4wd engagement question

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Aug 16, 2004 | 08:56 PM

RyanMiller

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From: Long island NY

4wd engagement question

what is the proper procedure to put the truck in 4wd.

it had a 4 speed granny tranny , the transfer case goes 2hi 4 hi neutral 4 low

if i wanted to get the low of 4 low but withouth getting out to flip the things in the wheels would it work to use 4 low but to use 2wd? my driveway is very steep and it will be hard to get a start on it.

thanks!

Aug 16, 2004 | 09:51 PM

fellro86

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From: Marengo, Iowa

If you have granny, you shouldn't need the reduction in the 4x, but if you want to do that, it will work as you say, but you need to be fully stopped to engage the 4x into 4low, and it won't hurt the lockups to do this(the things in the wheels) but you will not engage the front axle without flipping the lockup hubs, welcome to the world of manual hubs.

Aug 16, 2004 | 09:57 PM

RyanMiller

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From: Long island NY

so if i have it in 4 low, but the hubs are unlocked, its realy a super low 2wd, no harm done right?

when im shifting the transfer case from 2wd to 4wd or anything, do i need to shut the truck off or anything special? if i had to guess, i would do it like:

put transfer in 4wd, and then lock the hubs..

but is there anything else that i would need to know about?

Aug 16, 2004 | 10:27 PM

fellro86

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From: Marengo, Iowa

4 speed, push in clutch,come to complete stop, shift transfer case, auto, come to complete stop,shift trans into neutral, shift transfer case into 4 lo. No need to shut down. If you want 4x, then lock in the hubs, if you don't think you will need to, you don't have to, but if traction may be of concern, as in towing a trailer, go safe and engage 4x, just don't try to turn on dry pavement. That's all there is to it, and when you want to take it back out, just come to a complete stop and same as engaging. I lock the hubs in first, but it doen't have to be that way. If i think I will need 4x, then I just leave the hubs locked in, and engage the case as needed.

Aug 17, 2004 | 06:49 AM

RyanMiller

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From: Long island NY

if the hubs are locked, dose that mean that the front axel is rotating with the wheels, but unpowerd?

Aug 17, 2004 | 09:18 AM

fellro86

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From: Marengo, Iowa

yes, that's right, the front axle is only powereed when the transfer case is engaged in one of the 4x functions, and the hubs tranfer the power from the axle to the wheel hub, putting it to the ground. If you have the hubs locked in, and no 4x function selected, the axle will turn over with ground motion. On full time 4x systems this happens all the time. The reason for having the hubs unlocked for highway use is to save on parasitic loss from having to turn the whole axle, and also to save wear on the front axle.

Aug 17, 2004 | 12:51 PM

lmadore

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From: Mid-Missouri

I can't imagine a driveway or road severe enough to require the low selection of a transfer case especially if it is pavement or gravel.

You'd be amazed what that granny lo (1st gear) can do without the added reduction of the transfer case.