Jumps out of 4L

[Clark]

ello all - new Melbourne member here ;D

After nearly buying a MU in 1998 (bought a 300zx instead) I've finally got around to getting my long awaited MU, a fairly stock 1991 2.8 that I bought in Brisbane and just drove back to Melbourne - hell of a long drive but I made it.

It's got a few little probs to work out which I'm hoping to get some info on

Main problem that I'm puzzling over at the moment is that it doesn't want to stay in 4L - goes into 4H fine and drives (although my hubs won't lock yet but I'll service them this weekend) but when I try 4L it jumps out very easily. Can drive along in 4L if I'm holding it in there with my hand but otherwise it slips out of gear.

Any thoughts what I should be looking at to fix this ? Bush mechanics would say tie a bit of string on it to hold it there - I'm after a more long term solution ;D

Cheers, Clark

[geeves]

Has it had a body lift If so the floor might be fouling the shifter. Otherwise the news aint good. There is no neutral in this transfer case so if you found neutral it shouldnt be there.

[Clark]

Thanks for the swift reply. Nope no body lift that I can tell but I'll check out the floor clearance. Definitely found neutral.... pops out of 4L and coasts to a halt.

[Yarno]

What transfer is it manual or auto?? The manual transfer deffinitely has a nutral. Also if it's the manual and does have a problem, they are a one piece intergrated to the gearbox.

[Clark]

Thanks for the response. It's a manual 5spd - reassuring that there is a neutral at least I'll have a play around with it a bit more this weekend - and fix my non-locking hubs hopefully - and check out if the body is fouling it or something like that.

Otherwise I guess I'll be checking the wreckers for a rodeo gearbox

Cheers, Clark

[darkhunter]

check the rubber boot is in position properly,i had a safari that did the same,the boot had gone hard and was not sitting quite right and always popped out four low
when you hold four low look at where you are holding shifter and then let it go and check its position in relation to that while stationary that will tell you if shifter is been obstructed,if no
movement prob transfer box problem

[dani4JB1T]

i have had the same problem when i bought my Mu...just changed the gearbox/transfer oil and it works good forever. both trannys use same engine oil (15w40).
maybe your have 80w90 oil or a very old 15w40.

good luck

[Yarno]

I have a box for sale if it comes to that.....

[Clark]

All fixed - by butchering the rubber grommet that goes around the gear levers over the gearbox. I'm not sure if my MU has had a body lift or what - when 4L is engaged there's only a fingers width gap between the 4wd lever and the steel of the body with the rubber grommet removed. With grommet in place the rubber was bunching up to such a degree that 4L wouldn't engage properly or if it did would soon get pushed out by the rubber pressure - so I cut a hole in it (the rubber) and packed some squishy foam around it to keep the noise down.

I also replaced the gearbox oil with 15-40 just for good measure.

Cheers for the suggestions

P.S. Anyone know if new rubber grommets are available for these ? I'd rather have a nice shiny flexible new one with no hole

Clark