BW1350 TC slipping out of 4HI

[Tberry]

Hey all,

1985 Ranger 2.8L V6, A4LD transmission, BW1350 manual transfer case.

Goes into 4Lo from neutral and lurches pretty hard but no clunk. Not sure if normal because truck is new to me.

Going into 4hi it grinds a bit as I play with shifter then clunks in hard to engage. I can then drive and it works but if I let off the throttle it slips out of 4hi and I end up in neutral just revving my engine.

Has anyone experienced this? I'm not sure if maybe I'm doing something wrong or not.

Recently replaced TC fluid in an attempt to fix. No luck. Transmission fluid with filter is due this weekend.

Any help as to why it's clunking into, then slipping out of 4hi, is appreciated.

 

[Shran]

Should be no clunks or grinding during any shift (but do not shift into or out of 4 Low while moving!) You can shift from 2wd to 4 High at any time. If this is a 4 Low to 4 High shift, are you stopped, foot on the brake?

Look at this, might see if your shifter linkage needs to be adjusted, that COULD explain slipping out of 4 High...

How to: - How-To: Adjusting Transfer Case Shift Linkage (Manual Shift T-Case)

When you shift your truck from 2WD into 4High, Neutral, or 4Low, and instead of a nice sharp click into gear, you feel like you're stirring through a bowl of oatmeal to find the strawberry bits (sweet spot), you need to adjust your shift linkage. Here's how. Tools I used: 3/8" drive ratchet...

www.explorerforum.com

 

[SenorNoob]

On an 85, I'd bet the bushings on that shifter are looong gone. At least the one on the stub bolted to the transfer case. Possibly related to shifter issues.

That is a LOT bigger than I thought it was. I've never seen one before.

 

[RonD]

Need to be stopped and then shift Automatic to Neutral first, especially for 4low
Grinding or "clunk" means the transfer case gears are/were still spinning from automatic transmission being "in gear"

+1 on the shift linkage, the shift linkage holds the transfer case in 2wd, 4H, N and 4L
If it has "slop" in it then it can't hold it
This is all external linkage which is easy to inspect

Could be an internal issue, i.e. worn shift fork, but easy enough to check external first

If you have manual hubs then you can shift from 2wd to 4H and then back to 2wd while driving with no grinding, IF THE HUBS ARE LOCKED
No need to shift trans to Neutral as long as you are above 10mph

So leave the hubs locked all the time when you think you will want 4WD while driving, won't hurt a thing
With the hubs locked the front and rear drive shafts will be spinning at the same RPM, so transfer case gears will also be spinning at the same RPMs
So no grinding when you shift from 2WD to 4H or back to 2WD while above 10mph
4low always requires you to be stopped

Automatics "in gear" are always trying to spin the output shaft, so when stopped if you shift transfer case(its at 0 RPMs) the automatic will try to move the gears as you shift so grinding and/or clunk
Above 10mph the transfer case gears are already spinning(hubs locked) at the same speed as transmission output shaft, so no grinding when shifting between 2wd and 4h or back

Grinding or clunk means any gears were at different RPMs


Heads up
Locking hubs can need service, if only one hub is locking then no 4WD but also no RPM match so grinding
Front differential is OPEN type, so BOTH hubs need to be locked