I have a 97 f150 4.5 ,manual 5 speed trans 4x4 king cab. About 2 months ago shifter for 4x4 started to get hard to put in and out of 4wd. Took truck in shop and the guy took something aluminum off and sprayed it and got it freed up and it worked fine again. Got in truck today and took out of 4wd at a stop on flat road and drove truck. Got back home and went to put back in 4wd and found shifter will not move at all. Stuck like its locked this time. What is making it do this ? I have 110,000 miles on truck and no trans problems till now. Can some one that has had the same problem please tell me what it could be so maby I can save some money and fix it myself. Thanks wrongturninswv@wmconnect.com

 

the linkage rod is just that

a flat bar with a hole in each end that engages 4x4 in the transfer case

i have no aluminum "thing" on my linkage or covering it...

go underneeth and use a good oil and lube it up good

mine is tight also but it always works

...zap!

 

It's called maintenance the shift linkage is to be lubed every 6,000 miles. at this point it would be best to remove the shifter, dissasemble it and lube it with a good quality grease, after that when you change oil etc spray the linkage with a spray molley grease that can penitrate and keep things lubed and working free , this should also be done to door latches and tailgate latches.

 

I had the same problem with mine. Ended up taking shifter mechanism apart. There are nylon bushing inside the steel tube. The steel rusts and the whole thing binds, to the point that you think you will snap shifter before it will move. Penetrating oil might buy you some time, but eventually it will have to be taken apart derusted and greased. No parts to buy just a pain in the butt.