Transfer case nearly unusable

[LCW]

Mine (2023 JL) is VERY stiff as well. The manual says to put trans in neutral and shift to 4L without pausing at N while rolling 2-5 mph or something like that. I've found it difficult to coordinate that sequence of events, and feel like I'm going to break the lever. Mine is new so haven't used 4L much, REALLY hoping it loosens up over time!

Just practice a bit in an empty parking lot. With trans in neutral, let it coast a bit (slow of course). Just apply pressure on the lever to get into 4L. Don't try to jam it. Put pressure and let it mesh on its own. Do it a few times. It will get easier and/or you'll get the feel of it.

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[DonH63]

Just practice a bit in an empty parking lot. With trans in neutral, let it coast a bit (slow of course). Just apply pressure on the lever to get into 4L. Don't try to jam it. Put pressure and let it mesh on its own. Do it a few times. It will get easier and/or you'll get the feel of it.

Thanks, I have done it a couple of times around our lot and in the (gravel) drive, just need more practice. This is the stiffest shifter I have had in all my years. Of course, some of the early days were on old trucks and tractors, so worn you could just touch them to shift (not always a good thing).

 

[NeilP]

Has anyone considered the B & M 81173 Extended transfer case shift lever? I bought one and was going to install it but I've changed my mind. To late to return it now. I'll be putting it up for sale in the next few days.

 

[JayJay]

Has anyone considered the B & M 81173 Extended transfer case shift lever? I bought one and was going to install it but I've changed my mind.

Hi Neil, if you don't mind me asking, why did you change your mind? I have one that the wife gave me two Christmas's ago and was thinking of finally installing it. Was wondering if you know of any negatives that I should be aware of?

 

[NeilP]

Hi Neil, if you don't mind me asking, why did you change your mind? I have one that the wife gave me two Christmas's ago and was thinking of finally installing it. Was wondering if you know of any negatives that I should be aware of?

I don't have any negatives. I just decided to leave the OEM lever in place.

 

[Heimkehr]

Has anyone considered the B & M 81173 Extended transfer case shift lever?

Paging @Headbarcode

 

[Headbarcode]

Paging @Headbarcode

 

[Heimkehr]

 

[Headbarcode]

Has anyone considered the B & M 81173 Extended transfer case shift lever? I bought one and was going to install it but I've changed my mind. To late to return it now. I'll be putting it up for sale in the next few days.

Hi Neil, if you don't mind me asking, why did you change your mind? I have one that the wife gave me two Christmas's ago and was thinking of finally installing it. Was wondering if you know of any negatives that I should be aware of?

I've had the B&M Racing extended t-case lever for a couple of years now. It's hands down one of my favorite additions to my JLUR, and that's a long list, because it enhanced one of the main connections between me and the Jeep.

The shift mechanism is supposed to be stiff in the beginning, but eases and smoothens out with use. My shifter was easier to use by the time I added the extended lever, so it wasn't added for extra leverage over a stiff mechanism. I added it because extra leverage, in a situation not needing extra leverage, results in more accurate control.

Here's a bunch of pics, showing both the lever in all drive modes and that there's still plenty of clearance and no need to make any compromises with accessing and engaging the emergency brake...

The emergency brake is engaged in those last 2 pics. In the first 3 pics, my foot is on the throttle and I'm sitting in my normal driving position. The B&M knob is closer to my leg, but doesn't touch while driving. For reference, I'm 5'11" and well balanced as far as leg to torso proportion.

 

[Headbarcode]

Got crazy at work, causing a delay in following up with an actual response to those other members. ?

 

[DonH63]

@Headbarcode - The extender looks nice but too close to leg for me, especially bouncing around on a trail. Camera angle probably makes it look worse than it is?

I was checking some things on the Jeep and decided to switch in and out of 4Lo a couple of times. Amazingly it went right in the first time, no problem, just sitting still with transmission in neutral slipped right down. Then took five minutes of rolling forward, back, etc. to get it out of 4Lo! Always tricky trying to get it unbound to shift, but figure it'll loosen up as everyone has said. Gonna' try to shift it a bunch of times before our next trail ride in a couple of weeks.

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