Discovery II
MANUAL GEARBOX - R380
DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION
37-7
Description
General
The R380 all synchromesh gearbox has five forward speeds and reverse and is mounted in line with the engine. The
clutch bell housing is bolted to the front of the gearbox and the transfer box is mounted at the rear.
Gearbox casings
Gearbox casings consist of a front cover, gearcase, centre plate and extension housing. All casings with the exception
of the front cover are located to each other by dowels and sealed. Gearbox filler/level and drain plugs are located in
the gearcase.
Reverse lamp switch
A reverse lamp switch is inserted into the extension housing. Selection of reverse gear will close the switch allowing
current from fuse 25 to flow through the switch to illuminate the reverse lamps. The switch also provides a feed to the
BCU and the electrochromic automatic interior mirror - if fitted; the mirror moving from the dimmed position if
applicable.
Gearchange assembly
The gearchange assembly is bolted to the top of the gearcase, the upper gear lever being attached to the lower gear
lever by means of a clamp bolt. The lower gear lever ball is housed in a Railko bush inserted in the gear change
housing, the end of the lever locating in the selector yoke which is attached to the end of the selector shaft. Bias
springs provide a positive return of the gear lever to the neutral position with selection of 1st/2nd and 5th/reverse gears
being against bias spring pressure. Spring loaded detent balls fitted in the centre plate locate in grooves in the selector
shaft to provide positive gear and neutral selection.
Lubrication
Lubrication is by an oil pump located in the extension housing and driven by the layshaft with additional lubrication
being provided by splash. The pump directs oil via a filter and internal drillings in the output shaft to lubricate the
components. On non UK and non European models, provision for oil cooling is by means of a thermostat housed in
a cover bolted to the side of the extension housing. The cover incorporates tappings for connections to an oil cooler.
On UK and European models, the thermostat and cover are replaced by an oil by-pass block.
Internal pressures produced within the gearbox are vented to atmosphere via a plastic breather pipe. The pipe is
attached to the extension housing and is routed across the top of the gearcase and secured at the open end by a clip
attached to the engine cylinder block.
Selector shaft and forks
Selector forks for 1st/2nd, 3rd/4th and 5th/reverse gears are located on a single selector shaft; the 1st/2nd and 3rd/
4th selector forks are inside the main gearcase whilst the 5th/reverse selector fork is inside the extension housing.
Each of the selector forks locates inside its corresponding synchromesh hub.
Synchromesh assemblies
Each synchromesh assembly is located on the output shaft adjacent to its corresponding gears and comprises a
synchromesh ring, hub, slippers and sleeve. The hubs and slippers are retained in the sleeves by means of spring
clips. 1st/2nd and 3rd synchromesh assemblies are fitted with double synchromesh rings whilst 4th, 5th and reverse
assemblies are fitted with single rings.
The gear train
The gear train comprises an input shaft, output shaft, layshaft and reverse idler shaft together with their appropriate
gears and synchromesh assemblies.
The gear train input shaft, output shaft and layshaft are supported by taper roller bearings with all gears on the input
and output shafts running on caged needle roller bearings. Layshaft gears are integral with the shaft with the
exception of reverse/5th gears which are splined to the shaft and retained with a nut. 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th gears are
shot peened to improve durability. The reverse idler shaft and gear are supported in the centre plate by a caged
needle roller bearing. End-float of the output shaft and layshaft is controlled by selective shims located in the centre
plate whilst reverse idler shaft end-float is controlled by a selective shim located behind reverse gear.
