Front tires not spinning

[sxviper1982]

I have a 67 2.5 ton that I bought last summer and noticed in the snow that the front tires do not spin when I get stuck. I do not think there is an air lock axel in the front. Any ideas what the problem could be?

 

[tie6044]

You more than likely have a sprag tcase. They are inferior in my opinion. I would swap it out for an air shift case then YOU choose when to engage the front not the tcase itself. For now check the TMs you may be able to adjust it.

 

[clinto]

If you indeed have the sprag transfer, there are several threads which detail how to diagnose/adjust them. If you go through the procedure and the front axle still does not engage, the sprag is worn out and must be replaced. At this point, I'd upgrade the truck to an air shift as tie6044 suggested.

http://www.steelsoldiers.com/showthread.php?6048-Sprag-Adjustment

http://www.steelsoldiers.com/showthread.php?71327-Sprag-adjustment-no-bueno-or-I-did-it-wrong

 

[KsM715]

Verify which t-case you have and let us know. It will be much easier to help you out rather than throw out abunch of answers that dont relate to your particular t-case

 

[Jeepsinker]

I wouldn't even waste my time screwing around with junk. If you don't have the air shift case, it is a wonderful idea to swap out to one. Do you have an air switch labeled " Front wheel drive" under your instrument cluster?

 

[73m819]

I wouldn't even waste my time screwing around with junk. If you don't have the air shift case, it is a wonderful idea to swap out to one. Do you have an air switch labeled " Front wheel drive" under your instrument cluster?

I would not say a sprag transfer is junk,, in proper adjustment they work fine, they wear out yes, but junk no, if that was the case, then every limited slip rear would also be junk

 

[emr]

Far from junk as so correctly said above , They work well, these trucks are old and very few know how to drive them. The less one knows about them the more you hear they don't work. Yes the air shift is an upgrade. Yes the sprags served well for many many years. It reminds me of the posts " These tires got me stuck LOL "

 

[Jeepsinker]

Seems to me that air shift cases are a lot less prone to failure, and if they fail to engage it doesn't always mean removal and tear down. Forgive me for my bias, but I was a transmission and driveline man for years and sprags were always weak links.

 

[73m819]

The problem is as soon as a sprag does not drive the front axle, it is immediately thought and stated that the sprag is crap, never mind the operator does not know how a sprag works nor have read the TMs on the proper care/adjustrment, let alone do it, the amount of use our trucks get, a sprag should last quite a while, just adjusting the shift rod from the trans goes a long way for a proper working condition, draining/flushing instead of the oil being there forever getting gummer and gummer will also go a long for reliable operation, all well, I guess it is easier to change out a transfer case then it is to drain/flush the case or read the TMs.

 

[Jeepsinker]

It is easier to swap the case out one time and never have to worry about the quirks/ issues associated with the sprag again. Yes, you still should drain and fill it with fresh fluid sometimes but you end up with a unit that is much more trouble free. The operator shouldn't have to mess with the transfer case often or ever have to wonder if his front wheels are going to pull when they are really needed. There is a reason the military went over to the air shift units... Less maintenance and more reliability. And it doesn't jar the front driveline every time it engages.

 

[dmetalmiki]

My freinds deuce has the same problem..I know the cause of HIS FAULT is driving off in second gear from reverse..and vice versa..not to be done as instructed in t-ms. ( with a NON air shift truck.)

 

[tie6044]

I personally would say a sprag tcase is junk even if it is working properly. Let's say you are about to cross a muddy section in an off road trail, with a sprag tcase your front tires are not going to spin until the rears start to spin. So up to that point they are not helping at all. With an air **** tcase you can have it in 6 wheel drive BEFORE you hit the mud so as soon as you do get to the bad spot your front is actually helping get through before the rears even have a chance to spin.

 

[JasonS]

I know the cause of HIS FAULT is driving off in second gear from reverse..and vice versa..not to be done as instructed in t-ms. ( with a NON air shift truck.)

This has been THOROUGHLY debunked as false. The sprag is a wear item and, given the age of the trucks, is simply worn out. There is a section in the TM on how to measure the sprag segments. I have measured two different transfer case sprag clutches (fwd section) and each was worn out.

Maybe, they never worked well; I don't know. The air shift is the best solution.