So my 86 f150 doesn't have a **** on the 4x4 gear selector. But... idk which gear is which PLUS I've never had manual locking hubs so how do I engage my four wheel drive after I figure out which gear is what. Thank you in advance and dont judge me im still new haha

 

The shift pattern is 2h-4h-n-4l from the dash to the seat! On locking hubs you go out and turn the center hub on the wheel hub. It says lock and unlock.

 

Here's the deal. If you lock the hubs in, you can drive in 2wd or 4wd.

In 2wd with the front hubs locked in, the front tires will be turning the front axles, the front diff, and the front driveshaft, and part of the transfer case. This will cause a little more drag and worse gas mileage. So why would you do this? Because you can pull the lever from 2wd to 4wd on the fly, at most any speed. Why would you want to do this? Because if you live on a slippery back road, you can pull it into 4wd and make it through, and then push the lever back up in 2wd when you get on a dry road. You will want to put the lever in 2wd if you start turning sharp in a dry parking lot or something, if you leave it in 4wd you may break something. If you ever feel it hopping, creaking and groaning when you are in 4wd and turning sharp, you need to back off, it's getting in a bind.

So your manual hub system works best with a little planning. If you plan on going off-road that day, go ahead a lock the hubs in before you get there, and then you can put it in and out of 4wd anytime you need it. During the winter, some people lock their hubs in and leave them in all winter. Then when it warms up they unlock them.

Don't try to put it in 4wd while moving with the hubs unlocked. Nothing in the frontend will be turning, so if you try to do this you will hear a lot of bad noises. If you stop, you can put it in 4wd and then drive on, but you will not have 4wd since the hubs are not locked. Why would you want to do this? I do it all the time when I put it in 4wd low. I will do this when backing a trailer in a bad spot, or want to crawl through the fields at a low speed. I am just using the 4 low gear ratio for a few minutes, and don't need 4wd.

 

Thank you both, like the title said. I was kinda embarassed to ask but i really needed the help.

 

I'm actually having a starter problem at the moment with this truck. maybe yall can help with that too. The starter is making a loud "whirring" but wint wont engage the flywheel. I had the starter checked and put a new solenoid on it. I can sometimes get it to start once but after I kill it it just makes that sound again. I looked and all my teeth are on the flywheel so i dont know what going on. Any help on this would be GREATLY appreciated as well.