Hey, my 2.8 buddies

[Eric Kropp]

So I need you guys to think on this one. I posted this a bit ago in the tranny forum and got no replies. So I need some real help from real 2.8ers. It now has ground in between shifts 3-4 times, then stops as soon as I put the clutch in and release it. It has momentarily jumped out of gear in reverse under load and in first when decelerating. But check this out, I put it in low range and it won't do any of the bad stuff. Kind of make me lean toward the Transfer case. The transfer case has never been apart in 350,000 miles. The transmission as any 2.8 owner would know has been apart a half dozen times. Wach-u-tink?

Eric<><

 

[Hotrodlincoln]

Transfer case isn't going to make it jump out of gear or grind. Worn synchros cause that. What transmission do you have?
The transfer case has absolutely nothing to do with the way the trans works internally. That's like blaming the alternator because the clutch went out.

 

[84stealthranger]

Transfer case isn't going to make it jump out of gear or grind. Worn synchros cause that. What transmission do you have?
The transfer case has absolutely nothing to do with the way the trans works internally. That's like blaming the alternator because the clutch went out.

yupp what he said lol

 

[Eric Kropp]

So what you are saying is " there is NOTHING in the transfer case that could fail and cause the truck to free-wheel? I question this because it never does it in Low Range only Hi Range.

Eric

 

[Hotrodlincoln]

Well it could do that, but it's pretty unlikely, if the linkage were severely out of adjustment.
For the T case to pop into neutral it would have to slide from 2 hi through 4 hi and into the neutral position. About the only way it's going to do that is if the linkage is so far out that it is staying in 4wd hi all the time. If this were the case, the shifter handle would be in something like midway between 4hi and neutral position when the T case is in 4 lo.
You can put the truck on 4 jack stands and see if the front driveshaft spins with the T case shifter in the 2wd position. If it spins the T case is in 4wd hi rather than 2wd hi.
Beyond that, there really isn't any other reason that I can see that the T case would or could pop into neutral.

 

[Eric Kropp]

Then I suppose I will pull the tranny down with the T-case and have them looked at by my Tranny guy. Have you guys tried any of the rebuild kits available today. My guess is they are from China...hope not.

Eric<><

 

[Hotrodlincoln]

Broncograveyard sells rebuild kits for all the ranger transmissions. They sell Timken bearings which are decent quality.
I found a store on ebay that sells complete rebuild kits for many Ford, GM, and other transmissions. Prices are pretty good and shipping is cheap, don't know who makes their bearings though. http://stores.ebay.com/TRANSPARTS-AT-THE-BEST-PRICES

 

[Eric Kropp]

And the answer is............The transfer case. I pulled the t-case off and it had all kinds of play back and forth on the input shaft and just general slop and noise. I also pulled the tranny and took them both to my tranny guy and we (mostly he!) looked inside and found the transmission to be in real good condition. Little or no wear on the sincro's, the fork slide thingy's were nice and smooth with out excess play. Now the transfer case is different story. The lube line off the pump had hardened up and broke off and was not lubricating the the input shaft, so nothing was getting lubed on the fork, sincro's and needle bearing. The needle bearing came apart at dis-assembly. There was lot of play on the shift fork and sincro's. The reason I thought it was the t-case from the beginning is: It was doing too many things wrong all across the board. Jumping out of first and reverse, but only in high range, grinding when down shifting to third and upshifting to fifth. I think there would have to be a lot of things go wrong all at once to cause that many symtoms if it was the tranny. The good news is I found a FREEEEE Transfer case, so the whole thing doesn't cost much more than a few gaskets bolts and oil.....sweeeeet

 

[Hotrodlincoln]

I wouldn't have figured that but if it was ready to fall apart then I guess you found your answer. Post some pics of the destruction!

 

[Eric Kropp]

I think the point you are not seeing is: the tranny was not jumping into neutral, the transfer case was. It is like a two speed transmission, it has forks(fork)and sincro's like a transmission. I am also not real sure it was "neutral" I was experiencing, it would make a loud click and jump forward while de-celerating in first gear when going down hill. Momentary freewheeling probably would have been a better description. Things were real dry up there with out any oil. I posted a thread called "Growling" and came to the conclusion that my axle on the right side was the culprit. My bet is most of the growling will go away when that needle bearing on the input shaft of the t-case gets some oil! I can only take pictures with my cell phone, so I can only send pictures to an E-mail address.

Thanks,
Eric<><

 

[Eric Kropp]

So I got the new (different) Transfer Case installed and all is good in the snack bar now. No more popping out and in to high range. Quieter too. If one of you guys left your email address I will send some pictures when I take it apart to see what the deal is. I don't have the tech-know to post pictures here.

Eric