RR drivetrain question

[Baj]

I am looking at buying a LWT Landy with, amongst other things, an LT77 gearbox and RR axles.
When giving it a test run, I noticed that when changing gear badly (I am unused to this 5 speed lark) there was quite a clonk from the back sounding like there is quite a bit of play in the driveshafts (or prop).
How normal is this. Is it minor or an indicator of something expensive?
It passed an mot last week if that is of any relevance.

[Range Rover Blues]

The LT77 is a bit of a dog when it's worn but the noise you describe sounds like excess play in the diff or hlafshafts.  Not MOT testable though.  Does it whine at speed, does it roll away when you put the handbrake on?

It won't suddenly break though and is easily fixed if it is this, check from underneath how much the prop will turn before the car moves (handbrake off).

[Baj]

Its definately coming from the rear half of the truck.
As I was pootling round a field I didnt get a good speed up but it seems quieter than my 4 speed (which is pretty quiet for an LR gearbox).

When you say roll away, I assume you mean continually and not the small loll that they normally do?

How do I check the play without getting run over? :)

[extreme90]

When you say roll away, I assume you mean continually and not the small loll that they normally do?

How do I check the play without getting run over?

he means when you put the handbreak on, it should roll a little bit a inch at the most

to check the play...park on level ground, chock the wheels to be on the safe side, take it out of gear and let the handbreak off, and then the mucky part!  scramble underneath and turn the rear propshaft to see how much play there is, there is some play on and land rover.....even new  :lol:  but common sense tells you if there is too much play

i can turn mine roughly 20-30 degree's....but i tend to check the play with the handbreak on....makes me feel better cuz i cant move it  :lol:

danny

[clbarclay]

The early transphere box on the back of the gearbox used gears, which have a lot of back lash anyway, which results in clonking with sudden changes in input.

From about 1990 on they used chain drive in the transfere box which has far less back lash.