rumbly gearbox

[NewarkNutter]

For some years now I have been of the opinion that my gearbox has some worn bearings.
As I have removed the unit in order to replace the spigot shaft bearing (amongst other things) I decided that some kind of overhaul was probably necessary.
The symptoms are present when in neutral with the engine running, disappearing when the clutch is depressed. Input shaft bearing I hear you cry!
The gearbox is otherwise well mannered and very good, so I didn't want to swap it for one of the two second hand "spare" boxes I have, condition un-known. I have done a fair bit of gearbox work before so even after I had read the Haynes manual and the Bentley manual I was not phased. I resigned myself to dismantle on of the spare gearboxe first and to get the bearing numbers from this, also to use this as a bit of a practice. The problem is that the bearings are practically impossible to get, it would seam. Though Aidan Talbot does list them on his web site. A set of bearings is a fair step of money.
I have now found myself reasoning thus:
Could at least some of the noise have been caused by the almost none existent spigot shaft bearing?
Having removed the bell housing and gear-change housing and inspected the parts there in as closely as possible I find nothing mechanically deficient.
I know from experience that noisy bearings can be noisy bearing for a very long time and need not be anything to worry about. On the other hand I also know that they can also let go at any time without any warning. Having said that so can one that is making no noise!!

I figured that the parts, seals, bearing, gaskets etc. were likely to cost somewhere in the region of £280, judging by the prices Mr. Talbot has mentioned on this forum. I could spend this money and then make an a*** of doing the job myself, quite possibly!!
So what I need to do is nurse my existing gearbox until such a time as I can afford the services of the afore mentioned Mr. Talbot.

To this ends I have done some internet research, and discovered something called Lucas Heavy Duty Oil stabilizer. The claims made for this product are astounding. Does anyone here have any experience of this product? Is it something which is worth a try or something to steer well clear of. It claims not to be the usual slick 50 PTFE block all the oil ways up type of stuff...........

One other thing of course is, I assume that my gearbox is making a noise, but, I have nothing to compare it with, it has made this noise for the last5 years (since I had it) perhaps I'm expecting too much of it??

Andy

[toomanytoys]

"astounding" usually means "too good to be true"..

Let us know how the "cheap" option goes.....

Aidan is honest and does a proper job, his prices are good considering and he has all the VW tools needed to do the job... I have seen some "cheaper" refurbed gearboxes that had things undone with a chisel and 1 bearing replaced, then put back together with sealant not gaskets and the gasket makes up some of the clearances... they dont usually last long...

Speak to Aidan and tell him what code boxes you have.. there may be an arrangement you can come too...

[Ian Hulley]

I'd whole-heartedly endorse what Si says, Aidan's THE man when it comes to these boxes I've had a box done by him and received the bag of used parts he'd taken out along with a very detailed breakdown of how much they cost.

Good luck, Ian.

[lloyd]

I'm of the same opinion of Aidan. He's honest, does the job properly and reason charges very reasonable price. My box was "rebuilt" by someone else who fixed what was broken and it's due for a Aidan refurbish soon.