apologies in advance - i know this is a tranny issue, but i wanted a broader audience ....

1997 manual 4x4 transaxle, f150 V8, 5 spd ......

issue: the manual 4x4 is really hard to get into gear. it WILL go, but with a lot of force that seems un-natural. no grinding or noises, purely a hard pull to make it shift. it seems to do the same thing through each transition.

is this normal? does anyone else have a manual 4x4 transfer case that is easy to shift?

thanks

 

They should be easy to move especially 2hi to 4hi. get under the truck and start lubing up the linkages. Get somebody else in the truck moving the shifter around while you continue to lube it.

 

do you think there any chance that it is inside the transfer case itself, as opposed the linkage though? i'm concerned that the 4x4 wasn't used by the previous owner, and has not been given the old "going around" enough ....i'm guessing the transfer case has bearings that can dry over time ..... anyone have a link or url for linkage servicing ?

 

Just jump under there, poke your nose around and spray every little linkage you can see. If it wasn't used there may be a layer of rust on it

 

had the same problem, just road crud - pray it down with WD40 and lube it up shift it through all positions to work it in - be generoius use a lot

 

All of the BW 44-06 t-cases have an internal pump. No way anything is going to go dry. As was suggested your linkage is most likely stiff and needs lubricating.
Pull straight back to get 4Hi then over to the left and keep pulling to get it through neutral and finally into 4Lo. This will loosen the full range of the shift linkage. After about 10 times doing this it should loosen up. You should feel a slight detent when going into 4Hi. Don't forget to lube the spring on the linkage.

Regards

Jean Marc Chartier

 

thanks guys - i really appreciate all your advice/help ..... i will get on it this weekend, and let you know how it went .....

again, thanks !!!!

 

be sure to get the whole bracket, when you look at the mount on the tranny, there will be two bolts holding it to the tranny then a third with an arm attached, spray the crap outta that one and the spring, i fount that the hardware on the bracket is the thing that ceases the most. the linkage going back to the t-case is usually not that bad because of the plastic bushings, they come apart real easy.

when i did mine, i separated the linkage from the t-case, the arms going back with a screwdriver. then had someone in the cab moving the shifter while i was underneath with the PB blaster, i prefer it over weasel ****(WD-40), lubing up the bracket, the difference was night and day. this way the shifter could be moved while leaving the t-case in two wheel and really work the manual shifter and the whole lower control.

it worked for me, good luck