The Model SS Roamer Drive was introduced in 2004. Over 1000 of these units are in service worldwide and are giving outstanding reliability.The shift lever is fitted to the R.H. side of the transmission tunnel in the same way as older designs of Series overdrive.
Exposed lever components and trim are made of stainless steel. A dipstick assembly is provided to monitor transfer case oil level. This dipstick screws into the oil filler aperture and a convenient alternative filler plug is provided in a new top cover plate.The SS Roamer Drive has little in common with earlier designs of overdrive for classic Land Rovers. The Roamer Drive is the only Series overdrive to use epicyclical gearing and share oil with the transfer case. Other earlier designs tend to become very noisy at higher mileage, require constant maintenance, and suffer from weak internal couplings.
Applications:
This SS Roamer Drive will fit all Land Rover Series I, II, IIA and III, four and six cylinder models, with the exception of those fitted with one ton transfer cases. It will also not fit the Stage 1 V8 model.On six cylinder models, the ‘L’ bracket to which the lever mounts must be extended forward by 50mm.The open architecture design of the current model SS has improved cooling oil flow and is capable of working well in Series vehicles equipped with the later 200 Tdi engines and other engine transplants.IMPORTANT NOTE: If you use the SS Roamer Drive with a non-standard engine the DX-COV oil cooling transfer case cover MUST be fitted.
DRIVING WITH AN SS Roamer Drive to engage the Roamer Drive when on the highway waits until you are travelling at about 50 mph (80 kph) in fourth gear. Depress the clutch and move the actuating lever forward exactly as you would when changing gear. When the clutch is released the engine RPM will drop by 28% and the noise level in the cab of the Land Rover will drop significantly.
As changing traffic and gradient dictate, you can engage and disengage the Roamer Drive. You will find the Roamer Drive very useful as a splitter gear between normal third and normal fourth.
This allows you to climb long hills where normal fourth would be too high and normal third too low. You cannot damage a Roamer Drive by using it in all gears.
In off-road conditions, when driving in low range, the Roamer Drive is useful for raising the ratios making it unnecessary to engage and disengage the high range lever.
Driving a Land Rover with a Roamer Drive is a pleasant experience as it is possible to have a normal conversation at relatively high motoring speeds.
The inclination to drive faster with the Roamer Drive negates considerable fuel savings to be had if one retains one’s original driving patterns. Our experience shows that drivers who use the Roamer Drive at moderate speeds will save up to 15% on their fuel costs. Long-term reduction in wear and tear of engine and drive line components is also considerable. Bear this in mind and your Roamer Drive will pay for itself quickly.
OILS FOR USE IN GLOBAL ROAMER MODEL SS 0VERDRIVES
The Global Roamer Overdrive has bronze internal components. For this reason you must be very selective about which oil you put in your transfer case when the overdrive is installed. As specified in the installation instructions, oils rated API-GL4 are required.
Since your Series I, II or III Land Rover was built, there have been extensive developments in automotive lubricants and not all modern oils are suitable replacements for the original EP90 and EP75w 90 oils originally specified. The more modern specification API-GL3 and API-GL4 are suitable but sometimes difficult to find in garage forecourts.
CASTROL SYNTRANS MULTIVEHICLE 75-90 GL4 Fully Synthetic MTF is a synthetic oil suitable for use in the transfer case of a classic Land Rover
Equivalent API-GL4 Manual Transmission Fluids are:
AMSOL Synthetic Manual Transmission Fluid MTF GL4
MORRIS LUBRICANTS Lodextrol MTF GL4
REDLINE MTL 70-80 GL4 Gear oil
SMITH AND ALLEN 75w-80 Fully Synthetic Gear Oil GL4
OTHER API-GL4 oils
Below is a list of alternative API-GL4 oils. Some brands use different designations in different countries. Some brands may not be available in your locality. There will be other API GL4 oils available to you but check with the vendors that their oil is suitable for use in manual gearboxes with bronze and brass components. (In technical terms this means they must pass a copper corrosion test of 3 hours at 121 deg C with a 1A grade.) Standard API GL4 mineral oils are suitable for vehicles with standard engines. Synthetic and Semi-synthetic API GL4 oils may offer better performance with higher performance replacement engines such as the 200Tdi.
CALTEX Caltex Thuban GL4 ESSO Esso gear oil GP90 GL4
FUCHS Titan Supergear 75w85 GL4 GULF GulfGear SAE 80-90 EP GL4
MOBIL Mobillube XHP 75-90 GL4 PENRITE Manual gear oil 80 75w80 GL4
PENZOIL Penzoil EP Gear GL4 SHELL SPIRAX S3G API GL4
WARNING ABOUT API GL5 OILS
ANY OIL WHICH MEETS API- GL5 SPECIFICATION IS A HYPOID AXLE OIL AND MUST NOT BE USED IN THE SERIES TRANSFER CASE (OR GEARBOX FOR THAT MATTER).
API-GL5 oils are formulated specifically for hypoid axles and are often laced with chemicals that are corrosive to copper based alloys. Use of API GL5 oils in the transfer case may cause corrosion of thrust washers and synchromesh parts. This will shorten the life of the overdrive and void the warranty.
If it says ‘API GL5 Hypoid Gear Oil’ or on the label DO NOT use it in the transfer case if our overdrive is installed. This is an axle oil.
If the product claims to cover both GL5 and GL4 specifications it is an axle oil and NOT a suitable lubricant in overdrives.
If there is no API designation on the oil don’t take any chances as it may be very corrosive. ‘Limited Slip’ type oils are also totally unsuitable.
Beware the Auto Shop salesman who claims API GL5 is a ‘better’ oil than an APIGL4. This may be the case in an axle but it is certainly not the case in an automotive gearbox.
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