4 Low grinding problem

[alpendubber]

I just bought an 85 FJ60. I just took it wheeling for the first time and noticed a problem that I have not run into before. When I have it in 4 Low it seems to work fine until I really get on it. It starts making a gear lash sound when under load up hill. Also, when decending steep areas it acts like it make be jumping a couple of teeth in the transfer case. So, other than that 4 high/ 2wd works fine. I thought it may not be engaged all the way but it is, that's what it acts like. Has anybody ever had a similar problem?

 

[Tinker]

It's easy to see if it's engaging fully. Crawl underneath, make a mark on the case that lines up with the clamp on the HI/LO shaft & have someone shift from 4HI to 4LO, & make another mark on the case. Remove the linkage rod & shift it back & forth with Vice-Grips. If you still line up with your original marks, it's shifting OK.

More than likely you have the weak detent spring(s), which is easy to fix. Search on this board - there's more than one thread.

 

[alpendubber]

Thanks, I will check that. I see you are from Larkspur. I am originally from south of Franktown. I now live in Glenwood Springs. Cool pic.

 

[Heartworm]

shift boot

I have the same problem and there is at least one thread dealing with it. Several people have found that the lower rubber shifter boot (the one that you do not see because it is under the floor) gets stiff with age. Apparently, the quick fix is to cut away the offending area with a knife. I have yet to try it because I guess that I am basically lazy. Hope it works.

 

[ROCKCLMBR 7]

Hey, i bet i can pinpoint your problem for you. My best friend had a 60 last year that exhibited the EXACT problem you are describing to the T! I am an avid cruiser enthusiast and one hell of an accomplished wrench and he and i both went on for the better part of a year thinking his low range was trashed cause of all the grinding especially during hill climbs. Turns out that is was a broken motor mount that when in low range with all that torque, the engine actually moved up high enough for the fan to hit the fan shroud and cause the problem you are describing. A motor mount from Spector, and 20 minutes with a jack and the problem was fixed. IMO if you have a particularly leaky, greasy engine, replace both mounts cause oil softens the rubber and allows the mounts to tear under engine load. Hope this helps!
Matt Coleman

 

[Kavik]

My broken motor mount was causing my throttle to stick open when the motor "leaned" away from the fire wall. Scary stuff. Oh yeah, the fan beat the hell out of the shroud too.

Good luck!

 

[roscoFJ73]

I just bought an 85 FJ60. I just took it wheeling for the first time and noticed a problem that I have not run into before. When I have it in 4 Low it seems to work fine until I really get on it. It starts making a gear lash sound when under load up hill. Also, when decending steep areas it acts like it make be jumping a couple of teeth in the transfer case. So, other than that 4 high/ 2wd works fine. I thought it may not be engaged all the way but it is, that's what it acts like. Has anybody ever had a similar problem?

I had a problem in both my 5 speeds. Its a low down groaning noise maybe like a file on steel.
It wasnt the engine mounts ,radiator fan or the t/case because all these things were fine and the t/case was rebuilt.
Mine only did it when the gearbox was hot after wheeling in low 4 for a while.

I think it was main bearings in the gearbox allowing some some end to end float in the shafts.
The present gearbox is getting rebuilt right now so Ill be keen to see if it has gone

I also had a little russian 4wd once and it did the same thing even after a rebuild

 

[alpendubber]

Thanks for all the info everyone. I forgot to mention that when it is making this noise the cruiser does not move. 4 low works fine when not under load, but does not move under load. I have read about the motor mount issue and I ruled it out because it doesn't explain why it seems to "jump" a tooth or two while driving down steep inclines, the motor would not be torqued in this case.

 

[dd113]

Rear tranny mount; possible ft rhs mm