- Thread starter
- #101
Here is what the lever is supposed to move like on the benchtop and then installed.
Knewstance 1998 Restoration/Build
- Thread starter knewstance
- Start date
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- Thread starter
- #104
I wondered the same thing. I changed it about 3 weeks ago with no difference.
I think the lever is not lubricated by the fluid at all. It seems to have it's own little sealed area.
I like the seat covers! (I hate the leather) You say "dealer installed". Is this a Toyota accessory?
- Thread starter
- #106
It's not Toyota branded, but some dealerships were installing these way back when.
There are quite a few good options for seat covers that fit well, like these, but most cost around $2-300/row.
JunkCrzr89
Competent Ignoramoose
Shifter and shift lever retainer are not mounted in a location on the 100’s t-case that is lubricated by gear oil, unlike most other Toyota t-cases. The 80 series t-cases have similar design and thus, same problem with seizing inside retainer. If you look at the diagram from FSM, it specifies greasing the shift lever shaft and retainer with MP grease, and that the shifter is connected to a linkage that extends further back. As such, I think this might should be part of preventative at around the 150-200k mile mark (before it seizes like @knewstance lever!).
- Thread starter
- #108
I agree, or just the "go-to" fix when you feel it starting to get stiff. I find it pretty strange that I couldn't really find any info on this, I know mine wasn't the only one with this issue.
@knewstance is really good at freeing seized shafts 
JunkCrzr89
Competent Ignoramoose
Handful of threads about this in the 80 series forum: Search results for query: transfer case shifter stuck
Pure speculation here, but I think to this day that most 100 owners still rarely (if ever) put the t-case in 4-LO, as most remain pavement princesses. However, as we degenerates gobble them up for off-road use and as the 100s age, I'd bet this will become a more prevalent issue.
JunkCrzr89
Competent Ignoramoose
Seems the Aussies have encountered this problem on 100 series too:
Landcruiser 100 series 2006 T/D Auto - Transfer stuck in HI range
Refusal of HI-N-LO transfer lever to move out of HI range turned out to be lack of use!! Below the rubber boot under the plastic and leather covers, the steel transfer lever is attached to a horizontal shaft which is retained in a cast housing ...
www.exploroz.com
Landcrusier 100- 4wd lever stuck [Archive] - NissanPatrol.com.au Forum
yesterday my dad tried to shift the little 4wd lever on his 05'LC 100-series but it seemed to be stuck and didn't move up or down. I know this is for Patrol's but my dad asked just to ask if anyone knows what would be the issue. i put the main gear to N (neutral) before trying to shift the 4wd...
www.nissanpatrol.com.au
Thanks for that. I did not know, oil does not sling up to the shift shaft.
But what I was wondering, is: If as oil case heats and cools, it produces moisture within. This moisture content builds in oil (gear lube). That by flushing more often we reduce moisture content?
@knewstance is really good at freeing seized shafts
all you guys giving decent advice and Im over here offering to deburr holes for money
Nice job breathing new life into this rig, coming along nicely! I need to add upper/lower ball joints and TREs to my list of things to do...
JunkCrzr89
Competent Ignoramoose
Yes, I think that's a reasonable conclusion that more frequent flushing would reduce moisture content. However, more frequent flushing would have no influence on the shifter seizing in the retainer, given the shifter and shifter retainer are mounted externally with effective isolation from the internals of the t-case. A linkage is pinned to the shifter and that linkage extends further back on the t-case, where it's mounted to a separate lever that goes inside the t-case (per FSM: "shift outer lever" and "shift inner lever"). That inner lever is then what forces movement of the shift forks.
I'm not sure what engineer thought it would be a good idea to move to this setup on the 80 and 100 series cruisers, given it has more moving parts and therefore presumably more potential failure points. Most other Toyota t-cases that I've worked on have the shifter extending straight through the top of the t-case such that the shifter directly moves shift rods and forks inside the t-case and therefore the shifter is constantly lubed by gear oil.
However, I flunked out of engineering in college, so I have absolutely no credentials to critique an engineer’s design
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JunkCrzr89
Competent Ignoramoose
For reference, below are photos of typical t-case shifter setups on most previous Toyota t-cases. Note that the shifter is effective just one long bar that goes straight inside the t-case and moves shift rods and forks, and the shifter is held in with a retainer that provides constant downward pressure. Compare that to @knewstance photos above of the 100 series (and 80 series) convoluted setup. Though, if IIRC, the 40 series also has a weird t-case shift linkage setup.
- Thread starter
- #117
Could be due to the location of the Tcase vs the console location. They didn't want to put it under the cup holders or something like that, throwing off their interior design plan. That's my guess
Eyedaho
SILVER Star
I'll check the FSM for my '99 for a greasing procedure, but do you happen to know if it requires removing the unit, or if it can be greased in situ if it's not frozen? Mine shifts into 4Lo ok, but it's not exactly buttery smooth. I'd rather do some preventative maintenance than find out it's seized up at an inopportune moment.
JunkCrzr89
Competent Ignoramoose
You can try squirting some PB blaster on the lever shaft - retainer mating surface and hope it makes its way in there. That’s the only way I could see getting lubrication in there sans removal. Applying MP grease as spec’d by the FSM requires disassembly of the shift lever from the lever retainer. See here: Stuck low range gear.in 100 series.
- Thread starter
- #120
A few updates to my build thread, passing over the less exciting maintenance stuff that
Full ASFIR skids - I got to prototype for them, so mine are a little different than what other will have, but they are still nice 6mm aluminum.
Also I installed a new dash, with the help of @JunkCrzr89. It is nice to not have the dash cracked and peeling like it was before. With the replacement of this dashboard, the interior of my 100 is nearly restored in comparison to how I bought it. It's nice to see all the progress.
Installed a double din 10.1" android auto screen. That's been a super nice upgrade bringing things into the current technology.
Full ASFIR skids - I got to prototype for them, so mine are a little different than what other will have, but they are still nice 6mm aluminum.
Also I installed a new dash, with the help of @JunkCrzr89. It is nice to not have the dash cracked and peeling like it was before. With the replacement of this dashboard, the interior of my 100 is nearly restored in comparison to how I bought it. It's nice to see all the progress.
Installed a double din 10.1" android auto screen. That's been a super nice upgrade bringing things into the current technology.