I posted a short time back about having problems shifting my tcase in and out of 4 low. I thought I'd put on some miles to let things work in before I did anything about it. I have about 1400 miles on it now and this was my experience last night: In the parking lot at work (concrete), with the truck idling, I put it in Neutral, foot on brake (hubs NOT locked) and pulled the tcase lever out of 2H into 4H. It wasn't real easy but it came out and shifted. At first it didn't want to move any further but I coaxed it ito N. This is where I don't understand is happening. I very slowly try to pull it in to 4L and there is horrendous grinding. I moved it very slowly so just the very tip of whatever is touching makes contact but you can tell it would be terrible to keep moving the shifter. Something is spinning very fast that shouldn't be! right? If I take my foot off the brake and let it roll down a gradual grade, say 2-3 mph, I can shift in to 4L with just a little meshing sound and I can shift back out. If I shift it in and stop the truck again, it doesn't want to shift out of 4L. It's like I need to push the clutch in farther...but it's an automatic! I don't get it! I've had manual tcases before and they sometimes need a little "unbinding" by moving the truck a little but none have ever been like this. I'm asking for input one more time before I let a dealer in on it to make sure I'm not being stupid here. Please help.
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Bill McCall '01 F250 XLT 4x4 Crew Cab Short Box V10 Auto 4.30ls SRW

 

*****,

I just got my 2001 F 350 CC dually 4x4.

Here's what I found.. When my hubs are not locked (free), my shifter won't even move. Now, I'm not a wimpy guy, but I certainly didn't want to pull the shifter out of the transfer case. When I locked the hubs, I could shift it into 4x4 hi with two fingers, 4 low was just as easy.. Must be something new I guess. My 86, 94, and 97, could be shifted even if the hubs were unlocked.

Good luck,

Scott

 

>When my hubs are not locked
>(free), my shifter won't even
>move. When I locked
>the hubs, I could shift
>it into 4x4 hi with
>two fingers, 4 low was
>just as easy.. Must
>be something new I guess.

I was wondering if this might be the case but talked myself out of believing it because I couldn't figure out how that would work. I will do some more playing tonight...in and out of the dirt with the hubs locked this time. Thanks for the reply.

Bill McCall
'01 F250 Super Duty 4x4 Crew Cab Shorty V10 Auto 4.30ls

 

I kinda feel like I'm the only one in the room but anyway...

I tried it out some more last night. Hubs locked/ both in Park and in Neutral, foot on brake/not on brake and all combinations in between. I still had a hard time getting in to 4L. I could pull the shifter "through" the grinding noise and stop whatever it is that is spinning (grinding) from doing so allowing me to put it in gear but that still can't be right . I also had no luck getting it out of 4L without shutting the motor off. I'm frustrated.

Bill