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unusual four wheel drive problem

Old 12-04-2008, 11:31 AM
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unusual four wheel drive problem

This "problem" is actually from early spring. My brother and I had our trucks out pulling trees from grub piles to cut for wood. I'd hook the tree to the truck and pull 'em out no problem. On one particularly heavy tree, I had to let the tires eat a bit, still no luck. I took the slack off the chain and went to cut part of the tree off. Outside I noticed that my rear tires had been eating just fine, however, neither of the front tires had spun at all. I tried again with the same result, rear would spin, front would not.

What in the world could cause something like this? From the diagrams I've seen on T-cases, there is no clutch or fluid coupler, just a chain drive. So if the back wheels spin, the front wheels should too?

After we were done, I unloaded the truck, found a little mud pit, and spun all four, just like usual. Four wheel drive has always worked since then. Just something I've been curious about.

Any ideas?
Old 12-04-2008, 12:20 PM
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your hubs prob. didnt lock 4wheel engaged but the front axle didnt till you drove over to the mudpit then everything settled in and you had 4wheel drive.
Old 12-04-2008, 12:35 PM
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The front axle is vacuum controlled.
Old 12-04-2008, 02:41 PM
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check the vacum line on the front axel and on the crossmeber for the trans. you;ll see them two plastic lines that connect to metal lines with rubber connectors. thats prob your problem i have had it happen on two of my trucks
Old 12-04-2008, 07:51 PM
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You most likely never had the 4wd fully engaged or else the front would of spun.
Old 12-05-2008, 09:41 AM
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The front tires were pulling. It felt like it was in 4 low. I moved the truck so I could get some fresh ground and the front axle was steering like a front axle with 4 low engaged. So if its not possible for the back to spin without the front... heck, I don't know. I'll just try to keep it from happening again. Like I said though, that was nearly a year ago and its hasn't happened since.
Old 12-05-2008, 06:25 PM
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Originally Posted by ado2b1
The front tires were pulling. It felt like it was in 4 low. I moved the truck so I could get some fresh ground and the front axle was steering like a front axle with 4 low engaged. So if its not possible for the back to spin without the front... heck, I don't know. I'll just try to keep it from happening again. Like I said though, that was nearly a year ago and its hasn't happened since.

Why worry now????? Like I said it was not fully engaged at the time or else it would of spun the front.
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