how to engage

[cathynkeith]

ok, I'm dumb here my Tahoe goes into 4wd with the push of a button.
This 71 4x4 I do not know, I locked the hubs, pulled the handle back but the front tires do no engage.
When I drive forward, I can feel/hear the transfer case engage.
any suggestion?

[mljjones67]

Did you try 4 hi or just 4 low? If the hubs are in it should engage I would think. Are you sure the wheels are not engaged? maybe the shifter linkage is way loose and not letting it engage all the way.??

[mljjones67]

also check and see if you have a drive shaft. Ya never know!! If you hear it though I bet you have one.

[cathynkeith]

yep have shaft, the shift knob has been replaced with a t handle, do not know the pattern.

[Doug Comer]

If its the original transfer case it should be all the way back for 4-wheel and all the way forward for 2-wheel, no hi or low. The way I always try to engage is to lock the hubs first and then pull the lever back. If that doesn't work I would check the linkage first like was said earlier. Doug

[averagef250]

Does it have a body lift? I owned a highboy with a 3" body lift and the hole in the floorboard wasn't big enough to let it shift into 4lo. If it's a dana 21 case, check under the truck, it may have snapped off and be laying on the ground under the truck. OK, they're not that crappy, but definitely not a real winner.

[Clarko]

It also could be that the hubs are shot. It happens pretty regularly on a Dana 44 front.

[69F110]

you said you can hear it engae, so the linkage is obviously working...I agree with the hub possibility.

[cathynkeith]

thanks for the input guys, I took it to the muffler shop this am, going to let them put headers on while I'm out of town, leed mechanic drives realy nice lifted 4x4 bronco said he would look at it and he had some hubs I could have just cover labor. I like them deals.

[Clarko]

They're super simple to replace, as well, so labor shouldn't kill ya on that.