Air shift xfer case operation question

[3dAngus]

This one's by a newbie.

Yes, this is my second deuce and I have yet to shift the transfer case. Today, my son who pleaded to drive the deuce with his girlfriend asked the question.
What is the air shift lever and light for on the panel of my M109A3, and I could not answer it. I believe it makes it easier to get into 6wd low??? when driving down the road.

So I tried search of "air shift transfer case". No comment.
I searched thousands of pages of Tech manuals from operation to intermediate maintenance, to depot maintenance, troubleshooting and maintenance, nothing pops up.

Can anyone give me the shortcut to the standard recommended reading material on how to properly operate the air shift transfer case, and what it does exactly. I don't mind reading, nor do I object to any comments on what it does and why. I'm no 4-6 wheel drive expert, by any means, and would love to learn more about it. Eventually plan on being in my third deuce with front winch properly bobbed, and on that one, I will definitely be giving it a workout.
Thanks.

Oh, and by the way, if you could have just seen his face light up with that huge smile when he drove off. He's 30 years old, and this is the kind of unforgettable things that makes it all worth it! They both absolutely loved driving that M109A3.

 

[Evil Dr. Porkchop]

the lever on the dash engages the front axle

 

[doghead]

If you were driving a modern 4x4, the air switch is the equivalent of the 4x4 touch button, that engages all wheel drive.

 

[3dAngus]

Then.... the hand lever by our right leg is just for high or low or neutral, but it does not engage the front wheels at all?

 

[doghead]

It is shown in the -10 operators manual.

 

[Evil Dr. Porkchop]

it does not engage the front wheels

 

[doghead]

Then.... the hand lever by our right leg is just for high or low or neutral, but it does not engage the front wheels at all?

Correct

 

[3dAngus]

So there it is. I see why my search criteria did not work. And I recall reading about it on my M35A3 operators manual.

Dang! I'm getting old.

Thanks guys. Huge brain fart here thinking full time 6 wheel drive. I'm just worn out. I'll shutup now.

 

[73m819]

yes.
also going down the road you can flip fwd on no problem, but if your soinning the rears (stuck) and you engage fwd, there is a good chance that something will break from the shock when the front hooks up, if the rears are spinng, stop the spinning BEFORE engaging the fwd

 

[3dAngus]

OK, I appreciate everyones patience with me on this one. I'm an idiot. I tried deleting the thread as I thought it offered nothing of value, and was self-policing, but it was resurrected. Maybe someone will get a good laugh out of it.

Thanks again to all.

 

[73m819]

no, a good question

 

[KsM715]

And it brought up some helpful info for some people that do not understand how 4x4 (6x6) works. I bet theres more than a few that have damaged some driveline parts by flipping the switch (or pushing the button in a modern 4x4) while the rear end is spinning in a mud hole.

I was young and clueless once also, luckily for me my dad loved to go out and just cruise the backroads and fire roads. Taught me how to drive a stick in a 60's Land Rover. His favorite thing to do was make me stop on a hill covered in snow and make me start again.