NP 231 with Tera Low Lubrication?

storeman

storeman

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Joined
Mar 8, 2007
Location
Whiteville nc
I am going to change fluid soon. First since
Low range install . Been running ATF4
Thinking about same thing plus 10 to 20 %
Hi Tach . Why u say i run it in my MV 3550
For much improved shifting and I
Run it in my front diff to keep the Spartin
Locker noise down i thought kt my help the
life of the Tera Low any thoughts?
 
With the issues that are possible with the planetaries in a Tera Low 231, I would run the recommended fluid just in case you have an issue that could be warrantied. ATF +4 is a great choice in my opinion.
 
Just avoid high RPMs with the Terra Low. I would not even drive around on the trails in 4 low unless absolutley neccessary. The brass bushing in the planetries just will not hold up. I am not sure why they would not look at a different material. I went through 4 or them and they all had the exact same problem.
 
89wrangler said:
Just avoid high RPMs with the Terra Low. I would not even drive around on the trails in 4 low unless absolutley neccessary. The brass bushing in the planetries just will not hold up. I am not sure why they would not look at a different material. I went through 4 or them and they all had the exact same problem.
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Just avoid high RPMs

That is about impossible sometimes. I just Got back from Harlan, it rained a lot and the hills are steep

I was concerned at first as this was my first real test for the Tera Low . Than I got into wheeling and rock crawling and forgot

about it . Several times on the slick muddy hill climbs I hit Redline in 3rd gear Low Range . Not my favorite kind of off roading

but when your buds are at the top looking down at you, What you going to do. I was considering a Atlas but cheeped out

and went with the Tera. I will Probably regret that decision, but it want be the first . I pretty much have accepted there is a

Atlas 4.30 in my future.
 
storeman said:
Just avoid high RPMs

That is about impossible sometimes. I just Got back from Harlan, it rained a lot and the hills are steep

I was concerned at first as this was my first real test for the Tera Low . Than I got into wheeling and rock crawling and forgot

about it . Several times on the slick muddy hill climbs I hit Redline in 3rd gear Low Range . Not my favorite kind of off roading

but when your buds are at the top looking down at you, What you going to do. I was considering a Atlas but cheeped out

and went with the Tera. I will Probably regret that decision, but it want be the first . I pretty much have accepted there is a

Atlas 4.30 in my future.
Click to expand...

I hear exactly what you are saying. It was Harlan where 3 of mine bit the dust, the other was Windrock. Looking back, I would ask myself maybe I should have went with first or second gear in high range vs 3 gear in low range? Who knows. There is also the other two factors that may have played a factor as well, 42" Iroks and V8. I am not knocking the terra as I actually liked mine and I will say that Terra stood behind each one I sent back. Doug at Tera and I have had a lot of conversations.
 
89wrangler said:
I hear exactly what you are saying. It was Harlan where 3 of mine bit the dust, the other was Windrock. Looking back, I would ask myself maybe I should have went with first or second gear in high range vs 3 gear in low range? Who knows. There is also the other two factors that may have played a factor as well, 42" Iroks and V8. I am not knocking the terra as I actually liked mine and I will say that Terra stood behind each one I sent back. Doug at Tera and I have had a lot of conversations.
Click to expand...


I hope you are right. Maybe my Inline 6 and 33" Tires will let it live a while. It's weird on paper 3rd Low and 1st High are pretty close but it does not feel that way
on the ground. 1st would poop out sooner on hill climbs seemed to me any way. When yours let go did it take out anything else like the outer case?
I changed the fluid after work today and it looked fine. I did add 20% Hi Tach to the ATF. It made such a difference in my NV3550 transmission shifting it was amazing no more crunch crunch when going through the gears. I took the rear diff cover off while I had it on the lift. I was suspect that my OX cable was not set up
just right. Well it is a good thing I did because I found the bolts that hold the side of the locker the part that slides to lock the axles were all finger loose if they came out a little more they would have hit the Main Bearing Cap and to top that off I found this which I will start another thread about. Thanks for your Time and sharing your experience's with the Tera Low
 

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storeman said:
I hope you are right. Maybe my Inline 6 and 33" Tires will let it live a while. It's weird on paper 3rd Low and 1st High are pretty close but it does not feel that way
on the ground. 1st would poop out sooner on hill climbs seemed to me any way. When yours let go did it take out anything else like the outer case?
Thanks for your Time and sharing your experience's with the Tera Low
Click to expand...

No it did not take anything else out. Once the planetary bushings go the t case will make one awful racket that sounds like the chain is about to come out of the case. If you change the fluid and don't have any brass particals or shavings in the fluid all should be good. Sounds like the additive you put in darn sure can't hurt anything and hopefully will help some. Like I said, I don't know if it is the heat build up or the stress applied to them that makes them fail.
 
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