1990 Ranger Transfer Case Wont Disengage

[TimDog]

Hi,

Ok, I have a 1990 Ranger, Push Button Transfer Case, Converted Warn Manual Hubs which is awesome but I have run into one problem....

I was doing a little 4 wheelin and when it came time to disengage the transfer case I pushed the button to disengage i can't get it for the life of me to work. I hear the relay click but nothing. Everytime I push the button, the relay clicks and the light comes on but I push the button again, light goes off and no dice. I am pretty sure the back up 20ft trick only works to unlock auto hubs but I tried that anyway, nothin.
I can unlock the hubs and I am not in 4x4 anymore, obviously, but the front drive line still is engaged. Any ideas? Could it be the shift motor??? Any help would be most appreciated. Thanks.

 

[MikeWild]

try knocking the shift motor with a hammer, they sometimes like to stick. Worse case scenario is you take the shift motor off and switch the t-case manually

 

[TimDog]

Cool. I will try the hammer trick first. Lets just say I have to shift it manually? Whats entailed in that?

Thanks

 

[MikeWild]

Cool. I will try the hammer trick first. Lets just say I have to shift it manually? Whats entailed in that?

Thanks

You have to remove the shift motor to get to the linkage, it looks like a triangle thingamajig. You then can use a screwdriver to manually shift it.

 

[TimDog]

Ok...whats up now

So I got the shift motor off - it was pretty easy, the triangle that had the indent in it was pointed to 2H. Now I am puzzled? Next question - Is it supposed to shift really easy or should it be a little difficult? I could move the triangle with my finger to the 4H setting and back. There were no leaks or any sign of any other problems. BTW, the transfer case doesnt make any noise and has never given me any issue at all in the past.

My next step is to remove the front driveline because even though the hubs are disengaged I would prefer the the front differential not to spin. So short of doing that, any other advice you could throw my way?

 

[TimDog]

I also was thinking.....after I posted of course.....I am not sure if I had made it clear that even though the transfer case says its in 2H, its still engaged in 4H. I locked the manual hubs without shifting the case into 4H and it is in 4H. Drove it in my field and its in 4H for sure. Hmmmm. strange