So my electric shift motor isnt working so I pulled it off and shifted the T case by hand with a pair of pliers but the hubs never locked in? I did this with a push button 4 wheel drive ranger and it worked is there something I'm missing? what should I try next? thanks guys

 

Did you drive the vehicle after doing the manual shifting of the transfer case?

 

yeah in both reverse and forward and I drove it quite a lot too actually. the front drive shaft was spinning the hubs just didnt lock in. Ive never really worked on auto hubs so I dont know exactly how they work.

 

I know alot of people swap out the auto hubs for the manuals. They're cheaper then fixing the autos and they last longer. Though you still have the issue of the electric motor being broke.

 

The hubs are not really elec. either. They engage once power is applied thru selecting 4wd. What tells you that neither are engaging? If only one engages, with an open diff., you still get no action at the wheel.

Have they been used recently? Sounds like a teardown and regrease properly or replace with the manuals.

I like the auto hubs when they work. One needs to run them once a month just because also.

 

The automatic hubs engage based on centrifugal force from the stub shafts in the front axle. The most frequent reasons for non-engagement are lack of lubrication or OVER lubrication. Either condition makes them sluggish or simply causes them to not engage. Both conditions can easily be avoided by replacing the automatics, with manual versions.

 

Did they ever engage right , and all the time from factory? Honestly don't think I've ever seen these auto hubs work 100% of the time offroad when someone had them.

 

They will work correctly when properly maintained.

 

I have never had a single issue with my auto hubs, and i have been in some pretty serious adventures off the beaten path.

The key to the auto hub is not to slam between the gears forward and back. You got to give the transmission time to switch between forward and reverse so not to slam the slack in the driveline and ultimatly rip the auto hubs apart.