Front drive shaft only - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

**tim71** · 09-01-2017, 07:14 PM

I'm restoring a 71 K1500. Truck is real close to being able to drive under it's own power. Would it harm the transfer case to drive the truck up onto a trailer with the transfer case in 4hi with only the front drive shaft in place? I'm thinking it would be OK, but kind of question if there might be a reaction to no load on the rear yoke. Any suggestions or info would be appreciated.

**jeffahart** · 09-01-2017, 07:35 PM

Will be fine. You can buy or make a twin stick setup for your transfer so you can have front wheel drive, not recommended for dry pavement.

**Stocker** · 09-01-2017, 08:14 PM

Yeah, you're good. Years ago at work we blew out the rear driveline on an F350. Drove it back to the yard several miles on secondary roads in 4Hi. No problem.

**mongocanfly** · 09-01-2017, 08:31 PM

way back in the day I lost a rear u-joint in my 72 blazer...screwed the yoke up..drive it a couple weeks on front driveshaft while waiting on a replacement....won't be a problem

franken · 09-01-2017, 09:32 PM

Running on dry pavement is only an issue when 4 wheels are driving in a true 4x4 system. This refers to post #2.

snj8198 · 09-01-2017, 10:08 PM

yep, drove 3 hours to home once on only the front pulling my rzr and 6x10 trailer.

**special-K** · 09-03-2017, 06:45 AM

It's called front wheel drive. I've had to run a while that way before. Can't do it with the later transfer cases, but these are no problem

**tim71** · 09-03-2017, 11:20 AM

I was just concerned that the transfer case may have been designed to always carry a load on the rear yoke and that no load on rear might cause some internal damage to case.

95 S_Trucker · 09-03-2017, 01:39 PM

If your transfer case has a fixed rear yoke, you will be fine. If it has a slip yoke, you will have problems.

abig84 · 09-03-2017, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 95 S_Trucker

If your transfer case has a fixed rear yoke, you will be fine. If it has a slip yoke, you will have problems.

yeah if its open you will just spill transmission fluid or oil all over the place but just going on the trailer shouldnt be a issue if you dont mind a small trail.

i drove home like 6 blocks with only a front driveshaft and the rear shaft removed on one with a slip yolk on a 83 s10 blazer, it just left a small trail the whole way but didnt hurt anything

95 S_Trucker · 09-04-2017, 07:01 AM

It's not just for fluid. The slip yoke supports the rear half of the output shaft. With nothing to support it, it can rock around and damage itself, other parts in the case, the bushing that supports the slip yoke, the seal(not a real biggie) and the case itself.

You got lucky

**tim71** · 09-04-2017, 06:54 PM

Transfer case is a NP205 with a fixed rear yoke.

09-01-2017, 07:14 PM	#1
tim71 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Brownsburg, IN Posts: 1,103	Front drive shaft only I'm restoring a 71 K1500. Truck is real close to being able to drive under it's own power. Would it harm the transfer case to drive the truck up onto a trailer with the transfer case in 4hi with only the front drive shaft in place? I'm thinking it would be OK, but kind of question if there might be a reaction to no load on the rear yoke. Any suggestions or info would be appreciated. __________________ 1972 Blazer Highlander 1971 GMC K1500 SWB (sold) 2004 Corvette Z06 CE

09-01-2017, 08:14 PM	#3
Stocker 20' Daredevil (Ret) Join Date: May 2003 Location: Jefferson State Posts: 13,722	Re: Front drive shaft only Yeah, you're good. Years ago at work we blew out the rear driveline on an F350. Drove it back to the yard several miles on secondary roads in 4Hi. No problem. __________________ - Mike - 1972 K20 LWB 350/350/205 RIP El Jay

09-01-2017, 08:31 PM	#4
mongocanfly Post Whore Join Date: May 2015 Location: Alabama Posts: 14,670	Re: Front drive shaft only way back in the day I lost a rear u-joint in my 72 blazer...screwed the yoke up..drive it a couple weeks on front driveshaft while waiting on a replacement....won't be a problem

09-01-2017, 09:32 PM	#5
franken Registered User Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Somewhere Posts: 3,123	Re: Front drive shaft only Running on dry pavement is only an issue when 4 wheels are driving in a true 4x4 system. This refers to post #2.

09-01-2017, 10:08 PM	#6
snj8198 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Star Valley, WY Posts: 2,038	Re: Front drive shaft only yep, drove 3 hours to home once on only the front pulling my rzr and 6x10 trailer. __________________ Steve 1971 GMC Longbox. Full Roller Stroker 489 w/ FiTech EFI, Chris Straub Cam/NV4500/205/D60/14B w. Grizzly Locker and 4.11's. 2" Lift on 33's

09-01-2017, 07:35 PM	#2
jeffahart Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Scottsdale, AZ Posts: 1,907	Re: Front drive shaft only Will be fine. You can buy or make a twin stick setup for your transfer so you can have front wheel drive, not recommended for dry pavement. __________________ White K20

09-03-2017, 06:45 AM	#7
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,851	Re: Front drive shaft only It's called front wheel drive. I've had to run a while that way before. Can't do it with the later transfer cases, but these are no problem __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

09-03-2017, 11:20 AM	#8
tim71 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Brownsburg, IN Posts: 1,103	Re: Front drive shaft only I was just concerned that the transfer case may have been designed to always carry a load on the rear yoke and that no load on rear might cause some internal damage to case. __________________ 1972 Blazer Highlander 1971 GMC K1500 SWB (sold) 2004 Corvette Z06 CE

09-03-2017, 01:39 PM	#9
95 S_Trucker Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: . Posts: 2,187	Re: Front drive shaft only If your transfer case has a fixed rear yoke, you will be fine. If it has a slip yoke, you will have problems.

09-04-2017, 07:01 AM	#11
95 S_Trucker Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: . Posts: 2,187	Re: Front drive shaft only It's not just for fluid. The slip yoke supports the rear half of the output shaft. With nothing to support it, it can rock around and damage itself, other parts in the case, the bushing that supports the slip yoke, the seal(not a real biggie) and the case itself. You got lucky

09-04-2017, 06:54 PM	#12
tim71 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Brownsburg, IN Posts: 1,103	Re: Front drive shaft only Transfer case is a NP205 with a fixed rear yoke. __________________ 1972 Blazer Highlander 1971 GMC K1500 SWB (sold) 2004 Corvette Z06 CE



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