NP 229 shifting

[rustywag]

My NP 229 will not shift into 4WD. I have vacuum to the shift motor so I'm hoping that the motor is just broke/frozen. Can I disconnect the shift motor and manually put it in 4WD and just leave it ? or does the motor need to be constantly tensioning the linkage? If I can just put it into 4WD does anything have to be moving for it to go into 4wd? I know once I get it into 4wd I'll be OK I just want to get it there, then I'll worry about finding a shift motor.

[LRRH]

i have had luck manually shifting a NP129 (no 4low) into 4high via the case lever. No...you will not need the motor to keep it engaged.

it will need to roll a little if i recall correctly...so be careful.

[89grand]

How did you shift a NP229 into 4 hi via the case lever? The case lever only puts you into 2wd, nuetral or 4 lo, the switch under the dash puts the 229 into 4 hi.

Wait, I just read this again. What's a NP129?

[ November 06, 2003, 03:17 PM: Message edited by: 89grand ]

[tuckers89GW]

Yes, you can unhook it to get it into 4hi. but i would find a shift motor. you might find that the linkage is just gummed up and won't move. get down there with the pb blaster and lube the heck out of it. take a pliers or sim. and move the lever back and forth. it is quite possible that the P.O didn't use it. they must be used to work properly. good luck. let us know if it worked.

[ulm210]

Beware!!!!! If you try to put it into 4-wheel and the front axle shift motor does not engage, when you put it BACK into 2-wheel, the viscous coupler in the NP229 WILL NOT disengage fully, and will burn out in less time than you could possibly believe! This exact problem just happened to me. I ended up having Jeep replace my transfer case and I am waiting as I write this for the new motor to arrive from J&W Autowreckers in AZ. $45.00 + Shipping. I heard some talk from the guys at Jeep that the shift motors were selling for around $450.00!!! Ryan from BJ's also had one for about twice the price, but I would try J&W first.1-800-924-9732 or www.jwjeep.com. (http://www.jwjeep.com.) I could be wrong about the series of events that lead to the failure of the viscous coupler, but I am dead right about the outcome.

[tuckers89GW]

'87 DID NOT HAVe a axle shift motor. they stopped that in like '84 I think the axle on an '87 is full time.

[joe]

If you've got good vac to the motor try as LHHR mentioned to roll the rig forward/back a bit to get it to engage. If the motor is froze and inop BJ's has new ones for about $43 with the ifsja discount. Once you do get a new vac motor shift the tcase between 2WD/4WD once a month or so to keep it from freezing up in the future.

[rustywag]

I've only had this about a year and it spent most of that time in the garage waiting for me to finish installing the lift. I'm guessing it's just sticky from lack of use. However, I'm thinking that once its in 4wd I may leave it in forever as it was sluggish anyway. what, so my mileage goes from lousy to really lousy? I don't see a downside to 4WD forever.

[89grand]

You shouldn't see any difference in fuel mileage if you keep it in 4wd all the time. In fact in the owners manual they say you can leave it in 4wd all the time if you want to.

[LRRH]

What's a NP129As mentioned....it a NP229 with no Low range...found in AMC Eagles. And gas mileage will be unnoticable.

[ulm210]

Originally posted by tuckers89GW:
'87 DID NOT HAVe a axle shift motor. they stopped that in like '84 I think the axle on an '87 is full time.Sorry, did not pay attention to the year! I am just a little gun-shy right now and do not want to see someone go through the same senseless BS I just experienced, thats all.