Stock 74 J shift doesn't work in 2wd

[Muddy1966Bronco]

I'm ready to pull my transfer case and try to diagnose the problem. Any tips are greatly appreciated. When I test drove this bronco, it moved just fine in 4H and 4L, but it wouldn't move in 2wd. From the outside, the shifter arms appear to be working properly.

Has anyone else encountered this? I'm hoping it is an easy fix. Or is it just a tear open and see what is broke process?

 

[sprdv1]

Could be anything, better pull apart

 

[tirewater]

I'm ready to pull my transfer case and try to diagnose the problem. Any tips are greatly appreciated. When I test drove this bronco, it moved just fine in 4H and 4L, but it wouldn't move in 2wd. From the outside, the shifter arms appear to be working properly.

Has anyone else encountered this? I'm hoping it is an easy fix. Or is it just a tear open and see what is broke process?

I'm not sure if you mean you can't physically shift the transfer case into 2wd high or that the vehicle doesn't move in 2wd.

Does the rear drive shaft spin? Is there a rear driveshaft? Does the rear drive shaft spin when in 4H, or only in 4L?

 

[sanndmann3]

Is it a stock shifter? I would take the shifter off and see if you can manually shift into 2 hi. My shifter was awful and twin sticking it was the best thing I did to that point...

 

[Rustytruck]

Are you trying to shift while driving in 4 high. Drive at slow to moderate speed with hubs locked in 4 high then blip the gas and make the shift into 2 high as the rpms come down. Shift over and forward not diagonal to 2wd high.

 

[bronconut73]

I remember the days of fighting that stupid J-Shifter.

Like Sandmann said twin stick it. My favorite mod.

 

[Muddy1966Bronco]

I'm not sure if you mean you can't physically shift the transfer case into 2wd high or that the vehicle doesn't move in 2wd.

Does the rear drive shaft spin? Is there a rear driveshaft? Does the rear drive shaft spin when in 4H, or only in 4L?

It appears to be shifting through all the settings (I have the body off now and can see it well). When it was driving, the rear driveshaft wouldn’t move in 2wd but worked fine in 4wd. Like 2wd was neutral. Nothing to do with speed or shifting on the fly.

And yes, I’ve thought about the twin stick upgrade. If it is very difficult to engage, maybe the shifter wasn’t working right even though it appears to be. Either way it’s getting pulled and checked.

 

[DirtDonk]

Is the front shaft connected?
If so you may not be getting any rear output action at all and not know it.

I'm just wondering if the front shaft is the only one moving the vehicle and the rear shaft is just spinning with the rear end instead of actually doing anything.
Obviously, if there is no front shaft, then you do have rear output in 4wd. Won't be so obvious if the front shaft is doing all the work though.

Paul

 

[Muddy1966Bronco]

Is the front shaft connected?
If so you may not be getting any rear output action at all and not know it.

I'm just wondering if the front shaft is the only one moving the vehicle and the rear shaft is just spinning with the rear end instead of actually doing anything.
Obviously, if there is no front shaft, then you do have rear output in 4wd. Won't be so obvious if the front shaft is doing all the work though.

Paul

Thanks for all the reaponses everyone, I should have been more specific. Paul, I don’t know why I didn’t think to relay this information first, but here you go:

The bronco spun the rear tires and turned the front shaft. My hubs are bad and I verified that the front driveshaft was spinning, but no power was transferred to the front wheels. The bronco drove from the rear driveshaft in 4h and 4L. Nothing in 2wd.

 

[brewchief]

J shifters are known for being difficult to use as they get worn, if you are building a stocker a new J shifter might be in order, if not twin stick it.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

 

[tirewater]

Thanks for all the reaponses everyone, I should have been more specific. Paul, I don’t know why I didn’t think to relay this information first, but here you go:

The bronco spun the rear tires and turned the front shaft. My hubs are bad and I verified that the front driveshaft was spinning, but no power was transferred to the front wheels. The bronco drove from the rear driveshaft in 4h and 4L. Nothing in 2wd.

If the vehicle moves in 4H with the hubs unlocked, then it's likely a shifting issue and not a gear broken inside the transfer case.

Here's a good write up of the power flow in the case:

http://www.classicbroncos.com/dana20/dana_20_manual.html

 

[Muddy1966Bronco]

If the vehicle moves in 4H with the hubs unlocked, then it's likely a shifting issue and not a gear broken inside the transfer case.

Here's a good write up of the power flow in the case:

http://www.classicbroncos.com/dana20/dana_20_manual.html

Perfect! That you for the tech article link. That was helpful. And after seeing that, I would agree at this point that my shifter isn’t working properly, or I’m not working it properly, haha. Either way, sounds like a twin shift is the way to go.

 

[Justafordguy]

Either way, sounds like a twin shift is the way to go.

It is for sure, you will not regret it. Check out JB Fab, they are great guys and make an awesome product.

 

[bronconut73]

After fighting that J-shifter for years I got to where I didn't even want to engage 4wd for fear I couldn't get it back out or stuck in neutral.
Twin sticks are smooth, easy shifting. I love them. Seriously one of my favorite mods.
Their ease of use made me more likely to pull off the road and head down a trail.
Honestly.....i should not have fought with that J-shifter for so long. I should have bought a twin stick the moment they came out....but I was a late bloomer, lol.
Had my twin sticks about a decade now.
Had the J-shifter for about a quarter century.

Twin sticks are awesome,

 

[Rustytruck]

In my june build 1974 Bronco with 10,000 miles on it when I bought it the J shifter had never worked properly so the previous owner never used 4wd. I bought the Bronco and drove it almost 5 years without putting it in 4wd because of that stupid shifter. I bought one of Duffs redesigned J shifters when they first came out and it solved all of my problems with the J shift. It was allot of money back then but well worth it. Never had the need or wanted twin shifters. Before getting the Duff shifter I had several experienced Bronco people try to shift it and no one could do it.

When the 1973 Bronco came out with the J shift transfer case and shifter, the magazine reviewers bad rated the shifter. The next year for 74 production Ford tweeked the shifter for better shifting and it worked worse that the 73 version. Ford then tweeked it again late in 1974 production for 1975 production and finally got it to work somewhat better at least until the locating pin for the shifter pivot wallows out and then it gets all loosie goosey on you. And it doesn't help if your fighting the automatic transmission on top of that.