drivetrain bind in 4wd

[Troy35]

So I took the '74 CJ5 up to the Rubicon this weekend and hit the trail. Overall, the Jeep did really well even though it's on 33's with little to no lift. I was stuffing my wheels in the fenderwells all weekend. But I had a significant problem that reared its ugly head a few times:

When on an obstacle (read rock) and fighting to get off of it, my tranny and tcase would lock up on me. I could not get my T-18 out of gear most of the time and when I did it would not go into gear with the engine on, it just would grind like I was failing to push the clutch petal. I tried pulling the tcase into N to see if that would free up the tranny but that would not move either. I ended up having to hold the key on and use the starter with the jeep in gear to move. Once on level or off the obstacle it would change gears without issue.

My friend told me that his '70 displayed this behavior a few times too. Honestly, it was my fault for choosing poor lines. When I picked a good line and used good throttle control I got over every obstacle I tried to tackle. But surely, something has to be going on with my drivetrain right?

If it matters it has a truetrak in the rear and a lockrite in the front. Stock gears and axles. A T-18 and Dana 20 . Like I said I don't think it has any lift but it might have some...those 33's are stuffed in the wheel wells.

 

[thescot]

My guess is extreme frame flex was causing your clutch linkage, which pivots between the frame and bell housing were stretched to its limits rendering the pedal useless or just plain bound up. T case is lockup is odd unless the mount(s) are shot and it caused the linkage to bind also. Just a guess ya know...

 

[Torxhead]

My guess is extreme frame flex was causing your clutch linkage, which pivots between the frame and bell housing were stretched to its limits rendering the pedal useless or just plain bound up. T case is lockup is odd unless the mount(s) are shot and it caused the linkage to bind also. Just a guess ya know...

Plus a lot of worn out parts affecting it. Like the bushings in the clutch linkage and the tired motor mounts. Pics and a run report from the famed Rubicon Trail would be nice.

 

[Troy35]

Thanks guys, that gives me some things to look at when I get home. I did get under the jeep while it was stuck and I had a friend work the clutch. I appeared to have full travel into the bell housing. I plan on going through everything this winter when it get too cold to run my camping trips. Rebuilding the tranny will be on the top of my list, so I'll have easy access to the clutch.

Torx, I did not take a lot of photos. I have been up there many times so I guess I wasn't too worried about it. That being said, the weather was beautiful and everybody there was in a good mood. There was a "Wheeling with the wounded" event for wounded veterans which was a fantastic event and I was glad to be able to speak to my young girls about our brave members of the military and things that we can do to show our gratitude.

If you are at all familiar with the trail we made it a little past the soup bowl, watched a little action on the obstacle and then wheeled out. That made for a full day on Saturday. We did a little midnight wheeling on Friday night but one of my kids got scared so we turned around.

There's a lot of talk about how easy the trail is now. While it's true that they have tamed down a few of the major obstacles to avoid gathering spots and the trash that accompanies it, the trail is still very challenging. If you build a buggy with 44" tires and all the suspension and traction control in the world, well of course it's going to be easy. I was challenged for sure though.

 

[NorthwestCJer]

I bet you were looking at your linkage when it is setting in your driveway. Not in a flexed situation. These guys are trying to tell you that when you flex your frame, your linkage moves and flexes. Some of us have experienced our clutch pedal flat against the floor and not able to disengage it.
Hydro clutch conversion!

 

[jdarg]

x2. Even replacing all the clutch linkages w/ new parts won't do anything to solve the root problem - chassis flex.

Look for a hydro setup from an 80's 4-cylinder. You'll have to drill a few holes in the firewall for the master cylinder but then its essentially a bolt-on. You'll be glad you did it.

 

[Troy35]

I bet you were looking at your linkage when it is setting in your driveway. Not in a flexed situation. These guys are trying to tell you that when you flex your frame, your linkage moves and flexes. Some of us have experienced our clutch pedal flat against the floor and not able to disengage it.
Hydro clutch conversion!

No, as I said in my post, I got under the jeep when it was stuck and bound up. I had a friend work the clutch and it had full travel through the linkage and into the side of the bell housing. The clutch was not the problem. At least clutch travel itself did not appear to be the problem. And if the clutch was the problem why was the T case bound up? I am learning, but in my mind the T case and the clutch should not be associated, right?

The hydro conversion seems like a good idea though!

 

[Hedgehog]

he Transfer Case is associated with the Transmission in that the gears under load would be bound up fairly solidly. The clutch takes power away from the gear train making it possible to shift and that includes the Transfer Case . Yes you can shift a Transmission without the clutch. The Transmission . gears are relatively sophisticated as compared to the, well lets call it, drive only gears found in the Transfer Case . The Transfer Case is designed for one purpose only and that's to transfer power through its relatively stationary gears, be it in two wheel drive or the more gear driven 4 wd.

Your clutch might be moving but clearly not to it's full range because the clutch is not disengaging. Actual clutch movement is fairly small in relation to the pedal I'd almost bet your seeing little more than the clutch taking up slack in the linkage.

 

[BajaEdition]

I am wondering how long it has been since you pulled the tranny
I had a friend whos input shaft had worn the casing and bearing so it would get crooked sometimes and do what you are describing. I would check that out also

plus you say it is a d18, is not that jeep a 74?

 

[Troy35]

I just recently purchased the Jeep, Baja. I have no idea how long it's been since any service has been done to the tranny. I've only changed the gear oil. I am going to pull it this winter when I'm done using it daily for a noisy bearing so I will have a chance to go through it then. I guess I will get a chance to replace the internal linkage if its all buggered up then. I hope that the housing isn't screwed up. Did your friend have to replace his after the input shaft ate into it?

 

[Hedgehog]

a noisy bearing ........................ Hmmmmm?

 

[Peanut Butter]

There was a "Wheeling with the wounded" event for wounded veterans which was a fantastic event and I was glad to be able to speak to my young girls about our brave members of the military and things that we can do to show our gratitude.
.

THANK YOU, :rock: not only for your kind words, but more so for your outlook with your girls. During WWII, every third person was involved in the war effort. Today the estimate is around 20. That being said, too many people are removed from our military men and women to know the scarfaces they make. Educating our children is so important. Thank you from a Disabled Veteran, U S Army retired. :us: Rod

Sorry for being off topic.

 

[BajaEdition]

I just recently purchased the Jeep, Baja. I have no idea how long it's been since any service has been done to the tranny. I've only changed the gear oil. I am going to pull it this winter when I'm done using it daily for a noisy bearing so I will have a chance to go through it then. I guess I will get a chance to replace the internal linkage if its all buggered up then. I hope that the housing isn't screwed up. Did your friend have to replace his after the input shaft ate into it?

he had the area plugged and remachined it
might be easier to replace though
good luck

 

[Troy35]

THANK YOU, :rock: not only for your kind words, but more so for your outlook with your girls. During WWII, every third person was involved in the war effort. Today the estimate is around 20. That being said, too many people are removed from our military men and women to know the scarfaces they make. Educating our children is so important. Thank you from a Disabled Veteran, U S Army retired. :us: Rod

Sorry for being off topic.

You are the one who deserves thanks, sir! God bless you and thanks for your service! The debt we owe to our military can never be repaid, but I hope it will always be appreciated. If we loose our appreciation for what has been sacrificed for our freedom, we don't deserve freedom at all. At least that's one man's humble opinion.

 

[Troy35]

a noisy bearing ........................ Hmmmmm?

Yep, that does need to be investigated!



Baja, I guess I'll know once I get in there the extent of my problems. I'll follow up once I tear it apart, but it won't be for a couple of more months.