popping out of 4 wheel drive

[83stepside]

hello all...i have a 83 4x4 step side with a NP208C trans-case.bolted up to a TH350 with a 4 inch lift.problem is 4x4 pops out intermintently with no pattern to it..sometimes i can drive 5 miles or so..no problem..then other times it go's maybe 1/8 of a mile then"thug" the whole vehicle go's into neutral (all "drive" is suspended) and the gears in the t-case start whining up like a jet engine..till i come to a complete stop..wait for the gears to whine down..then i can RE-enegage the t-case BACK into 4x4(lever movement of course required) BUT 4x4 lever does not move when 4x4 pops out..linkage seems to be good....any ideas of a "known" problem with this type of t-case??? I don't think its my hubs because the whole vehicle would not go into "neutral" if the hubs we'er bad...i just wouldn't have 4x4..but the driveshaft would spin..and i would be "in-gear"..correct???


thanks for your time

Brent rndsout@comcast.net

[wildwood]

Sounds like you'll have to take your TC apart and find the problem inside. Some of the gears are probably bearly touching (not beaing fully engaged) and have worn. You could probably find a faily reasonably priced used one from a wrecker.

[83stepside]

Yeah...I thaught that myself...I guess its better than tearing it down...just as easy to swap it out.

thanks though for your input

Brent

[Richard]

It is probably one of two things. Bent shift fork or worn indexer on one of the shift rails. I would bet it is a fork as you said the lever does not move when it pops out.

[83stepside]

Shift fork makes sense ....was wondering why lever itself doesn't move when it pops out....hmmm....to crack her open..or to just R&R t-case...that is the question. The fork easy to change out???(once t-case is open)


thanks again for your help

Brent