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Old 03-24-2014, 11:27 PM   #1
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Theres gotta be a trick. . .

I have a 2012 SMB with about 15,000 miles. It is an absolute bear to switch in to 4 wheel drive, and fuggedabout switching in to 4 low. . .

Is there a trick? It takes me 5 minutes of stopping, starting, shifting to neutral, shifting to reverse, rolling forward, back, etc, etc. . . Extremely stiff. . .

I remember an old willy's jeep my dad had when I was a kid, that thing would shift in to 4 wheel drive or 4 low like butter!

If I get the van stuck, and cannot move the vehicle back and forth to facilitate shifting, I don't think it will be possible to shift in to 4 wheel . . .

Will my van's drive train ever break in? Any tricks I am missing?

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Old 03-24-2014, 11:52 PM   #2
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Re: Theres gotta be a trick. . .

I have the same problem. pain in the ass
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Old 03-25-2014, 12:08 AM   #3
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Re: Theres gotta be a trick. . .

Quote:
Will my van's drive train ever break in? Any tricks I am missing?
It will break in. The Atlas transfer case is pretty unforgiving until you put some miles on it in 4X4.

Have you tried shifting into 4X4 while the vans moving slowly in neutral? That's what I did for the first few hundred miles.
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Old 03-25-2014, 12:33 AM   #4
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Re: Theres gotta be a trick. . .

I don't know if this will help....

I have a Quigley, and it took getting used to, and its instructions are:

1. Put transmission in Neutral.
2. Pull the T-case lever from 2H/4H to 4L without stopping in T-case Neutral.
3. Put transmission into gear.

Mine has a sticker on the sun visor with instructions. Maybe SMB put a similar one there on yours.
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Old 03-25-2014, 08:07 AM   #5
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Theres gotta be a trick. . .

my preferred method is to be on a slight hill. I get in neutral and pull it into 4wd. If she resists, I ease off the brake and let'er roll a half a tooth or so.
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Old 03-25-2014, 09:21 AM   #6
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Re: Theres gotta be a trick. . .

Here's what I do:
Lock the hubs first. that way when you're rolling, the front gear is back driven too.
While rolling slowly, usually idling in D (but sometimes in N), pull the front lever to engage 4 hi. The Atlas II is synchronized so engaging the front axle on the fly is no problem.
Then, put the trans in N, then push both levers together into 4 low. I've been able to do this step while stopped also.

I've found that shifting them together between ranges is key. Others (including AA) say to lead with the rear shifter. DWYW.

To get out of 4wd, make sure you've driven straight for a few feet to relax the drivetrain. If you have to reverse, do it straight too.

Here's what AA says: http://www.advanceadapters.com/tech-...ng--operation/

If the T-case won't come out of Neutral, keep pressure on the T-case shifter while doing the other things (rolling, or idling in D or R). You need it to "fall" into gear when the shift dogs line up. Big yanks will only make you tired.

If you're already stuck, or bound up, definitely put the trans in N first, then try to shift the T-case. If that doesn't work (and it probably won't), put it back in D or R and keep pressure on the levers until they fall into gear.

Remember: Front and Rear axles can't be in different ranges and you can't be in front-wheel-drive Hi only. So if you get that rear output in N, don't try to shift the front into hi range first.
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Old 03-25-2014, 11:51 AM   #7
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Re: Theres gotta be a trick. . .

We have a Quigley too and the owner of Quigley told us at one of the SMB rallies that, while 4H is synchronized, 4L is not so you need to just feel your way from 4N toward 4L and then jam it.
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Old 03-25-2014, 12:09 PM   #8
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Re: Theres gotta be a trick. . .

Good ol' technique and finesse.
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Old 03-25-2014, 09:48 PM   #9
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Re: Theres gotta be a trick. . .

It really is frustrating. I wonder if every time I am off of asphalt if I drive around in 4x4 if that would help to break the beast in?

Maybe even on asphalt. Heck I would sacrifice some wear on the tires to have the shifters actually shift!

Many thanks to all for the tips. I think you all forgot to mention that you have to hold your tongue just right.
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Old 03-26-2014, 09:51 AM   #10
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Re: Theres gotta be a trick. . .

If you want to drive around in 4x4 on asphalt, leave one or both front axles unlocked. No bind on the drivetrain that way.

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