chain in t-case jumping???

[ranger8800]

i bought a 88 ranger, rebuilt the tranny, drives awesome, except in 4wd. when i put it in 4wd and lock the hubs, and then go to drive off, theres a loud clunk sound that comes from the transfer case, and it does every couple of feet when im driving. im thinking that the chain is jumping teeth on the sprocket. anyone heard of anything like this before? im not sure what to do with it, either fix or buy a new one

 

[Evan]

Those chains can stretch and jump the sprocket. The best way to determine if your chain is bad is to remove the t-case, split it open, and examine the chain. Working inside a t-case is not too hard; it's much easier than a transmission.

You should post some more details and maybe we can narrow the problem down for you a bit, before you go tearing into the case. Does the noise get better or worse under load? Does it change when you turn? When/how did it start? Give us as many details as you can.

 

[surffishin07]

just to be sure you are off the pavement when in 4wd right? high torque and no release will result in explosion-not cool

 

[Hahnsb2]

I'd swap it for another T-case, they're a dime a dozen.

 

[mwood1985]

swap

yeah man easiest way is to just swap it out for an other case i had to do the same to mine last week same problem in an 01 running a 1354. always a good time to drop in a dood old atlas... or the junkyard jewels

 

[Big Jim M]

I'd like to ask ranger8800 if he was on a slippery surface or if he was trying his 4x4 on a dry hard surface? If the latter then wake up! 4x4 is meant for slippery surfaces and will make all kinds of clunks and thumps on pavement or other dry hard surface..
Big JIm

 

[metalmacguyver]

yeah man easiest way is to just swap it out for an other case i had to do the same to mine last week same problem in an 01 running a 1354. always a good time to drop in a dood old atlas... or the junkyard jewels

Junkyard jewels? Other than a manual 1354 I have no idea what your talking about.

 

[AllanD]

In a straight line if it's doing that I'd be looking for either a difference in the diameter of the tires (tires of the same size vary brand-by-brand)

OR someone replaced one differential or the other and it didn't have the same gearing as the front axle.

For the chains to slip in a 13-50 or 13-54 nearly requires that the case housing would break for there to be enough room for the chain to jump.

It sounds a lot more like the "hop" you get fron driveshaft windup.

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[MAKG]

In a straight line if it's doing that I'd be looking for either a difference in the diameter of the tires (tires of the same size vary brand-by-brand)

Or one tire is significantly underinflated.

 

[mwood1985]

manual shift 1354s are exactly the junkyard jewels im talking about im in south carolina and have only found one they seem to be rare and i snapped it up for my 97 in the garage

 

[Evan]

manual shift 1354s are exactly the junkyard jewels im talking about im in south carolina and have only found one they seem to be rare and i snapped it up for my 97 in the garage

Yep, the manual 1354s seem to be quite rare.

 

[ranger8800]

when it was in 4wd, it was a straight line, one flat tire (from sitting for 3 months), uphill out of my backyard (couldnt get out in 2wd), and its done this since ive owned it. fairly sure its a manual 1350, id tag broke off. no change when turning, or in different gears, havent used it when it isnt under a load

i might try it again now that ive got 4 ok tires on it. or might just go buy 4 new tires that i know are good

 

[Bent Bolt]

In a straight line if it's doing that I'd be looking for either a difference in the diameter of the tires (tires of the same size vary brand-by-brand)

Very true. Ford requires all tires to be within 1/4" in circumference.
Even driving around in 4wd with one tire with low air pressure can do it.

For the chains to slip in a 13-50 or 13-54 nearly requires that the case housing would break for there to be enough room for the chain to jump.

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No. I have been seeing more chains in the newer 1354 t-cases stretch and jump in the Rangers. The chain has more than enough room in the case to jump sprockets.
If you drain the oil from the t-case, you can see the chain wrapped around the front output sprocket. Use a screwdriver to poke at it, it should be fairly snug to the sprocket. If you can pull it away from the sprocket even a little bit, it's stretched.

 

[AllanD]

Yep, the manual 1354s seem to be quite rare.

All you gotta do to find one is ask me.

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