(typical for Samuraj T-box).
So, considering the following facts:
- fitted new tyres 215/75/15( before with 31" , that problem never happened )
- fitted Richmond Lockright Locker on rear axle.
Why, this is happening? Why my 6.5 :1 rock crawler box is jumping to neutral position? My bigger concern is, that if I can not fix the t-box, than I order for nothing, brand new 4.5" suspension kit from O.R.A.
Please, if anyone, have ay experience to suggest some solution? Presently, I am planning now to fix again my big 31" tyres and to test again with them the t-box in order to check if the problem will be same with them or not. Next step will be again complete dismantling of t- box and trying to find the reason for that jumping under tension to neutral(free) position of t-box lever.
Thank you in advance!
With best regards :
Nick from Bulgaria
