T Case Shifter Stubborn (1 Viewer)

[Russ in California]

Bought a 91 a few months back and the darn thing is almost impossible to shift into 4x.
What should I look at? Maybe just stickey linkage?
Thanks,
Russ in California

 

[cruiserdan]

Under what conditions are you trying to shift it?

 

[Riley]

I find that on mine, it must be in park, not neutral. I think the owners manual says both but grinds when using neutral.

Also good to remove stress on driveline. I follow Dan's method for avoiding binding on the parking pawl (i.e. first N then get the brake on it then P).

 

[landtank]

I don't know what happened to the first post I did buthere it is again.

Check out your tires closely. Make sure they are all the same size and all 4 look to be worn evenly together. If they aren't then some driveline windup will occur and make it diffecult to shift the t-case

 

[IdahoDoug]

Curious like Dan...

DougM

 

[Russ in California]

Under what conditions are you trying to shift it?

Tried to shift it on the street in front of my house. Flat and level. Don't think it was in park though.
Didn't know that was the procedure as Riley states. I believe it was in neutral. It went in but took a mightly effort.
Russ in California

 

[cruiserdan]

Should be vehicle stationary, in park or N and no drivetrain wind-up. You may have had some of that.

 

[IdahoDoug]

I think you'd remember putting it in neutral since this is such a rarely used transmission position, eh? So, I'm guessing you were trying to shift in Drive and that would explain why it's tough. Try the way it's recommended from the factory (owner's manual, and what - visor sticker I think?) and get back to us.

DougM

 

[Russ in California]

Thanks Dan, I'll try that and will get back as soon as possible.
Russ in California

 

[RavenTai]

On the test drive of my 80 I had an attack of the stupids and tried to drive off with t-case in neutral, immediately noticed my mistake and immediately after that made another by trying to stuff it in High wile still in drive, the truck let me know in no uncertain terms it was unhappy by the grinding of gears, no clutch & syncro’s in this gearbox :whoops:

Hopefully not a mistake I will repeat

I come to a full stop bump into neutral and shift, never any problem smoothly goes in either way , and I would not be surprised if I was the first one to ever shift that one out of high

 

[e9999]

always switch mine with the trans in N. Effort needed to switch xfer case is no more than moving the trans stick, just smooshier.
E

 

[Russ in California]

Well, I can't find the owners manual to look up the procedure but I tried it anyway.
With the rig Idleing on flat surface and in Neutral I could shift into low WITH effort. So I moved the transfer stick back and forth. It's a little less stiff but nothing like my 60.
Now I'm confused because I don't drive this rig often. I assumed for 2wd driving the transfer should be in neutral but when I did this the truck didn't move. So I put the transfer into H and low and behold I could drive in 2wd. Is this correct?
Appreciate the help fellas.
Russ in Califonria

 

[Beowulf]

>> low and behold I could drive in 2wd. Is this correct? <<

Russ,
No, this is not correct.

Your 80 is a full-time 4wd vehicle. Period. You can shift it into low range. You can shift it into high range. Either way, you're in 4wd. If you shift the transfer case to N, you aren't going anywhere.

-B-

 

[Big_Moose]

Russ

The 80 Series cruisers are "fulltime (All wheel drive) 4WD" and there is no 2WD like your 60 series.

Joe

 

[RavenTai]

The 80 is All wheel drive, there is no 2WD. your transfer case has 3 positions from the shifter, all wheel drive high, neutral & all wheel drive low, the Center differential lock switch locks the center diff turning all wheel drive transfer case into part time 4 wheel drive (off road/low traction only) so you can have the best fo both worlds with the flick of a switch

I think in the 91 the center locker is available in both high and low via the switch, and does not automatically lock in low like the later trucks (when stock) but I may be wrong,

Neutral in the transfer case is neural, no drive as you noted , AFIK this part would be the same in your 60

 

[Russ in California]

Thanks guys. This really helps. Haven't had this beast that long and don't get to drive it often. Really like it though. Has some qualities I really like over my 60. Did I day that. Can't wait to off road it but I know I'd better steer clear of branches and scratches. The wife would kill me if I damaged her LC.
Thanks a million, good to be on this board,
Russ in California

 

[sjcruiser]

Russ,

IIRC, there's an article on LCOOL site that addresses the stiff transfer case shifter issue by simply lubricating it. Sounds pretty common if left unused for a long period of time.

Frank.

 

[Beowulf]

>> Can't wait to off road it but I know I'd better steer clear of <<
>> branches and scratches. The wife would kill me if I damaged her LC. <<

I don't have any idea what you're talking about. I also have no idea what you could do to protect agains scratches and a pack of crazed pitt bulls (redundant) couldn't drag it out of me.

-B-

 

[Russ in California]

Frank, that kind of sounds like the problem. Don't think the PO used the 4x much. Nice rig though. Should it matter what type of lube to use on the linkage?
Thanks everyone,
Russ in California

 

[sjcruiser]

The article would be found here...

http://www.safari4x4.com.au/80scool/tech/transfer_shift.html

I'd prefer silicon/graphite grease spray instead though.