I wouldn't call it play. However, any time gears are involved, if you are trying to get them to mesh and they aren't aligned, a small amount of movement of one gear in relation to the other is going to be required. However, either gear can turn to achieve alignment. In our case, once the transfer case engages, the axles are going to turn. The axle turning inside the hub is all that is required for alignment and engagement. The wheel hub doesn't have to turn to meet the axle if the axle can turn to meet the wheel hub.

 

IMO the end result with the front tires off the ground and Hubs manualy locked in and with the 4X4 switch on the dash turned to 4X4 I dont want to be able to spin the tire/axel shaft since everything should be Locked together and the rear tires on the ground holding everything since it should be all locked together



What do you think about that Idea see any Bust there


The first method I tried was a Bust since the other tire being on the ground holding it from spining Glad you caught that David thats what makes a site like this Good cuz somebody else might look at it diffrently

 

Im with ya on this too.

I would think that the Transfer case would operate very similair if it needed a little spin to engauge and mesh the Gears together

 

Imho The only test you could perform would be to bury your rear axle, to where both rears spin freely, then do any of these tests to see if you can get it out.

I am willing to bet, that once the rears are both spinning that no matter what you do the fronts will not engage to give you 4x4 , and that some front wheel movement will be required

 

I know this is alittle off track but I used to go mudding all the time in a Little Toyota truck and when it got stuck in 2WD I had to manualy get out and turn the Hubs in to lock position and then shift the transfer case into 4X4 and it would engauge the front tires and get itself out.

IIRC it didnt have to spin the front tires to engauge them

 

With all these vacuum lines and variables makes me wish I had the shifter on the floor and manual locking hubs for every occasion, at least when you lock them in you know you have 4x4 and there is no question. This ESOF convenience is for metro sexuals and city folk. Haha I feel the "Swamp people " coming out in me

 

I was reading this post yesterday as I parked my truck in some mud, sunk down a little, weather got cold and everything froze. I went to used the truck ( first had issue with starting...diesel very cold) got it running but wouldn't move. Turned **** for 4wd still no move. Changed hubs from auto to lock still no move.

I can rotate the front drive shaft until I switch on the 4wd. Then the drive shaft is locked. The u-joints on the axle move a little when I rotate by hand but no free spin. But, hubs even though are set to the locked position they are not locked. I Finally got it to lock it. I had to rotate the u-joints on the axle as much as they would go. It took a couple of times but they finally locked and I was able to pull out of the freeze. I liked the old days of manual shift lever. At least I knew when I through the lever 4WD was engauged.

 

These hubs require a small movement of the tire... to align everything... you spun the axle to get it to lock. If everything was moving, say 5 mph when you did that, it would have went right in. ESOF system for our trucks even say that in the book. Switch to 4x4 before you need it if possible, but with no movement, you take a chance it will need a small rotation to lock in.