I seem to recall thinking my gearbox was stuck in 4WD when I was examining it on the bench. After a bit of head scratching I realized that with the gearbox out of the vehicle, the spring on the 4WD lever between the knob and the transmission tunnel which usually applies pressure to the 4WD lever pulling it upwards, can no longer do it's thing. With the transfer lever in low range I tried pulling up on the 4WD lever to simulate the force of the spring and then moved the transfer lever to high range and the 4WD lever popped up. Come on 'fess up, I can't be the only one to have done this!

If that was not the problem, I think you are just going to have to pull it apart.

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