CJ-5 Riddle

Just for fun, see if you can correctly diagnose the cause of this Jeep puzzle. I'll send a prize (humble trinket, really) to the first to answer correctly, and post same at end of this thread. Here's the story....

Our '67 CJ-5 spent the last several years pretty much unused and neglected, out in the open, backed up to the alfalfa-field fence at our farm, 3 hours from our city home. Don't think anyone started it in at least 4 years. Over the seasons the battery died, tires went flat, and what was left of the top blew away in the wind. Only the seats were wrapped with a tarp for protection from the elements.

Early last fall I just couldn't let the neglect go on any longer. I pumped up the tires (surprise they still held air) and with wife steering, hand pushed it over to the shed where I thought I'd work on it a bit. "No brakes" wife said, as the pedal hit the floor with a very noticable "clang". Oh, well, not much time, and no use to try to start 'er up with no brakes.

We pushed it back out to the fence for another winter of dis-content. Way, way to cold in our part of the country for me to try mechanical repairs outside. But, mid-winter I repented again, and decided to use our trusty Ford 8N tractor to pull the Jeep up onto a flat-bed trailer, so I could tow it into the city where I have a nice heated garage to work in.

Great idea. Got 'er all chained up to the tractor, but strange, couldn't budge the jeep more than an inch or so! Tractor in low gear was spinning its wheels and Jeep not moving at all. Hmmm! Check Jeep parking brake off? Yup, gear box in neutral? Hmmm, again. I can't move the shift lever. What's up with that? Oh well, just put the transfer case in neutral. Dang! Can't move that lever either. Got a bit of leverage and tried again. No joy. Several other configuration & attempts failed, and finally, with daylight and time pretty well gone, I gave up and stomped away. Let 'er her sit for the rest of winter.

Several months go by. First of May tried again, still no brakes of course, nor battery, but the tires still held air, the levers would move, and this time the tractor easily pulled the Jeep onto the trailer and brought it into town.

So....can you correctly describe what kept me from getting that cranky old Jeep moved in February?

Post your answers here, I'll reward the first correct one with a prize!

 

Water in the T-case that had frozen casing the levers to not move?

 

You were drunk and forgot to push the clutch in? That is just what happened to me one time.

 

tires frozen to the ground?

 

Brakes drums frozen?

 

Oh I know, the Jeep was mad at y'all for pushing it back out into the cold. R)

 

water in the drivetrain,,,, id think, levers would not move or i would think tires frozen as well???????

 

Rainwater in the t-case froze solid.

Pete

 

Gotta agree with Jeff. Water in the tranny/xfer cases had frozen.....

 

JEEP was chained to a tree R)

I agree with the water in the drive gears and the tires froxen to the ground. A JEEP I owned I used to drive in the river alot. In the winter I would go to drive it and the steering would be frozen. Where I parked it I would drive it off the curb once or twice was enough to break it free and down the road I would go..........Young and dumb I was

 

jeep was not there due to being stolen?

 

didn"t want to be pulled around by a ford

 

since I'm late to get here...
a bunny with a pancake on it's head was siiting in the drivers seat...



actually the correct answer has already been posted

 

Rubber shift boot on top of transmission let in the elements, H2O to be exact. It is heaver than water and displaced the oil. The water froze and no go.

 

And now for something completely different. Since you mentioned the brakes were bad and brake fluid being hygroscopic how about the fuid in the wheel cylinders froze, expanded, and set the brakes and the resultant thaw after winter was over released them.:v6:

 

Brake shoes froze to the drums.

 

I got it...

You never really tried to move the jeep... there really was nothing wrong with it... matter of fact you dreamed the whole thing up... just to post a question and offer fabulous prizes you would never have to give out because you never posted the answer... and the ensuing confusion kept everyone from noticing that you... Never posted a pic of this aleged JEEP!
UWOP

Alright what did I win???

 

there is no jeep (spoon)