Gearbox.... fixed or rebuild??

[stowiethechamp]

Hi All
Wonder if I could tap all you mechanical experts for advice.
Gearbox on my 1.6 diesel, four speed. Pops out of fourth and has now for over a year. Have had a couple of mechanics look at the linkage so I know its not an easy job. Will involve taking the gearbox out and rebuilding it. I've had a quote from VW Heritage which comes in at around 1200 quid for a new gearbox, but that seems quite a lot to me.
Have heard about Aiden Talbot... do you think that would be a better course of action? I don't mind paying for a complete rebuild but 1200 seems a lot just to buy it, let alone the labour involved of removing, and replacing.
Thanks in advance for your advice.
Steve

[Ian Hulley]

Have you removed the drain plug ? AFTER having checked you can undo the filler plug obviously The magnet will tell you what free-range bits of gearbox are wandering round.

Ian

[stowiethechamp]

Hi Ian
Thanks for the super-quick reply. Could you explain that further please? Complete novice here..... is this something I can do myself??? Are you suggesting there could be something interfering with it staying in fourth???

[Ian Hulley]

On the drain plug there is a magnet, magnetic debris sticks to that and when you remove the bung (using a 17mm allen key or some such contraption because it's quite tricky to get to on a petrol waterboxer ... I cannot comment on a d****l ) you will hopefully just have a few tiny silver 'filings' these are the result of missed gears and other floaters. However on a box with major issues quite often bearing components (bits of roller cage, rollers, ball bearings etc ect) are stuck on the magnet telling a gearbox guru such as Aidan what he can expect to find broken in the gear train. e.g. 5mm ball bearings come from a selector shaft bearing being broken up.

ALWAYS check you can undo the fill plug BEFORE undoing the drain plug .... don't even ask why

Ian

[stowiethechamp]

Thanks again Ian. I have left a message for Aiden. Are we agreed that 1200 quid from Heritage seems a lot for a new one if it could possibly be fixed???

[weldore]

You could buy another van with a good gearbox for that price

[Ian Hulley]

Are we agreed that 1200 quid from Heritage seems a lot for a new one if it could possibly be fixed???

I can only say that a full, proper rebuild will be around the £800 mark ... but at least you'll have peace of mind knowing exactly what has been done.

Buying an unkown, formerly appreciated one would be far cheaper BUT obviously you don't have the same peace of mind.

Ian