Was it a bad idea by Toyota.

[wadi]

Just a quick question about the Push button 4H Transfer gear.


Is this just as good the manual 4H transfer lever, how reliable is this setup and does it ever let you down when you need it most.
I'l looking at buying a BJ70 and this is the only thing that is stopping the sale, i like the old school engineering as there's less to go wrong.

 

[roscoFJ73]

Its a simple ,low maintenance device. I have 2 diesel cruisers,one has the manaul shift ,the other the vac set up.
I dont realy have a preference for either,but in a RHD vehicle the manual lever rubs on your left lower leg.

The only time the vac shifter will let you down is if the vac hoses get a hole in them or come loose.
Usually you can swap hoses to get home.

It would not stop me buying a landcruiser.

The 60 series andcruiser also have the same set up and there is two repair/replace component threads there now
https://forum.ih8mud.com/60-series-wagons/224061-writeup-1988-fj62-4wd-solenoid-fix-$17-77-a.html

https://forum.ih8mud.com/60-series-...transfer-vacuum-valve-conversion-writeup.html

 

[crushers]

the VSV can fail and are expensive to fix BUT you can still get the t/case to lock in or out to get you home...

 

[Gib009]

yeah you always have 4 low if something goes wrong with the button. But i do like the button for some reason

 

[John Galt]

I like the push button 4WD high. In the winter some roads and parking lots are dry and some are snow and ice. It's convenient to run with the hubs locked in and the push button can quickly engage the front wheel drive when needed.

 

[crushers]

John,
not to disagree since i also like both systems but i find the manual shift to engage quicker than the vacumm shift... of course we are talking fractions here...
either or makes no difference to me...

 

[wadi]

Thanks every one.

Just one more question. how does the push button work.

Do i just push it in to engage 4H and if i want 4L shift the lever or do i have to push the 4H button (off) then engage 4L?

stupid i know but if i dont ask i'll never know, that is untill i get my cruiser.

 

[Ron R]

For 4WD in High position of the X-fer you have to push the button (you have to have the hubs locked!)
When you select 4WD in Low (with the selector handle) you don''t have to push the button.
The slector lever - when set to LOW - will activate a electric switch parallel to the manual switch.

Just watch the 4WD light to come up when either the button is pushed or the selector is set to low.

Note: I disconnected the switch that gets activated by the selector handle.
This way I can select 'LOW' without engaging 4WD at the same time.
I allways have to engage 4WD by pushing the button.

Advantage: I can use 4 low to manoeuvre f.e. with a trailer even on hard surfaces without the risk of damaging the driveline by making tight turns.

Disadavantage:
1. You allways have to push the button to have 4WD (and I've forgotten it several times where I needed it).
2. In LOW --ALL -- the power goes to the rear wheels IF the button is not pushed and that means that the rear axle has to handle ALL the torque.
This can damage the halfshafts.

 

[roscoFJ73]

Thanks every one.

Just one more question. how does the push button work.

Do i just push it in to engage 4H and if i want 4L shift the lever?
.

Yes but the vac shift is not instant,it takes a few seconds sometimes. The light comes on when it has shifted to 4H.

Also ,you should use the button before the going gets tough.
A lot of newbs hit the button as the landcruiser begines to bog down.
This is bad because the rear wheels are spinning at a different speed to the front.
The front and rear wheels MUST be turning at the same rate to engage without damage.
You can engage at up to about 60kph according to some toyota literature,but I think most of us would prefer to shift at walking pace with no throttle

 

[HighPlainsDrifter]

If it fails to work ou might try something like Spook50 did on his 60.
Check his write up out.
https://forum.ih8mud.com/60-series-...transfer-vacuum-valve-conversion-writeup.html

 

[JAC83]

Call me old fashioned, but I prefer the lever. The thing I don't understand is why Toyota installed this button/vaccum system to engage 4H on some 70 series models and a regular lever on others, maybe it has to do with the markets in which the vehicles were sold?

Engaging 4H with the lever is extremely easy, you just give it a little tug and it almost clicks into place, why bother with the vaccum system?

 

[Hulsty]

In aus the poverty pack models didnt get it, only the upper spec models. Its interesting to see how it works, I didnt know it still needed the vacuum to engage low range 4wd too

 

[wadi]

Call me old fashioned, but I prefer the lever. The thing I don't understand is why Toyota installed this button/vaccum system to engage 4H on some 70 series models and a regular lever on others, maybe it has to do with the markets in which the vehicles were sold?

Engaging 4H with the lever is extremely easy, you just give it a little tug and it almost clicks into place, why bother with the vaccum system?

I'm with you on this one.
You cant good beat old fashioned engineering, i hate all thees new 4WD that have all this bullsh!t electronic crap on to help the 4x4 get over obstacles, up,down hills. And especially them dam RangeRovers, what a load of crap.

Hulsty
Its interesting to see how it works, I didnt know it still needed the vacuum to engage low range 4wd too

I dont like that idea to much, If 4L relies on the vac to engage and the vac system has a bad day while off road.

Any way, I'll just see what BJ comes a long. and if it has the push button then I'll just change the solenoids before i do any thing else and that way i know there sould't be any prob.

 

[John Galt]

You cant good beat old fashioned engineering, i hate all thees new 4WD that have all this bullsh!t electronic crap on to help the 4x4 get over obstacles, up,down hills. And especially them dam RangeRovers, what a load of crap.

I will 2nd that. IMHO the 40, 50, 60, and 70 series are the real Landcruisers, the others are just SUV clones.

Mine has the PB, but figured it could be upgraded with a solenoid as suggested or a cable if it ever became unreliable. No big deal.

 

[Joe70]

I will 2nd that. IMHO the 40, 50, 60, and 70 series are the real Landcruisers, the others are just SUV clones.

Mine has the PB, but figured it could be upgraded with a solenoid as suggested or a cable if it ever became unreliable. No big deal.

You've obviously never been wheeling with an 80 series then.

 

[Gold Boy]

Yes but the vac shift is not instant,it takes a few seconds sometimes. The light comes on when it has shifted to 4H.

Also ,you should use the button before the going gets tough.
A lot of newbs hit the button as the landcruiser begines to bog down.
This is bad because the rear wheels are spinning at a different speed to the front.
The front and rear wheels MUST be turning at the same rate to engage without damage.
You can engage at up to about 60kph according to some toyota literature,but I think most of us would prefer to shift at walking pace with no throttle

i lock the hubs and put the 74 into 4h <80k when i need traction on the bad winter roads, which is real nice to be able engage and disengage on the fly. i always make sure my wheels are not spinning and the front ones are pointing forward.

having said that i would prefer a lever for 4h as i assume it's lot less complicated and more reliable.

 

[John Galt]

You've obviously never been wheeling with an 80 series then.

Easy dude, just pulling the chain a little. The 80 series Landcruiser is heads above all the other SUV clones; they just all look the same. It's still a Landcruiser inside where it counts.

 

[Kiwilandrover]

On the question of the vaccum switch - can anyone tell me whether the vacuum is applied constantly to engage/disengae 4wd, or is it a "nudge' to the mechanicals?

Reason for asking - I have just fitted a 1PZ/R151 to an ex military land rover, and want to simplify the switching as much as possible. ie not use Toyota's "computers" etc

 

[crushers]

there is no computor operating this, simple air in / air out...
constant vacuum one way or the other...

 

[Radd Cruisers]

On the question of the vaccum switch - can anyone tell me whether the vacuum is applied constantly to engage/disengae 4wd, or is it a "nudge' to the mechanicals?

Reason for asking - I have just fitted a 1PZ/R151 to an ex military land rover, and want to simplify the switching as much as possible. ie not use Toyota's "computers" etc

It's a very simple system and really quite bullet proof. As as service shop, we see VERY few problems with these systems...

I prefer the shifter, but ultimately it makes very little difference. It's not like some of the servo motor controlled American made crap that's out there.

The diaphragm moves a linkage that rocks into place one way or the other, so once it's in that position, it does not need vacuum to hold it there (unlike many other systems that will either default into either 4WD [or sometimes 2WD] when the lines come off or vacuum is no longer applied).

~John