Hello all.

So I got into my truck this morning to go to school, like every week day morning. I put her in 1st gear, and started to pull forward, and noticed that the truck felt like it had no power for the RPM that it was at, and then it jumped right out of "gear" I guess you'd say.

So fair enough, stranger things have happened I figured. So I came to a stop, and realized that no matter what gear I put it in it wouldn't move. Shortly after, I realized that it was the transfercase that wasn't engaged (it's a manual transfercase not a push button).

So while I was still at a stop, and I pushed the lever down and it wouldn't move, so I thought whatever, I pulled the lever back to 4 Lo and pushed it back to 2Hi and it would move, but just like before where it was like half power and it kicked back out of gear. So I put it in 4 Lo again and it would move just fine.

I can't get it to go into 4 Hi either. It will go into 4 Lo just fine, 10 times out of 10. 4 Hi won't even engage, and 2 Hi will half engage. As it sits now, I think it's back in 2 Hi, but I only took it for a lap around the block to test it.

So I called my uncle, that's been working on these trucks since he was 16, and he thinks that maybe one side of the fork in the transfer case is broke off. But to me that doesn't make sense because it will go into 4 Lo every time. I though perhaps maybe one of you would have an idea of what the problem is.

Thanks in advance!

 

How much is a transfercase in your area? I can get 1345 or 1356's where I am all day long for $100. Might be cheaper to buy another than to fix.

 

There are typically ones around here for like 50 bucks on craigslist. If it is just a fork, I can get one from the parts store for about 50 bucks too though.

 

I think you or your uncle could be right. I guess you checked the linkage to ensure its not binding up.

I actually am leaning towards your uncles call a little bit though.

hmmmm

EDIT ADD

You may find this thread intresting
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/9...in-4w-low.html

 

Yeah I crawled under it and had my brother move the lever back and forth from where 4 lo should be and 2 hi and it doesn't bind or anything in the linkage.

 

I would say your uncle is on the right track. It could be a broken shift fork or a worn or broken slide collar. Most two-speed chain driven transfer cases have two shift forks in them, they're both mounted on the same shift rail. The rear most fork engages and disengages 4wd, the forward fork shifts between high and low range. The shifter is hooked to the outside control lever, which has a detent wheel on the inside of the case. As you pull the lever back it kicks the first fork back, engaging 4wd, the next detent puts you in neutral, the last detent kicks in 4wd and kicks the forward fork into low range. (I hope that made sense) It sounds like to me you are either stuck between 2wd and 4wd or 4wd HI and neutral. Hope this helps, good luck!
John

 

Ok I see what you're saying. That's actually a really good explanation. I think that it's getting stuck on being in 4 Lo. Which would explain why when it gets in 2 wheel drive again, it seems like it has no power because it has no speed being in Low gear. And then it gets kicked out of being in low and goes into neutral.

 

Sounds about right to me! These transfer cases aren't as complicated as you might think. I have been inside, repaired, and rebuilt a few of them... they're actually pretty cool how they work. If you decide to take on repairing yours, take your time and lay out all the parts in the order you removed them. Make sure you have a nice clean work bench in a well lit area to work. I imagine you could even find an exploded view of your transfer case somewhere here on the net if you get hung up on something. Good luck, we're here if ya need us!
John

 

Thanks buddy, I appreciate it. I found an exploded view last night that I bookmarked for future use. I'll probably tear into it this weekend or this coming week. Don't urgently need the truck, which is good.