FJ40 tran will not engage

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Joined
Mar 26, 2011
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Trans will not engage '77FJ
I am a newbie, and from reading the great threads...a little out of my league. My issue...
Bought my first '77 FJ40 and drove home, approx 60 miles, drove GREAT! Died about 1/4 mile from home, believe idle was set low and discovered bad post connection on battery. Battery dead. Pulled to the house, but in 2wd, did not have transfer in neutral. Charged battery, started, but could not shift into reverse, forward gears fine. Rev worked fine with clutch when started. Drove around the block and prior to getting back, the transmission seemed to slip into neutal.
Now, I can shift between any gear or 2wd, 4wdH, or 4wdL but the trans will not engage. Might have gotten taken, or caused the problem myself, by pulling in 2wd.
Any suggestions, or a recommended FJ40 trans mech close to [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]Dallas[/COLOR][/COLOR], TX would be greatly appreciated.
 
I'm a little confused...

Do I understand correctly that you can shift gears in the transmission, but it won't drive?

If so, your transfer case is likely not engaged. Sometimes you need to finess it into 2h, 4h, or 4l. It may require trying to give it a gentle tap towards the side... Let out the clutch and repeat.

The first thing is to try to isolate if the problem is in the transmission or transfer case.

Is there a local mudder who could help? This link might help...North American Clubhouses - Central Region
 
Yes, I can shift gears in the tran, but does not engage, no grind, nothing. Have tried to finess, but no luck there either. I would think this is pointing me towards the the transfrer case?
 
Yes, I can shift gears in the tran, but does not engage, no grind, nothing. Have tried to finess, but no luck there either. I would think this is pointing me towards the the transfrer case?

You say no grind... Is that with the engine running? Is the clutch depressed? Do you get grind if the clutch is not depressed/partially depressed?

I'm starting to think your clutch may have failed. If you've got a stock belhousing you may be able to see what's going on with the clutch by removing the inspection cover.
 
Yeah, sounds like your transfer case is stuck in neutral. I had a similar problem with my BJ60. There was a spacer missing on the linkage that shifts 4H-N-4L, between the clamp on the shaft & the t-case housing. With the spacer gone, the shaft dropped 1/8" down & that was all it took for it to get stuck in 4L, even though the shifter would move freely from 4L to 4H to 2H. I crawled underneath, pushed up on that part of the linkage, & had my wife pull the shifter into 4H...watch your fingers. I installed a nylon washer & no problems since.
When you pulled it home, did you have it in gear?
 
Engine was running and with or without clutch I had no grinding. Actually had it towed to guys in Dallas that state they have worked on several FJ's. I will let you folks know what they come back with. Thanks for all the support.
 
I know this is an old thread, but what was the result?

I ask because I'm facing a similar issue. I just got my FJ40 all buttoned up after replacing all the seals on the drive train, and on my test drive after about 10 miles I slowed to make a u turn and lost all power.

The engine revs (actully runs the best it has) and I can shift through the gears, but there is absolutely nothing coming through the transmission. The transfer goes through all the settings. No noise, no fade, nothing prior to losing power.

I'm in the process of pulling the interior back out to pull the tranny and clutch. From my assessment, its one of two things: the clutch or the transmission output shaft.

Thoughts as I keep digging? Also, how difficult is it to do a full rebuild of the transmission if this shaft is broken?

Thanks,
Kris
 
same problem here... shifts fine no grinding just no go...anybody above with results of what they found out?
 
Well, as it turns out I can be my own worst enemy. I forgot to put the nut on the back of the output shaft that extends for the PTO. This left just enough space for the bearing and spacer to move which disengaged the transfer from the transmission. Fixed it after pulling off the PTO cover and seeing the bearing backed out. Luckily, no other damage - other than to my ego.
 

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