Proper steps to take engaging 4wd
 

I have a 72 k10. Th350 tranny. What is the proper steps to take when engaging 4 wheel? Hubs first or selector? In park or neutral?

Re: Proper steps to take engaging 4wd
 

Turn the hubs in first, then put the TC in 4HI or 4LO. Works better with the transmission in neutral.

You can, however, usually engage / disengage 4WD on the fly (as long as the hubs are engaged) but may need to breathe the throttle or work the steering back & forth a bit.

Is this your first 4x4? It's best to engage 4WD only on a soft surface (not on pavement) so the tires can slip a bit, to keep the drivetrain from binding. If it binds up, try reversing a short distance.

Re: Proper steps to take engaging 4wd
 

Stocker, this is my first 4wd with locking hubs. I've had the truck for several years know and only put in 4 once or twice. Those times I did it wrong however. I was putting it in 4hi prior to locking the hubs and was getting some grinding. Thanks for the proper directions!

Re: Proper steps to take engaging 4wd
 

i even roll the rig forward a bit after i lock the hubs in. gets them engaged so it connects to the diff. got stuck on a beach once cause like the tard i can be sometimes, i thought if i got stuck the hubs would lock when i turned them.. well they dont. drive shaft was spinning up front but tires didnt :lol: started getting pulled out and all of a sudden they engage. so what i do is: hubs locked, roll forward a bit, then engage stick. to pull it out: roll back, stick to 2wd, unlock hubs. in the winter time when i still lived up north id keep the hubs locked all winter doesnt hurt anything, infact its good to engage the hubs and drive some while in 2wd.

Re: Proper steps to take engaging 4wd
 

Some do, some don't. You are talking about spring-loaded hubs. Others are positive-engagement and will lock in when you turn the dial.

Re: Proper steps to take engaging 4wd
 

At least once a month you should get on a dirt road, engage the hubs and 4wd and drive for a few minutes to keep everything lubed. It will make it easier to engage/disengage in the future. This weekend I started by truck for the first time since 1998 and had a heck of a time getting the transfer case to cooperate. I have found that sometimes you have to drive in reverse a few feet to get out of 4wd. I never ENGAGE on the fly.