97 F-350 Manual Hubs not working?

[Rudy]

97 F-350 Can't move transfer case lever into 4 wheel drive

1997 Ford F-350 4x4 Crew Cab with manual locking hubs .

When I bought the truck a few months ago I used it only to move it from one spot in my yard to another and was able to put it in 4 wheel drive HIGH. But it took some effort to move the shifter from 2 wheel high to 4wheel high I noticed. Didn't give it anymore thought as it went into 4 wheel drive HIGH ok and I was able to move the truck...I then moved the shifter back to 2 wheel drive and turned the manual hubs back to FREE.

Today, a couple of months later, I drive it up and down my street ( not on the road yet ) and for the heck of it I thought I would try out the 4 wheel drive LOW so I get out of the truck and turn the manual hubs to LOCK and then I couldn't move the shifter to put it in 4 wheel drive..I pulled hard enough on the shift lever trying to move it down to 4 wheel drive that the knob came flying off.

I tried a number of things...backed the truck up some...moved forward...put it in neutral and no matter what I did I couldn't move the transfer case shifter out of 2 wheel drive to put it in either 4 wheel drive HIGH or LOW. So I'm thinking even though the hubs moved freely when I turned them to the LOCK position I have a gut feeling that they are not engaging or working at all.

Any ideas as I have had 4x4's before but this is the first one for me with manual locking hubs.

My regular mechanic is out of town for another week so thought I would ask here. It has an automatic transmission with the 7.5L 460 gas engine

Thanks.

 

[Nhaz]

The hubs shouldn't have any affect on if the transfer case goes in 4h or 4L. The hubs can be unlocked and you can still spin the drive shafts in 4H and 4L. It will remain in 2wd with the hubs unlocked.

I think it was just chance that you are having the problem as you locked the manual hubs.

I would be looking at the transfer case.

 

[Rudy]

So regardless if I have the hubs turned to lock or not I still should be able to move the transfer case shift down from 2 wheel drive to 4 High or neutral or 4 LOW? ( either in park or in neutral )

Will have the transfer case looked at as after reading your post it seems to me when I was trying to move the shift lever down to 4 HIGH it seemed for a split second I saw the 4 HIGH light on the dash come on and then immediately went off....but the stick hardly moved...very very tight it seems.

Thank you for your help!

 

[red93terror]

you have to push down on the t case lever to get it past 4 high into neutral and 4 low. not being a jerk, i had to figure it out the hard way too

 

[Rudy]

Yes I know that but you see I can't budge or move the t-case lever at all. I can't even move it from where it is now in 2 wheel drive just down an inch or so to 4 wheel HIGH.

No matter what I do ( put the transmission in neutral, shut engine off, leave engine on, etc ) the lever just won't move at all. When I put some muscle on the lever the knob came flying off in my hand but the lever still wouldn't budge. But in one attemp to move it I saw the dash board light light up showing 4 wheel drive but just for a split second but the stick(lever) didn't feel like I moved it but maybe a hair.

I didn't look under the truck but when it stops raining I will but I don't even know what to look for but I will look to see if I can see something amiss.

About the best way I can explain the t-case lever is it seems to be frozen in place....when I first used the truck to move it in my yard after buying it I was able to get it into 4 HIGH but the stick was a bit hard to move it there. But when I did the dash light lit up showing in 4 wheel drive. I also was able to push down on the lever and move down into 4 LOW but the dash board light didn't show it was in LOW but the owners manual said it should have...but it definitely was in 4 wheel low....and then when I moved the truck to where I wanted to I was able to move t-case lever back all the way to 2 wheel drive and that was that. But even though I was able to move the level all the way up to 2 wheel drive the lever was a bit stiff I would say for no better word to use....it didn't move freely but it did move. Now, a couple of months later I can't move it at all.

Since I have never had manual locking hubs at first I just assumed they were the problem but from reading the replies evidently they are not. The problem must be in the transfer case, or the lever or something connected to it ( electrical maybe?)

My mechanic will take care of it for me but since he and his wife are on vacation on some cruise I figured maybe it would be something simple that I could figure out or even fix even though my mechanical ability is close to a big fat ZERO.

Thanks.

 

[red93terror]

well from what it sounds like you may have something that could be possibly jammed up underneath the truck and thats causing it. maybe its a stick or something, or your t case lever might be twisted lik insinde the case. or since you dont drive the truck very often, it may just need to be driven. stuff gts tight if it sits for a while

 

[Rudy]

Don't know if these photos I just took are of any help at all but here they are.

 

[Jspafford]

Sorry Bro, but that is for the automatic transmission. That is the shift linkage. You are looking for a metal arm with a lever attached. Usually one big and one small bolt holding it on the back of the transmission, not the front.

 

[Rudy]

lol...I am now laughing out loud at myself......will get back under it and snap a few more..
Thanks

 

[Jspafford]

Slide your creeper about 18" back and snap some more.

lol

 

[Rudy]

do these photos I just took tell any story and looks like that black hose has tape around it in areas.

 

[red93terror]

Hey man i just thought of something, start the truck, put it in neutral, and try shifting. then back up about 3 feet and try again back and forward a few times. may loosen it up. i had a blazer that was very temperamental with its t case

 

[Rudy]

I will try that.....thanks for the suggestion.

 

[Jspafford]

The linkage looks fine. The black hose looks to be a repair made to run some sort of wires through.

May take the linkage loose on the case and try moving the lever with pliers. It should move hard, but freely.

 

[Rudy]

Well just to give an update the stick lever won't budge. I moved the truck back, forward, put in neutral, park, reverse.....damn near everything except drive it thru my neighbors fence. ...lol

I'm an old guy with serious health issues so just crawling under it is a drag but I did again and I just whacked the linkage with a rubber mallet and then sprayed the hell out of it with WD40.....My back hurts to much to try and put any wrenches on anything but after doing all of the above I got back in the truck and t-case lever still won't budge.

I appreciate all the replies and suggestions and help....I will just wait until my friend gets back from their cruise and he can trailer it down to his shop and check it out and fix whatever needs fixing for me. Trailer it only cause I don't have it on the road yet....( waiting to sell another vehicle so I can transfer the registration and plates to this F350 )

Thanks!