4X4 question

[Farmstore34]

Hi all,
this afternoon I took my Chevy up into the snow (72 K20, 350 w/4 speed). When I got up to where the rear wheels were spinning out I stopped and turned the hubs in, and engaged the transfer case. The front wheels would not turn, but the rear kept going. I backed up a few times, tried 4hi and 4lo but no luck. Later when I got home, I put the tranny and transfer case in neutral and engaged the hubs again. When I turned the front driveline it seemed to engage the front wheels fine. Any ideas before I start tearing into this thing? Thanks!
Colby.

[DieselEater]

Maybe your hubs are wore out to the point that your hand strength won't spin past the splines, but the engine just powers through them. Take off the hubs and inspect, before you drain the diff....

A........

[jeffspower]

Yep, problem is probably in the hubs. Might just be sticking. Clean all the parts good & oil them up with motor oil, not grease. Grease can make them stick, especially when cold. Also, A NP205 transfer case still has the front output coupled up to the rear output when in neutral. You need to put it in 2wd, spin the front shaft & watch the knuckle U-joints. If one spins without moving the truck while the lockouts are engaged, you just found the side with the problem. If neither spin, its in the diff.

[1969K10]

I've got one of my hubs that seams to have an attitude. So, I lock them in before I get to the point that I'm spinning tires. That way if I have to mess with my picky hub, I've got space & time. It usually takes moving the truck back or forth a couple inches... maybe your hub just wouldn't lock in where you were sitting.

I'd recommend locking your hubs in on good ground before you're stuck next time...