Technical Transfer case

[pelksraydan@aol.com]

Hello everyone,
My 77 Patrol will not go into low. I have high and neutral only. When trying to engage it into LOW the piston stops dead entering into the case. It feels like hitting a brick wall. There is no restriction from the stick/lever itself. It seems to me that something within the transfer case is holding it back. Does anyone out there have any advice for me?? Thxs!

[RiverPatrol]

This sounds like a question for Esteban.

The only thing I have experienced when the transfer won't shift is due to lack of use and dried up grease preventing the shifter from moving. After shooting some lube on the linkage and pulling real hard it would break free and start working. sometimes I have to move the truck back and forth a little, like it is stuck on a gear tooth or something. I don't know if this is the same problem you're having.

[Esteban]

The comments from RiverPatrol are what I have experienced as well. Never an issue. Beginning in 1975 however, a new linkage mechanism (middleman) was introduced, and instead of being a direct movement of the 2WD/4WD lever, a "cylinder" with some spring mechanism inside does the job. I guess the idea is that you move the lever to the 4WD position, and once the spring mechanism feels that it can move the shift rod inside, it does without your intervention. I personally think it is an overkill. Yes, sometimes you try to engage and the parts inside don't coincide at that very moment and you have to do a couple of trials, or put in neutral momentarily, etc.

I personally have never dealt with this type of mechanism, as I only had before another 74 Patrol. Take a look at this picture taken from the Service Manual that is in the Patrolabilia section. It shows an internal view of the cylinder (#18). There's also another detent gadget at the lever assembly (#1 to #7). Between these two you probably could find the culprit of your problems.

Transfer control lever.jpg

[RiverPatrol]

Thank you Esteban. Once again you provide a wealth of information.

[pelksraydan@aol.com]

Thank you for your input. I actually took it to a 4x4 mechanic here in St Augustine. He of course never worked on one of these. We worked together.....him under the patrol and me in the drivers seat pushing the stick forward and him tapping on the linkage lever. We tried everything accept for taking the transfer case apart. He even detached the entire shifter linkage so he could tap a little more lightly on the piston to see if it would enter the case. It would not budge. We tried when it was in 2wd and 4wd. He did not want to start hammering on it with excessive force and I agreed with him. I will show him the diagram you sent. Thanks again!!!!!

[pelksraydan@aol.com]

Thanks again...I sent the info to my mechanic.