H-N-L Shifter stuck.. WD40 2x later.. no luck

[40thSagePearl]

Little update again.. been reading up here on the forum that the ABS and CDL light should appear when the truck is put into LO .. mine doesnt but I know the ABS light bulb works because it illuminates when the key is turned before starting the truck.. will need to clean some sensors underneath for all Diff locks and will report back..

 

[kevsta]

when I got mine, Hi Low would barely move, and the CDL didn't operate when you did force it into Low.

I had to operate it 20 or 30 times a day for several weeks before finally the CDL operated. I could literally only do it that much at a time because I had to get onto loose dirt, (in case it locked on and and wouldn't release) and then actually whack the thing back and forth that many times, I mean it was really stiff.

Eventually at about the 2 week point the CDL light stopped flashing and engaged, (it should flash when put in low, and then stay on when it engages - a second or 2 sometimes) and then over the next half an hour, first the (not working) rear locker actuator fixed itself, then the front did.

later on I fitted the CDL switch, to allow diff use without going into low gear, and the pin 7 mod which I believe lets me go into low without the CDL engaging, and gives you O/D on the low box too

..which if you can't solve your low shift problems, would at least give you diff use. Like you, I have only ever been in low to see what it's like, I've barely ever even had to use the lockers on it, to be fair.

I might be inclined to find a suitable bit of pipe to give you a little extra leverage too, even after several hundred Hi Lo flipping (and new oils too) mine is still very stiff. girlfriend can't move it type stiff.

 

[40thSagePearl]

when I got mine, Hi Low would barely move, and the CDL didn't operate when you did force it into Low.

I had to operate it 20 or 30 times a day for several weeks before finally the CDL operated. I could literally only do it that much at a time because I had to get onto loose dirt, (in case it locked on and and wouldn't release) and then actually whack the thing back and forth that many times, I mean it was really stiff.

Eventually at about the 2 week point the CDL light stopped flashing and engaged, (it should flash when put in low, and then stay on when it engages - a second or 2 sometimes) and then over the next half an hour, first the (not working) rear locker actuator fixed itself, then the front did.

later on I fitted the CDL switch, to allow diff use without going into low gear, and the pin 7 mod which I believe lets me go into low without the CDL engaging, and gives you O/D on the low box too

..which if you can't solve your low shift problems, would at least give you diff use. Like you, I have only ever been in low to see what it's like, I've barely ever even had to use the lockers on it, to be fair.

I might be inclined to find a suitable bit of pipe to give you a little extra leverage too, even after several hundred Hi Lo flipping (and new oils too) mine is still very stiff. girlfriend can't move it type stiff.

This is great, glad to know this is somewhat of a "common" hiccup with these trucks.. I will keep operating it everyday for a while and see what happens.. thanks

 

[kevsta]

This is great, glad to know this is somewhat of a "common" hiccup with these trucks.. I will keep operating it everyday for a while and see what happens.. thanks

well, you gotta get it to actually move back and forth first before that can happen?

sorry I see I missed the post where you freed it. yea, I did this on advice from what I read here, I wouldnt be surprised if yours fixes itself eventually too. good luck

 

[Bryanseye]

Update.. drove home tonight and said F-it .. put her into neutral, yanked on the damn thing with two hands and finally got it free ! Looks like the wd-40 and lubricating oil worked... thanks everyone !

Seems lack of use can also be abuse.

 

[BILT4ME]

Seems lack of use can also be abuse.

Yup! Note my sig line......

 

[CDN_Cruiser]

Thought I would add some detail on this thread as I just resolved the issue of a seized transfer case linkage. Living on Ontario, I basically knew the issue was corrosion.

Looking at the forward linkage point from under the truck (PS) I could barely pull the retaining pin. Got it off but couldn't pull the linkage rod.

Pulled the centre console and worked on this linkage from the top (use PB blaster from under truck to lube the threads of the bolts still they dont shear off) With some lubricant and tapping with hammer and screw driver from above, I was able to free the front linkage.

The shift lever thankfully moved freely and the rubber boot was in place (you can see this under the truck)

However the rear linkage (that you can’t see from the PS under the truck) appeared to also be seized as I couldn’t shift with the linkage rod (make sure you are in neutral / park to check).

Coming in from the DS rear you can reach up and feel the linkage. The rod from the front linkage attaches to the top of the rear linkage And seemed to move freely (it has a rubber cover). With a mirror you can see the bottom of the linkage where it connects to the transfer case. Managed to get some PB blaster on that - effectively doing it blind with a tube.

Then, from the rear, tap on the top of the rear linkage with a hammer. You can just reach the top of the rear linkage with a small hammer. After a few lube and tap sessions over a number of days, I was able to tap it from H to N.

Reconnected the front linkage, and was able to start shifting from H-N-L. Eventually shifted like (hard) butter.

The point is - be prepared to deal with the rear linkage that you can’t see.