5spd l300 transmission info

Does your Mitsubishi L300 make a strange noise? Need wheel alignment specs?
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fexlboi
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5spd l300 transmission info

Post by fexlboi »

Some interesting information about the KM145-B manual 5-speed in the l300
In the german-speaking Delica forum there IS a history of gearbox breakdowns on the V5M21/KM145-B manual 5-speed.

That is (they say) because it is originally a 4-speed-box where a fifth gear was added later. So 4th gear is direct, 5th gear (with the highest load on the gearbox) is using the auxiliary shaft.
Usually the bearings of that auxiliary shaft go bang at 200.000 km or later - especially when the clutch is being replaced without replacing the bearing in the flywheel - its a MUST to replace that. Otherwise the shaft will get extra play in the long run, which will destroy the bearings in the gearbox plus the gearbox housing. A guy in above forum needed 3 gearboxes to find out that not the box itself is the problem, but that bearing in the flywheel (which is a kind of external gearbox bearing).

If all gears exept the 4th gear are noisy, especially 3rd and 5th, it is definitly time to have a good look to prevent damage ...

Unfortunately, as the transmission ratio is very short, you drive a lot in 5th gear, especially on highways, to keep the motor revving low. Which will ruin the gearbox faster if you let the engine work in 5th. On any ascent or acceleration I use 4th gear to reduce the load on the gearbox.

The V5M21/KM145-B was (to my knowledge) used in:

Pajero 2.6 petrol,
Hyundai H100, H1 2.5D and TD,
L200 Diesel und maybe TD,
Pajero 2.8 Diesel,
L200 2.4 Petrol,
Pajero 2.4 Petrol,
Galloper TD,
Galloper Diesel,
L040 TD,
Galloper 2.6 Petrol,
L400 2,5D und 2.5TD.

All TDI models (I = Intercooler) have a more modern gearbox.

Unfortunately the L300 has a special gearbox housing, as it is a forward control design. So if you need a complete gearbox they are rare and expensive, and can not be used from other models. Its either this 5speed manual, or the auto box ...
The innards of all the V5M21/KM145-B gearboxes should be the same from the above model list.

One important topic is the right oil for that gearbox.

Mitsubishi recommended Veedol MTF 18-2 in the beginning to make the gearshifts easier (thea were hard to handle in the beginning) - but that one seems to be too thin and gearboxes using this type of oil wear out quickly.

Hyundai (using the same gearbox in some models) says you should use Castrol SMX-S 75W85 GL 4. (which is a very good full sythetic gearbox oil for approc. 12 Euro/litre).
After having a few years of experience with that gearbox, they should know ...

Other full sythetic gearbox oils with that spec 75W90 GL4 or GL4+ should be OK as well
(e.g. Motorex Unisynth SF 75W85 GL4 or Shell Spirax GSX 75W80)

Castrol TAFX 75W90 is a more modern brand of the Veedol MTF 18-2 type, but it is GL4-5 - NEVER! use a GL-5 type oil in thet gearbox as it will ruin the synchronizer rings.
More infos on the website from Motorang:
http://translate.google.com/translate?j ... triebe.htm
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jessef
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Re: 5spd l300 transmission info

Post by jessef »

Very good info Felix. :M

For the life of Turtle, he's been given Castrol SMX-S 75W85 GL4.

When I did the clutch, I had the flywheel machined and new bearing installed.

It almost defeats the purpose of not replacing the bearing when you have it all apart !
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Re: 5spd l300 transmission info

Post by thedjjack »

Almost all 5 speeds are 4 speeds with 5th added later in the tailshafts.

It is not the best design. Replacing the pilot bearing and machining the flywheel should be normal if doing a clutch.

I hoping to find a blown 5 speed to pull apart and figure out if the 5th ratio can be changed and if the guts of other km series transmissions fit these cases.

Cheers
David
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Re: 5spd l300 transmission info

Post by Luna-Sea »

Cool thread Felix,

I found this page,shows some different transmission of the world.
http://www.motivegear.com/tech_info/tra ... guide.html

This one is a huge pdf,probably somewhere in delica downloads too,not sure.
It tells about the differences between the series,might help.
http://www.mitsubishi-motors.kiev.ua/Ma ... 14/22A.pdf
Lots of tech info,there will be a test later! :-) ...

Hey djjack do you thinks these are a worthy investment?
http://www.ns-micro.com/~tuffpans/index.html

Soooooo, if hyundai call the 4d56 engine a D4BH,
there is probably another name they are using
for their rebadged 5-speed transmissions eh?


Right on! 8-)
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Re: 5spd l300 transmission info

Post by thedjjack »

Luna-Sea wrote:Cool thread Felix,

Hey djjack do you thinks these are a worthy investment?
http://www.ns-micro.com/~tuffpans/index.html

Right on! 8-)
When I rebuild my transmission I think I will put one on. Still looking for a blown 5 speed to try the more common parts into (I think they are the same (also you could build a new shifter and use the more common transmission)).
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Re: 5spd l300 transmission info

Post by mcbeaven »

So who in southern bc has rebuilt one of these 5spds? my input/output shaft gears are mawed and i dont want to take it to someone whos going to charge me to learn on it, if you know what i mean..
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Re: 5spd l300 transmission info

Post by thedjjack »

I thing the gears out of a KM145 will fit in the KM147 I think the only difference is the shifter design on the case.

Never had them side by side but think the internals will be similar (KM145 in Ford ranger/exploders and Mazda, and others).

Worth a try...
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Re: 5spd l300 transmission info

Post by mcbeaven »

thats awesome news, my buddy is a massive ford guy and prolly has one of those trannys laying around!
Cheers for that
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Re: 5spd l300 transmission info

Post by thedjjack »

Please post if this works out.......There is a guy in the US that has synchros and bearing kits for the km145 series for under $200.00 who told me he would refund if it did not fit. PM me if you want the contact info (please post photos if you do a rebuild)
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Re: 5spd l300 transmission info

Post by fexlboi »

I recently changed our manual transmission fluid (unknown Brand/Type) to the Synthetic Manual Transmission Gear Lube 75W-90 API GL-4 from Amsoil.
What a difference in terms of smooth shifting. Specially in the morning when everything is still cold. Would recommend it to every 5spd owner.
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Re: 5spd l300 transmission info

Post by MevinSchmevick »

Well I may just be that guy!

I've got the 5spd trans out of my L300 trying to diagnose it. Problems were it was getting stuck in 3rd, and grinding into 4th, also popping out of 4th over bumps. Hence why I got the thing at a steal :) anyways...

So I took the oil pan off and the front cover off of the input shaft and bearing. First of all I should mention the pilot bearing was so shot it had literally disintegrated into it's respective pieces
:( Looking at the tranny, I've found that bearing right behind that cover plate in the bellhousing is shot aswell with about 1-2mm of free play : /

i'm very tempted to get just that bearing, try and do a simply re+re of it. reinstall tranny and hope for the best that it will then run better. I know that best practice is to re bearing and syncro the whole transmission. But honestly I'm hoping for a cheap n easy fix here as I'd rather do the work myself and not have a trans shop do it and charge me several hours.

any thoughts around all that?

Also... How can I confirm this is in fact the KM145 tranny? I really don't want to order the wrong parts.

Thanks guys!
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Re: 5spd l300 transmission info

Post by Firesong »

My 5 speed was always sorta noisy but consistent in everything.
Just revved high on the highway of course.
The clutch... I did once when it needed it and the wasimacallit bearing
once. Seemed to be the weak link.

I would try just the bearing and see if that fixes it. Then if not
spend the money on the rest. They are pretty durable despite reports
to the contrary.

Mine was sold with 200+ and 4-5 years on it... still good to go.
Like I said... clutch... (had me worried time to time)

Firesong
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