4x4 shifting question

[JTK20]

This may be a dumb question, but is there anything specific you have to do to shift a truck in 4wd-Low? I just bought an 85 3/4 ton and yesterday when I was test driving it I couldn't shift the t-case into N or 4L, but it goes into 4H just fine. Not sure if you have to be in a certain gear or something first. Thanks!

-Jason

[msgross]

I have only used 4 low only a few times ever, it's great for tons of power for pulling something out of a ditch or going up a very steep hill in the woods. You have to be in Neutral on the transmission to place the Transfer Case in or out of 4Lo, you have to be stopped as well. Remember to never use either 4WD on dry pavement and be careful with tight turns, easy way to tear up your powertrain.

[trixter99]

You might want to put the trans in nuetral as well it will make shifting alot easier, also it wont go intp 4low if you are moving.

[JTK20]

Yeah there's no way I'd try shifting into 4L while it's moving. That'd make for a bad day. When I tried shifting it in I was on dry pavement (just wanted to see if it would go in), stopped, and I tried it while in gear, in park, and in neutral and I couldn't get the shifter to go past 4H. Could it be because (and I just realized this) I didn't lock out the front hubs first? I didn't think that had anything to do with the t-case shifting in and out of 4wd, but this is my first 4x4 so I don't know for sure.

-Jason

[bad_turbo]

front hubs shouldn't have anything to do with the T-case shifting

[BJA69C10]

you probably would've noticed this, but i've several trucks, including a 95 ford and a 91 chevy that require you to push down on the shifter in order to shift into nuetral or 4low. hope you figure it out

[edman87]

Totally stopped and in neutral to get to 4lo. If it won't go and the t-case is a np208, a shifter fork is prolly worn. If it slips from 2hi to N, shifter fork definately worn/ damaged, very common on the np208. Your 3/4 ton migh or might not have this.

[Southedisto]

1st : did you move the shifter laterally while pulling it into 4lo?
2nd : try shutting the engine off and pulling it into 4lo

[msgross]

Might be to late for this one, but always test the 4WD system when buying a truck. If for some reason you can't figure it out i wouldn't sweat it. Once 2HI or 4HI goes bad then you have issues.

[JTK20]

I did try pulling and pushing down on the shifter to see if that would help, but that didn't work. I didn't try moving the shifter laterally though. Anyway, I'm not too worried about it since it goes into 4H just fine. A friend of mine who has an 82 said his t-case is just as stubborn trying to get into 4L.

I just brought it home tonight (drove it 2 hours back) and I was impressed with how well it drives. It's fugly though, that's for sure.

[Billy81]

The way it works on my 86 blazer with a NP208 the transmission has to be in neutral and when you go to shift the transfercase you have to be quick. You cannot stop or pause while you are shifting or it will not go into neutral or 4lo.

[Bender]

Originally Posted by bad_turbo

front hubs shouldn't have anything to do with the T-case shifting

That’s exactly what I would think, but my truck will not go into 4 low without the hubs locked in?

And when I get it in 4 low, I can’t unlock the hubs

(I’ve owned this truck for 21 years now, and I’ve had it in 4 low hundreds of times, I just thought that’s the was the way the truck is?)