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2 High or Neutral

SamD

Full Member
Joined
Feb 25, 2014
Messages
214
What is the difference between driving with the transfer case in 2-High vs Neutral?

Sam


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Rustytruck

Bronco Guru
Joined
Feb 24, 2002
Messages
10,875
2 high the truck will move. Transfer case in neutral will not drive. If the tires are not blocked or the parking brake set the truck could roll away on its own.
 
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SamD

SamD

Full Member
Joined
Feb 25, 2014
Messages
214
Then I have something wrong with mine because I have been driving around for a while now with the shifter in neutral. I can't tell a difference when I shift in into 2 High.

Obviously I have no experience with a older 4 wheel drive.

Sam


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Skiddy

Bronco Guru
Joined
Oct 8, 2003
Messages
11,560
Than I have something wrong with mine because I have been driving around for a while now with the shifter in neutral. I can't tell a difference when I shift in into 2 High.

Obviously I have no experience with a older 4 wheel drive.

Sam


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ok, do you happen to have twin sticks? what transfer case are you using? any more info on what you have?
 
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SamD

SamD

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Feb 25, 2014
Messages
214
ok, do you happen to have twin sticks? what transfer case are you using? any more info on what you have?



It is a stock Dana 20 with a J shifter.


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garberz

Bronco Influencer
Joined
Jun 24, 2007
Messages
6,861
Loc.
Conejo Valley, Ca.
If you were in neutral with the transfer case, you wouldn't get any movement from the vehicle when in gear. Be careful when shifting the trans and Tcase. If the Tcase is in neutral, and you put the trans in drive, do not put the trans back into park until you shut the engine off. You could easily break the parking pawl doing that. The J shifter has proven to be problematic, not being able to find neutral in not surprising. Just be mindful when shifting it.

Mark
 
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SamD

SamD

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Feb 25, 2014
Messages
214
If you were in neutral with the transfer case, you wouldn't get any movement from the vehicle when in gear. Be careful when shifting the trans and Tcase. If the Tcase is in neutral, and you put the trans in drive, do not put the trans back into park until you shut the engine off. You could easily break the parking pawl doing that. The J shifter has proven to be problematic, not being able to find neutral in not surprising. Just be mindful when shifting it.

Mark



I evidently need to find a tutorial on the transfer case shifting procedure.

When I say it is neutral, that's because it is at the bottom of the J and moves freely. I can push the shifter to the right and up, and it seems to lock into a detent. I just don't notice a difference between the way the Bronco pulls in either position.

I'm flying out tonight for the week so I will crawl under and check the shifter linkage next weekend.

Thanks


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gr8scott

Contributor
Bronco Guru
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Jul 1, 2011
Messages
1,862

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SamD

SamD

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Joined
Feb 25, 2014
Messages
214
Yes, it locks into 2H, but when I pull it straight down at the bottom of the J the shifter gets loose (like it is in neutral) but it still pulls the same. I guess I was just mistaking this for neutral.


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blubuckaroo

Grease Monkey
Joined
Jun 11, 2007
Messages
11,795
Loc.
Ridgefield WA
The biggest problem with a "J" shifter is it's hard to tell whether it's in 2HI or 4HI. I've seen where people have driven thousands of miles with the transfer case in 4HI by mistake. If the hubs are unlocked, it drives the same. I'll bet you've been running around in 4HI.

One thing I learned about operating the "J" shifter, is it shifts lots easier with the vehicle rolling than when stopped. I would always blip the throttle and make the shift at the same time. I could shift in and out easily even at 60 mph.
 
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SamD

SamD

Full Member
Joined
Feb 25, 2014
Messages
214
The biggest problem with a "J" shifter is it's hard to tell whether it's in 2HI or 4HI. I've seen where people have driven thousands of miles with the transfer case in 4HI by mistake. If the hubs are unlocked, it drives the same. I'll bet you've been running around in 4HI.



One thing I learned about operating the "J" shifter, is it shifts lots easier with the vehicle rolling than when stopped. I would always blip the throttle and make the shift at the same time. I could shift in and out easily even at 60 mph.



Is the gear ratio the same between 2H and 4H with the hubs unlocked?


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sanndmann3

Contributor
Bronco Guru
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Jun 13, 2007
Messages
1,790
Yep, hi range is hi range. same ratio.
Sounds like maybe the shifter is worn out? I had alot of problems with mine. Twin sticking it made things so much easier...
 

sprdv1

Contributor
REBEL
Joined
Mar 8, 2007
Messages
81,983
Yes, it locks into 2H, but when I pull it straight down at the bottom of the J the shifter gets loose (like it is in neutral) but it still pulls the same. I guess I was just mistaking this for neutral.

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Sheet happens. :)
 
Joined
Aug 16, 2013
Messages
18
Loc.
Hartselle,Al
2Hi or Neutral

Sam,
I have a dana 20 also and I was experiencing the same things as you so what I did was pull the inspection plate on the D20 and look at the gears and shift forks as I put the transfer case in to 4hi,4lo,and 2hi,also jacked up the front end and watched the drive shaft as I shifted into 4hi and 2 hi.
 
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