can't shift '66CJ out of 4WD

I searched old topics and found some advise about hard shift out of 4WD if one was driving on pavement in 4WD due to differences in torque created....I was on pavement, pulling a palm tree out of the yard via the driveway (damn fun by the way).

It's a '66 CJ with two shifters - one for in/out, the other high/low 4 WD. High to low shifts easily, but I can't move the in/out stick to the out position. It goes to the neutral position easily and back to 4WD fine, but the stick feels like it's going nowhere when moving towards the out position. I tried moving the Jeep back and forth a few feet. I'm moving the sticks while stopped with the trans stick in neutral. Does it matter whether the clutch is in or out?

Also, if I can't get it out and want to drive to my favorite mechanic, is it okay to unlock the wheel hubs?

Thanks for any feedback.

 

Sounds like the end of the 4wd shifter either isn't in the end of the shift rail on the transfer case any more or something is wrong inside.
Jack up one of the front wheels to release the tension on the drive train and unlock the hubs, then try to shift the transfer case out. You can drive the jeep to the mechanic with the hubs out if you need to.
Luck.

 

I've never had twin sticks, but I think there is an interlock pill that keeps you from shifting into 2wd low. Is your transfer case in high range when you try to shift to 2wd?

 

I have a '66' with twin sticks. The way my shifters work is:
One stick goes from 4WD to 2 WD. It just has two positions. (mine does not have a neutral on this stick)
the other stick has three positions. High range - Neutral - Low range

If the lockout pill is in place you can't put the Hi - Low lever in low range unless the other lever is in 4WD.

Usually it doesn't matter much about the transmission or clutch, but if you happen to get a gear mesh problem, putting the transmission in gear and gently feathering the clutch may help.

If you unlock the hubs you should be OK to drive it. There won't be a lot of movement in the hubs as all the wheels are going to be going about the same speed.

John

 

Thanks everyone; I'll try the suggestions this weekend. Good points yall brought out:
"Is your transfer case in high range when you try to shift to 2wd?" - I can't remember what combination I tried...good point
"One stick goes from 4WD to 2 WD. It just has two positions. (mine does not have a neutral on this stick)" - my bad; I'm sure mine is the same
"Usually it doesn't matter much about the transmission or clutch, but if you happen to get a gear mesh problem, putting the transmission in gear and gently feathering the clutch may help" - John W. are you saying to try moving the 4WD stick to 2 WD while slightly letting the clutch out while in first gear?

I did talk to someone who had the same problem - he got on grass and drove around for awhile and it released to 2WD. Same thing uncamonkey suggests it sounds like.

 

sometimes i have to back up on gravel.
then it all works as it should.

 

This is called drivetrain or driveline windup and is common to four wheel drive vehicles. It's caused by the slightly different speeds the front and rear and right and left tires travel when turning, load etc. when in 4 wd. This causes the drivetrain to bind if there is not enough slip in the tires. Backing up, jacking up a wheel, etc. helps relieve the binding so you can then shift the gear box out or unlock the hubs.

 

This happens to me pretty much every time I go from 4wd to 2wd. The only thing I know of doing is putting it in first gear and dropping the clutch a little to lunge the jeep forward then put the clutch back down. Keep decent pressure on your transfer case shifter while your doing this and it will slip right out of 4wd and into 2wd.

Again, 1st gear, drop the clutch with pressure on the t-case shifter and slam the clutch back in. Thats what i have to do practically everytime and it always works for me.

 

or you could back up a lil bit...

 

On the 3b, all I usually have to do (on gravel), is to just back off the throttle with gentle pressure on the shifter. May occasionally have to tap the throttle and back off again. Even works on the single stick in the Commando, as long as you are going in a straight line...

 

Ummm, weekends over, did you get it out of 4wd?
Always nice to read the end of the story.









Even if it is embarrassing.
Like I've never done anything like that.

 

...and, yes, it is out of 4 WD. I drove in the grass for a bit turning the wheel side to side, stuck a needle in a voodoo doll, etc. and it worked fine.

Thanks to everyone for the input.

 

...and, yes, it is out of 4 WD. I drove in the grass for a bit turning the wheel side to side, stuck a needle in a voodoo doll, etc. and it worked fine.

Thanks to everyone for the input.