Grinding when trying to shift out of 4L - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Chrispbrown36 · 03-05-2015, 11:38 AM

My 87 did great in the snow today, until I pulled into the driveway. We have a decent hill at the beginning of our driveway so I put it down in 4L to get up it. When I got to where I wanted to be I put the tranny in neutral and tried to shift out of 4L and it started grinding. I let it roll a little then tried again same thing. I pulled forward a little same thing. Can't figure out why it wouldn't let me shift out of 4L. Could it be the incline?

**landy** · 03-05-2015, 03:07 PM

You don't say what transmission and transfer case you have, but an '87 would likely have a NP208 as original equipment. If it's NP205, they are known for being hard to shift out of 4L. Haven't had a problem with the 208, but maybe the chain is stretched? Can you let the truck roll down the hill slightly and try to shift out?

Chrispbrown36 · 03-05-2015, 03:15 PM

I knew I would forget something....700r and np208. I am about to go back out and mess with it to see if I can get it out of 4L. Thanks for the reply.

Chrispbrown36 · 03-05-2015, 04:36 PM

Went back out and with a little coaxing she came out of 4L. If the weather ever clears up I will drain all the fluids and refill them. I was pretty happy with the way the truck handled the roads today....it's nice to have 4wd again. One of the roads coming out to our house was under water and the other had not been plowed yet. Without the truck we would not have made it home and I was over staying at the hotel.

400/400 · 03-05-2015, 11:24 PM

Was the truck rolling or at a complete stop when you tried shifting? Usually to get out of 4-low you want the truck to be rolling, slowly, near coming to a stop, put the tranny in neutral, and shift the t-case with a firm quick motion back to 4H or 2H.

**landy** · 03-05-2015, 11:42 PM

NP 208 uses ATF, not gear oil. Maybe previous owner put the incorrect fluid in it?

**special-K** · 03-06-2015, 12:20 AM

They will bind up easier in 4Lo.

Gregs71 · 03-06-2015, 11:35 PM

When in a bind, I will turn off the truck and then pull it out of said gear, restart truck and continue on. Not sure why turning off the truck helps get it out of gear, but it does.

Cam-Shaft · 03-12-2015, 11:23 AM

A transmission repair shop once told me to put it in reverse and gun it, then try and shift. Seemed to always work.

$20071k10 · 03-16-2015, 12:16 AM

When you shift in to neutral the main shaft of the trans is still spinning! Put the tranny back in to drive then neutral and should shift easier!

03-05-2015, 11:38 AM	#1
Chrispbrown36 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Cunningham, KY Posts: 351	Grinding when trying to shift out of 4L My 87 did great in the snow today, until I pulled into the driveway. We have a decent hill at the beginning of our driveway so I put it down in 4L to get up it. When I got to where I wanted to be I put the tranny in neutral and tried to shift out of 4L and it started grinding. I let it roll a little then tried again same thing. I pulled forward a little same thing. Can't figure out why it wouldn't let me shift out of 4L. Could it be the incline?

03-05-2015, 03:07 PM	#2
landy Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: alb, nm Posts: 413	Re: Grinding when trying to shift out of 4L You don't say what transmission and transfer case you have, but an '87 would likely have a NP208 as original equipment. If it's NP205, they are known for being hard to shift out of 4L. Haven't had a problem with the 208, but maybe the chain is stretched? Can you let the truck roll down the hill slightly and try to shift out?

03-05-2015, 03:15 PM	#3
Chrispbrown36 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Cunningham, KY Posts: 351	Re: Grinding when trying to shift out of 4L I knew I would forget something....700r and np208. I am about to go back out and mess with it to see if I can get it out of 4L. Thanks for the reply.

03-05-2015, 04:36 PM	#4
Chrispbrown36 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Cunningham, KY Posts: 351	Re: Grinding when trying to shift out of 4L Went back out and with a little coaxing she came out of 4L. If the weather ever clears up I will drain all the fluids and refill them. I was pretty happy with the way the truck handled the roads today....it's nice to have 4wd again. One of the roads coming out to our house was under water and the other had not been plowed yet. Without the truck we would not have made it home and I was over staying at the hotel.

03-05-2015, 11:24 PM	#5
400/400 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Central MN Posts: 288	Re: Grinding when trying to shift out of 4L Was the truck rolling or at a complete stop when you tried shifting? Usually to get out of 4-low you want the truck to be rolling, slowly, near coming to a stop, put the tranny in neutral, and shift the t-case with a firm quick motion back to 4H or 2H. __________________ -400/400 1979 K25 350/SM465/205/44HD/14FF 1985 K20 400/400/208/10/14 1987 V10 TBI350/700R4/208/10/10 '85 Build Thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=643968

03-05-2015, 11:42 PM	#6
landy Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: alb, nm Posts: 413	Re: Grinding when trying to shift out of 4L NP 208 uses ATF, not gear oil. Maybe previous owner put the incorrect fluid in it?

03-06-2015, 12:20 AM	#7
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,851	Re: Grinding when trying to shift out of 4L They will bind up easier in 4Lo. __________________ "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 ~

03-06-2015, 11:35 PM	#8
Gregs71 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Amador County, Ca. Posts: 229	Re: Grinding when trying to shift out of 4L When in a bind, I will turn off the truck and then pull it out of said gear, restart truck and continue on. Not sure why turning off the truck helps get it out of gear, but it does. __________________ 1995 GMC 4x4 1/2 ton 1999 Jeep Wrangler w/ 33's 68 camaro 350/350 1987 Chevy 3/4 ton 4x4 Suzuki DRZ 400s Dual Sport 1971 chevy long bed 2x4 194? Dodge 2.5 ton 1980 Chevy Cheyenne 4x4 1/2 ton I6/sm455 1989 Chevy V30 crewcab dually 454/TH400

03-12-2015, 11:23 AM	#9
Cam-Shaft Registered User Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Vernon, CT Posts: 85	Re: Grinding when trying to shift out of 4L A transmission repair shop once told me to put it in reverse and gun it, then try and shift. Seemed to always work.

03-16-2015, 12:16 AM	#10
$20071k10 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Mancos,CO Posts: 101	Re: Grinding when trying to shift out of 4L When you shift in to neutral the main shaft of the trans is still spinning! Put the tranny back in to drive then neutral and should shift easier! __________________ Brian



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