Series 3 Stuck In High Ratio

Recently purchased a 1978 Series 3 LWB Truck Cab and I couldnt be happier.

One problem that has appeared is that I have tried getting it into low ratio but the lever seems to be stuck and will not move backwards at all. When I purchased it 3 weeks ago all was ok - could it have seized up whithin this short time!

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated but remember I am a newbie!

Thanks

push the yellow knob down then see if the lever moves, it may well have the outer shaft under the tin cover seized in the output housing

Many thanks for the very quick reply.

I am worried that if I do this then I may be stuck in 4WD and may not be able to get out of it again!

At least at the moment I can still drive the landy aound on tarmac.

Caelan said:

Many thanks for the very quick reply.

I am worried that if I do this then I may be stuck in 4WD and may not be able to get out of it again!

At least at the moment I can still drive the landy aound on tarmac.

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Get it pushed newbie.

Being dragged round corners by the front drive adds to the fun.
Remember.........you cant break it if its already brokid. Seriously though I find that if my leavers aint shoved about with a tad of brute force things just dont mesh properly and all sorts of clonking and jumping out of drives goes on. Be firm with him and all should be well.

I have been brave and pushed the yellow knob down but it does not stay down - it pops straight back up again. I have tried being heavy handed with it also. I have also tried holding the yellow knob in the down position and then pulling back on the red lever to try to get it into low ration but it still doesnt move.

Any ideas guys?

Take the tin cover off the output box and check it's not full of crud and the pivots move.
That's most likely
If that doesn't work then you can take the cover off the right side of the transfer box and see what's moving or not.

Failing that, its box out , I'm afraid.

I have an update. I have soaked the linkages of the red lever with WD40 from both underneath and from above after removing the rubber boot at the base of the leaver. After leaving it for a couple of hours I can no move it into low ratio but only whilst holding down the yellow know - the yellow knobdoesnt stay down by itself.

Is this progress or just a lucky coincidence?

SpringDon mentioned taking the tin cover off the output box - where exactly is this please? Im a newbie!

Many thanks

Caelan said:

SpringDon mentioned taking the tin cover off the output box - where exactly is this please? Im a newbie!

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If you follow the front propshaft backwards from the front axle, you'll find the front output of the transfer box. Just above this output flange, you'll see a thin steel cover plate with cylinder shaped cups. This is the cover you need to remove.

You'll probably find it's wet and manky in there.

I would be interested to hear how others keep this mechanism from getting wet and rusty - is grease best?