Two Speed Axle Question-Please forgive my loquaciousness

A puzzling thing happened today after pulling out a stuck truck. I got our 67 F-600 stuck in some sand and we pulled it out backwards with the rear end in high range and backed it up a few feet after it was out. I didn't shift the axle. When I went to move it forward, the driveshaft would turn but the rear end wouldn't. It didn't make that clicking sound that axles sometimes make on an incomplete shift. After moving the switch a few times and letting off the clutch a few times with it in gear and running, I heard the relay click under the dash and it went into low range fine. I drove it a few miles home, shifting the axle a couple of times and it worked flawlessly.(i usually only shift to low when stopped and shift to high range once I am up to about 40mph in high gear.) Coming up the driveway, I attempted to shift from low to high and got the same neutral position. Again, no noise from the axle. Moving the switch did not result in the noise from the relay and the rear end is not in either range. Does anyone have any ideas other than an electrical problem? I am having trouble finding a wiring diagram or a diagram of the rear end. BTW, I just replaced the splitter button. Any help would be most graciously appreciated.

Getting under it looking for wiring pulled loose, or
poor connections would be my first action. Tracing
wires with a test light is pretty easy. Jim

if the button has a clicking sound [relay]under the dash,,,, depending on how you are trying to split gears,,,usually when you gain speed and split, you would depress clutch a little to allow rear end motor to change gears,,,just in case you didn"t know for sure,,,anyway the rear-end motor might be going out if not shifting right..when you hear the clicking sound like it shifting...

Yep, as Janicholson said.....get under the truck and follow the wires. When you were stuck, you may have jarred a wire partially loose. When I ran the 5 and 2's and they did that, it was usually a loose wire at the pull switch at the button.......but in your case I would guess at the other end.....cuz a bee'n stuck!

1.) Dorf trucks of that era used a circuit breaker for the axle shift which would just kick out on a whim of it's own and disable the ability to shift 'til it reset. (Sound familiar?)

2.) The switch/circuit board in the axle shift unit is failure-prone. Here's what THAT looks like...

<img src = "http://pollak.thomasnet.com/ImgMedium/52-260.jpg">

3.) The shift switch on the gearshift stalk is failure-prone, as well.

Hi Wes,

This really sounds like a huge “coincidence”.

That “clicking” under the dash you hear is just the solenoid for the speedometer and really has nothing to do with the actual shifting.

Now, since it ended up “between ratios”, this means that the shifting screw has at least moved halfway thru it’s stroke.

Like Bob says, and since you’ve replaced the switch, check for good supply voltage to and thru the switch as you move the plunger thru it’s travel to both positions.

If this checks out, pull the square cover on the motor/shifter and either: 1. Clean those points or 2. Replace that little circuit board. Really doubt that the shift motor itself is bad, as it works sometimes and sometimes not.

Circuit is very simple. Power to and thru the switch and then back to the motor VIA the points on the circuit board. You'll see how that little vertical screw follows the shifting mechanism to make the proper connection to reverse the travel.

It really sounds like those points are burnt or dirty.

Allan

You state "please forgive my loquaciousness" I will grant you that AND I DONT MIND YOUR LONG WINDED POST EITHER LOL

Ive been accused of that myself, but they dont use that word to describe it, more like I'm long winded or windy or gabby or "full of it"

"Like I always say, "Why let the facts get in the way of tellin a good story" As an attorney the ONLY thing we have to sell is words right?? so why describe someting in a few simple words when a hundred confusing one will do ??? LOL

Best wishes

An often "loquacious" himself John T

John,acording to your reply my wife must be a lawyer,

jimmy

I don't mind if he's loquacious as long as he's not verbose, garrulous or long winded

As bob said, and showed a pic, I've seen lots of those srpings break, somtimes they will work now and then with that spring broke, then they wont.

LOL but Im NOT touchin that line or commenting, what if yer wife reads this post YIKES were both in deep doo doo

John T

And from my experience, when those rear shift motors decide to go they pull quite a load for a bit first. At night I could always tell by the dim of the lights that I was going to loose one. The ones I always dealt with were pricey affairs.