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difficult shifting out of 4hi and 4lo

Discussion in 'Intermediate CJ-5/6/7/8' started by doctorchopper, Dec 23, 2013.

  1. Dec 23, 2013
    doctorchopper

    doctorchopper New Member

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    Hi there, my 74 cj5 is very difficult to get out of 4hi and 4lo. I've tried rocking forward and back, oil is fresh as well. Any suggestions
     
  2. Dec 23, 2013
    Walt Couch

    Walt Couch sidehill Cordele, Ga. 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    cordele, Ga.
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    The shift rails on my jeep had become rusty after sitting for 12 years and was the same pblm as yours. Real smooth after cleaning and lube.
     
  3. Dec 23, 2013
    doctorchopper

    doctorchopper New Member

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    Great info, very possible as I don't think the Jeep has seen much use in the last while. Did you need to remove transfer box to get to the shift rails or can it be done from the top?
     
  4. Dec 23, 2013
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    You should be able to take the floors up in a '74 and see the shift rails. NB Jeep started welding in the floors ca 1975, but a '74 should still have the removable floor panels.

    Does the shifter move through the gears at all? Low range will be all the way back - the knob will touch the top of the toolbox.

    4-high is just a notch forward. With the hubs locked, you should be able to shift from 2-high to 4-high and back at any speed, as long as you are pointed straight ahead. 4-low is best selected at a baby crawl, IME.
     
    Last edited: Dec 23, 2013
  5. Dec 23, 2013
    nickmil

    nickmil In mothballs.

    Happy Valley, OR
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    Sometimes simply ricking the Jeep is not enough if the drivetrain is bound up. Sometimes you have to back up a little bit to unbind it.
    I would look at the linkage as mentioned above though.


    Sent from my iPhone
     
  6. Dec 23, 2013
    doctorchopper

    doctorchopper New Member

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    Yes its a bolted in floor. It does engage properly in each mode, 2hi, 4hi, 4lo, and neutral, but once I select either 4hi or 4lo it is extremely difficult to get out of the selected range. I tried rocking jeep forward and back, as well as reversing a good distance
     
  7. Dec 23, 2013
    roschmbo

    roschmbo New Member

    Corona CA
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    You could try unlocking your hubs before shifting out of these ranges. Might make a difference.
     
  8. Dec 23, 2013
    doctorchopper

    doctorchopper New Member

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    No manual hub, it has drive flanges. I'll start with inspecting cleaning and lubing the shift rail, anymore info would be great
     
  9. Dec 23, 2013
    Mike S

    Mike S Sponsor

    Cameron Park Ca.
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    Put a floor jack under the front axle, and get both front wheels off the ground-----see if it shifts easier.
     
  10. Dec 23, 2013
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

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    There is a Jeep FSM (factory service manual) for 1974 here - http://oljeep.com/edge_74_tsm.html - look at chapter 8. Note that figures 8-1 and 8-2 are switched. The FSM has good drawings and pictures that show you how the gears should move. Everything is controlled by the position of the two sliding gears - one for the front output and one for the rear output. Each shift rod connects to a fork, which moves one of these gears.

    The way the linkage is arranged, the rear output fork will always move first. So, from neutral at the center, pushing the lever forward, the interlock pill in the shift housing holds the front output gear shift rod from moving until the rear output gear has moved forward to engage the rear axle (2WD high). Once the rear output gear has moved forward, the interlock can move out of the notch in the front output shift rod, and further shifter movement sends the front output gear forward to engage the front axle (4WD high). The same thing happens when you move the lever back - you get 2WD low first (event though it's not marked on the knob), and then the interlock is cleared and you can shift further to engage 4WD low. Clear?
     
  11. Dec 23, 2013
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

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    I have not tried to put one of these together wrong, but I expect you could and then you would not be able to shift it. The shift rods have to be right, ie front rod for front and rear for rear, and maybe they could also be put in rotated 180 degrees. Then maybe the interlock would not go into a notch in 2WD let the front shift rod move.

    Nick can probably comment on this.
     
  12. Dec 23, 2013
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

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    Oops - sorry - missed your subsequent post.

    If I were having trouble getting out of 4WD, I would look to the condition of the shift mechanism first. If you only have difficulty with 4WD and not into and out of 2WD from neutral, then that could point to an issue with the front output shifting ... ie something with the linkage or the front output shift rod or the front output sliding gear. It sounds like you've made all the right maneuvers to free up any drivetrain binding.
     
  13. Dec 23, 2013
    doctorchopper

    doctorchopper New Member

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    Thanks for that, I have no problem getting back into 2hi once its in neutral, just very difficult to get out of 4hi and 4lo
     
  14. Dec 26, 2013
    Posimoto

    Posimoto Hopeless JEEP Addict

    Minden, Nevada
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    Before you tear into anything check your tire pressure. One low tire will cause it to bind up, especially if you are on hard ground, pavement etc.
     
  15. Dec 27, 2013
    Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

    Apopka, Fl
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    Along with tire pressure, are all the tires the same size? Also, are you by chance trying this on pavement or a hard packed road? Any of these will cause binding.
     
  16. Dec 27, 2013
    doctorchopper

    doctorchopper New Member

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    Yes all tires are the same and new, I have just acquired the jeep so was trying it out in the drive way(pavement), I'll get it out into some soft ground and give it a try, `i was just curious to see if the 4x4 function would work. tire pressures are all equal and around 30 psi. Thanks for the help. Will hopefully be this weekend when I get it out off road
     
  17. Dec 27, 2013
    Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

    Apopka, Fl
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    I just noticed that besides air pressure Posimoto also mentioned pavement and hard ground. :oops: I'll bet you'll notice a big difference in shifting when on turf that "gives" some.
     
  18. Dec 28, 2013
    doctorchopper

    doctorchopper New Member

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    Took the CJ off road today, went through the 4x4 modes, its better, but still difficult to get out out 4hi and 4low. It was impossible to get out of 4lo until I reversed, then i was able to get it out, so it might just be loading up, I may get a set of manual hubs and see if that makes a difference , first I am going to pop off the floor pan and top cover and clean and lubricate rails and see how that works.
     
  19. Dec 28, 2013
    PeteL

    PeteL If it wasn't for physics, and law enforcement... 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    Definitely lube it up. That could be the primary issue.

    I had a similar problem with a '73.
     
  20. Dec 28, 2013
    Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

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    Cleaning and lubing them is a good idea, but it seems to me that it would also be difficult to shift into 4wd if it was the shift rails causing a problem.
     
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