Outer Limits 4x4 Board

How do you engage 4wheel drive?

Was looking at a car to buy and on the inspection neither myself or the guy selling couldn't engage 4h or 2 h after taking the gear out of 2 h. It just wouldn't go back in and the car wouldn't move. It finally went into low and then (much later after fighting with it) high and I walked away.

The guy as called me and said it was because the wheels where not straight and we only had 1 free wheeling hub locked in. (how did it engage in low with only 1 then, I don't know. ermm).

This all seems a bit doubtful to me, as anyone got any thoughts. He also said he doesn't use four wheel drive that much and that was the problem (possible)

My doubts where already raised as there was a lot of oil on the transfer case gearbox and bottom of the engine. Not to mention seeping out of the front hubs.
Should I walk away from it? Its $4k (1987 ute 231000kms petrol)
Thanks
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IMO, go with your gut instincts. I would walk away. Especially if you are already questioning it...

when i test drove mine, it went from 2h to 4h no problem, then to 4 l as well, coming back up it didnt want to go back into 2h, so i moved it around a little(the car) forward and back ward and then just slightly crept forward while pushing the lever, and it sloted back in, but i had not been used in 4wd for a long time i think,

then when i went for my first trip out bush, it went in no worrys, so i think tha it was just the fact that it haddnt been used.


but on my 60 sereis, when i got it back from having rear diff, geabox and transfer recoed, it wouldnt engage low range, (high was vacume operated) turned out to be the little sensor thing that pokes into the gerbox that tells the light on your dash to tell you our in low or just 4wd or to turn the vaccum off or what not was jaming it.

but with al the other things you have mentioned i would too be walking away,

it's not uncommon for the 60/75 series transfer case front output shaft to cease up from lack of use. I would walk. transfer rebuilds are cheap, but not if you have to buy shafts and gears

like it was said in MAD MAX..... Walk away just walk away....

oil leaks of any kind can and most often are a tell tail sign of impending dramas...... especialy with gear boxes and transfer cases... mine blew about 8 years ago and back then it was expensive to repair as everything was blown out... don't risk it go with your gut......

my 75 series ute does it. just get it in whatever gear you can and roll forwards put the clutch in and then try while rollling forward with the clutch in.

it is indeed from lack of use and just becomes stiff. also helps if the car has been running a while

My hzj105 is difficult to change between 4h and 4L there is a 'lift' between them and due to never being used (I had the front hubs apart and they aint never been engaged) it is super stiff! with both arms on lever, pulling up in a circular motoin gets it in.. it is getting easier with use..

Ummm i think it's user error, you should be moving when you try to change between 2 & 4wd.(not hi to low) and don't use the clutch, just back off the accelerater and shift when there is little or no load on the transfer. It would probably help if both hubs were locked in. You only tried to engage 4wd on a dirt or similar road, yeah?

mate from my experince if your havin second thoughts dont do it trust your gut instink