NP203 shifter problems

[Blue_71]

anyone have any problems out of these shifters? i cant get mine out of Lo.... it will move some... from Lo to neutral very easy, but then its a pain in the rear to get back into any gear from neutral. i did manage to get it into Hi once, by bracing both feet on the floorboard, putting both hands on the shifter and pulling back as hard as i could. last time i tried to move it i wound up laying under the truck and shoving the levers around on the case with a long bar

any ideas are greatly appreciated!

[Mudder]

Spary lots of wd40 down into the top of the shifter. Sometimes that will free them up.

[Olden Days]

Dont know if this will cure it but it couldnt hurt. I would take the whole shifter off and dissasemble the whole mechinism, clean it up real good get it back on and realign the shift arms with that little hole in the side. I once bought a non running truck with 203 and was told the transfer case likely had problems cause it would only go from high to nutreal. When I took it out (shifter)it was caked with that red clay hard as a rock mud inside and out. Once I chiped that out and cleaned it up it shifted just fine

[hilbilly]

I agree, they ain't sealed up real good. Take it apart, you'll be happier in the long run.

[us111]

hello,i have a 203 that was giving me probs last winter,sometimes shift,other times wasn't happening,turned out the linkage on these have nuts on them to adjust the linkage and one of mine was loose causing everything to get outta wack,once i figured out how to adjust everything and got the nut tight,sprayed everything down with wd40 it's worked fine.

[b.sharp]

I have an extra 203 in good shape if you need a spare or spare parts. I'm putting a 205 in mine and going to lockers in the axles. If interested give me a call. 502-319-5134. I'm in Frankfort Ky.

Latr,

Bryan

[hilbilly]

Heck you want 203 parts? You pay the shipping and I'll give the parts. I got at least 5 that are in various states of broke. To me their worth less, unless I get a boat, they'ed make great anchors!

[LONGHAIR]

The shifters on these are very touchy.............not exactly a good thing for a 4x4 huh?
All it really needs is to be taken apart, cleaned up and put back together. The alignment hole is for the adjustment of the levers. When the shifter is centered, with some kind of pin in the holes, the shift links should be adjusted so that they slide freely into their place. There shouldn't be any push/pull for them to fit.
This is all easier if you take the floor hump out and reach through the top.

[Blue_71]

thanks for the ideas guys-- ill add this to my list of things to fix. along with the headlight, busted engine mount, broke leaf spring, bad ball joints,worn out drag link, and bad tie rod ends

i think i have a lead on an axle with all steering parts out of the front of an 81 though that had a SM465 so ill have locking hubs. he said he might even sell the SM465 and transfer case. that'll take care of the ball joints, tie rod ends, drag link, and the NP203 problems

hillbilly- did any of those 203s have the part time kit in them?