7.3 Issue?
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 27,354
Likes: 5,946
From: Lake Hartwell, GA
I suspect you are simply tricking your truck into thinking it is stopped so you can move the transfer case lever into 4 low.
Logistics Pro
Joined: May 2017
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From: Southern OH
Yes on an esof you have to be stopped and in neutral on an auto, clutch in on a manual and have your foot on the brake before it will tell the shift motor to switch it to 4x4 low. On a manual 4x4 system like I have none of those safetys exist. I can shift it with or without my foot on the brake when stopped or moving slightly and in gear with the clutch pushed in or in neutral with the clutch in or out doesn't matter. I can shift it much quicker than the electronic 4x4 will as well, it will shift from 2wd all the way to 4x4 low or from 4x4 low back to 2wd in a second.
Lead Driver
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From: WV
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 27,354
Likes: 5,946
From: Lake Hartwell, GA
Yes on an esof you have to be stopped and in neutral on an auto, clutch in on a manual and have your foot on the brake before it will tell the shift motor to switch it to 4x4 low. On a manual 4x4 system like I have none of those safetys exist. I can shift it with or without my foot on the brake when stopped or moving slightly and in gear with the clutch pushed in or in neutral with the clutch in or out doesn't matter. I can shift it much quicker than the electronic 4x4 will as well, it will shift from 2wd all the way to 4x4 low or from 4x4 low back to 2wd in a second.
Most of us are familiar with how a manual transfer case lever works and have owned vehicles with such a lever. You are clearly very proud of your second shift lever, as I would be as well. It took me a year to find my truck with a ZF6, no rust and within my budget. if I needed the manual TC lever as well, I probably never would have found a truck. For those that don't know about a manual transfer case lever, they now have the information and method Ford recommends and the information and method you use. Either way, this has zero to do with the ESOF system requirements of shifting into 4x4 Low.
My apologies to the OP for the derailment.
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 27,354
Likes: 5,946
From: Lake Hartwell, GA
A few months back an FTE'r thought he had a broken transfer case shift motor because his truck was "stuck" in 4x4 Low. A few of us commented and I told him he could shift it manually by hand if needed.
SSJ came in and told him to be in neutral, brake on and turn the ESOF ****. Low and behold he was no longer "stuck" in 4x4 Low.
Logistics Pro
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 3,523
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From: Southern OH
To anyone wanting to get rid of the ESOF, a manual transfer case swaps right in, you don't even have to cut a hole in the floor for the lever there is a plug in there already. All you need is the transfer case, shift linkage, shift lever, and the boot and trim piece.
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: May 2014
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From: Lake Hartwell, GA
Transfer case - ~$750 for rebuilt not from a salvage yard
Other associated parts can be found here at various prices - https://torqueking.com/category/shif...r-ford-nv271f/
I have also included the removal and installation procedures from the Ford Service Manual if the advice from Ford is something someone prefers to follow and finds this thread in the future.
Tagging @Y2KW57 for a couple of reasons...
1. The nomenclature used for the "transfer case removal" and "shift lever removal" in the 7.3L PSD Tech Folder is listed as 306-07B and it should be 308-07B.
2. Please include the "transfer case installation" procedure if you feel it is a worthy addition.
Logistics Pro
Joined: May 2017
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From: Southern OH
You can get all the parts to swap it for $500 or less at a junkyard. Not that hard to swap all you have to do is unbolt the two driveshafts, unplug all the connections, take the 6 bolts out and remove the transfer case, bolt the new one in, bolt the shift linkage, lever and boot in, reconnect the driveshafts and splice a couple wires so your 4x4 lights work.
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FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 27,354
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From: Lake Hartwell, GA
You can get all the parts to swap it for $500 or less at a junkyard. Not that hard to swap all you have to do is unbolt the two driveshafts, unplug all the connections, take the 6 bolts out and remove the transfer case, bolt the new one in, bolt the shift linkage, lever and boot in, reconnect the driveshafts and splice a couple wires so your 4x4 lights work.
I specifically mentioned a salvage yard above and the provided very specific/detailed instructions for removing and installing a transfer case according to Ford. Sometimes we as owners deviate from what Ford says, I do this myself.
The point of my post with documentation and correction suggestions to the 7.3L PSD Tech Folder were for future readers that stumble upon this thread in the future, not to incite another debate.
Thank you for your contribution to the thread, it has been and will be a learning experience.
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