help with 300tdi disco transfer box

Hope you guys can tell me a quick fix here

The transfer lever was really really stiff when I bought the disco. would go in to low range with some effort. however would not at all go across in to diff lock I thought it was probably just a sized linkage as car has only ever been used on road oh and the snow of course by some women that thinks off road is the grass verge outside the school.

n e way I have stripped down the lever linkages and lubricated it all and got it moving nice and freely now but it still wont go into diff lock. When I move the lever across it will go across but the instantly springs back to normal position. the rod that goes down to the little plate onto of the box just bends out of the way. I have bathed this little plate in penetrating oil and had a 13mm spanner on the nut to try to work it free to no avail.

so is there some quick trick I'm missing or is it a case of drop the transfer box and strip it down and get everything moving freely that way?

am more than capable of removeing said box and stripping and repair just thought I'd ask b 4 going to all that work.

thanks in advance guys

I've got a 300 series V8 and had a similar problem. Took it into LRC near me who freed it all up like you said, but it will go across into diff lock, but the diff lock wont engage. They said that the box would have to be fully stripped and freed up to make it work. Will proboably be the same for your.

Just need to remember to use the gearbox once every so often when it is fixed to stop it siezing up.