4x4 low range issue

[dz4swamper]

Hey guys, so I think I remember reading something about my problem awhile back.. Anyways to my issue;

I was out in the snowy woods getting firewood, and when I went to shift into 4 low, it was a complete pain in the a$$ to move the stick.

What I think I remember is something about adjusting the linkage some how..

It's a 2004 XLT with the manual floor shifter..

Thanks a ton!

[PowerstrokeTech82787]

Ok the linkage is located on the side of the transmission. on the drivers side. The thing people dont realize with the manual lever for 4x4 is that the lever has to be pulled towards the drivers side and then downward. Most guys just yank down and that pushes the shift rod into a lip and it peels back. Eventually the shift lever will wobble side to side if they break the lip. I did it myself when i first started out. I thought you just ripped it backwards... nope. Cuz when it stopped. I ripped harder until i heard a loud crack/pop.

If its not that then you could try seeing if the big rubber bushing is cracked/eroded thats binding up...

[dz4swamper]

Ok, so after the 4hi detent, I moved it to the left(towards driver) pulled back, and then tried to push it right(towards pass side), but it wasn't wanting to lock into 4lo once I got past N.. I can take a pic of the shift knob which has the detent schedule if I don't make sense...

Edit: just FYI, I tried rocking my truck forward and back to see if the gears were binded up somehow with no real change.. I did eventually get it to go in, but it took about 15-20 attempts

[forddieseldoctor]

These shifters tend to corrode up if you don't move them regularly. Sometimes you can remove them and clean them up and they will work fine, but sometimes they are too far gone and have to be replaced.

[dz4swamper]

Thanks for the replies..
I peeled back the interior boot and saw that it's rubbing on the hard plastic, I think if I trim it a little that it may allow it to move freely.

Here's a pic of the area I'm talking about, you can see that the secondary boot is worn on the stick and the plastic that it's rubbing on

It engages but it's firmly against the plastic, so I think that may fix it..

[dz4swamper]

Ok, so after I saw that rubbing I grabbed my air grinder and removed some of the plastic. It now is easier to shift into 4lo, but still requires a bit of a yank for it to seat, but at least I can get it on the first pull now..

[forddieseldoctor]

Spray down the pivot under the truck with penetrating oil and keep working it for a several days. See if it loosens up.

[dz4swamper]

Which pivot? Or both? Wasn't there a TSB about it popping out of 4x4 on bumpy roads that required an adjustment to the linkage? Maybe that what I was remembering.

Edit: dang, why are pics from a phone so small? Haha. Sorry if you guys can't see the pics clearly because of it

[forddieseldoctor]

The pivot that is bolted to the transmission.

[dz4swamper]

Roger that. Thank you sir!