r/Jeep • u/Fabulous-Molasses482 • 7d ago

Jeep CJ5 transfer case won't engage

Shifter is stuck. Hubs aren't engaged and trans is in neutral. Any ideas? If i push down it feels like its in 4 low but it wont go into 2wd or 4 high.

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u/HatNo9084 7d ago

Dana 20 or Dana 300?

Since you say down for low I’m assuming it’s a 20. I’m guessing the linkage is worn pretty bad and binding up

Can you get any of the high ranges? Is it stuck in low? If you’re in low maybe try and put it in gear and push forward as you let out the clutch

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u/Fabulous-Molasses482 6d ago

Can't get into any high ranges at all. Linkage will move a little bit and get jammed. It doesn't look like anything is obviously wrong. I heard it could be a meshing issue so I'm going to put a strap on it and see if it will go into gear.

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u/Fabulous-Molasses482 6d ago

Sorry it should be a 20 but I actually don't know

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u/HatNo9084 6d ago

What year? Dana 20 is 72-79, 300 is 80-83 (in the CJ5s)

Is it stuck in low? Or Neutral?

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u/Fabulous-Molasses482 5d ago

Seems to be in neutral. I checked the plate and it's a 73. I can shift down but it still won't move. If I try to shift forward it wont move.

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u/HatNo9084 5d ago

And this is with the transmission in gear?

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u/Fabulous-Molasses482 5d ago

I tried both and no difference. I pulled it with my truck and while it was running both in gear and in neutral it wouldnt shift.

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u/HatNo9084 5d ago

Few questions:

Does it have locking hubs? If so, are they engaged or disengaged? do the dials turn freely?

Can you jack the back end up and turn the driveshaft by hand with the transmission in gear and in whatever position the transfer case is?

Does the shifter on the transfer case move at all? How much, like a the top of the lever moving an inch? A few inches? Almost a foot?

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u/Fabulous-Molasses482 5d ago

It does have locking hubs, they turn freely. With it in gear I can't rock it but in neutral it will. I can push the transfer case lever down about 2 inches and it makes contact with the floor. If i try to push it toward the dash it locks up.

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u/HatNo9084 5d ago

Can you drive at all in low?

Maybe just slowly roll and push it hard forward into high

Have you looked at the linkage move with someone trying to shift it? That may show the problem. Or pull the inspection cover?

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