Jumping out of first

[Mon Ami Mate]

Having a recurring problem with my SIII jumping out of first gear. Tends to do it when using engine braking, which isn't ideal because it normally happens when she's up to her axles and you don't really want to be on the brakes. Have discovered that it's happening in four and two wheel drive, high and low range. Any ideas?

[Tommy Saxondale]

my old one used to bounce out of overdrive and find a false neutral whilst on the overrun i.e. when descending a big hill in low box! that was hairy! a lot of the old series used to bounce out of gear usually second i think, im sorry i cant offer any explanation as to why it may happen or indeed how to fix it but i am aware its fairly common!

[andyb66]

The first and to some degree the second gear syncros take a lot of grief in an SIII box and then to wear fairly quickly.

A worn syncro or a broken dedent spring (you'll find parts of the spring in the oil if you drain it) will give the symtoms you describe.

[Redarress]

With a school mate we repaired a ex WD LR Ser2(I think) that was jumping out of reverse by replacing the spring and ball bearing in the selector box. The ballbearing used in the repair started its life as the "puck" from the Crossfire game. We just cut off the plastic surrounding the "puck" and fitted it into the selector box !