94 Ranger w/ odd symptoms

[TexCaliBII]

All,
I'm trying to T/S a 94 Ranger for a friend of a friend kind of thing. I test drove it and it makes a grinding/spinning sound then bucks but continues forward. I parked it and made some initial checks. I can move the rear driveshaft back and forth with a clunk/clang sound. The u-joints are not the culprit. I then pulled the fill plug on the xfer case and it was empty, hmmmm. Filled it up but of course no real help to the truck. It is 4x4 and from it's body I can tell it has been off road, a lot. I was going to drop the the diff cover and take a look but didn't have any gear lube to refill it at the time. I'm thinking the xfer case is the issue but am not sure. Any ideas?

 

[Earl43P]

Try 4Hi and 4Lo?

Does sound like a jumping chain in that Txfr case tho'.

Might be more diagnosible in 4Lo.

Might try pulling out with the parking brake set, in reverse and forward. Might pinpoint the axle vs. txfr case. Need someone else to walk alongside and listen (or better yet have them drive while you walk/listen).

 

[TexCaliBII]

That'll be the next go 'round on troubleshooting. I did walk by it while it was driven and that's what it sounds like and acts like to me. More to come I guess.