4 wheel low grind

[Michael Jones]

2018 6.4L Tradesmen 4x4

Was using my 4 low on some mountain roads. Came to a stop to shift out of 4low to 2wd. Couldn't get it to shift into 2wd because I put the truck in pitched stop to shift. I proceeded to shift it back in 4low. Light came on that it was back in 4low. Put it in reverse for some flater ground behind me. And got some grind for split second before putting it back in neutral and really forcing it into 4low, which it finally went in.

To sum it up. That slight grind for second. Anyone think there is damage? She worked, I would say as she should couple other times when I had to use it afterwards...

 

[ram1500rsm]

Do you have an actual shifter lever or the electronic rotary shifter ? Sorry i don't know much about the HD trucks. My transfer case did something similar once. i have the electronic transfer case and I was trying to shift out of 4lo and i shifted the trans into N, then trasfer case from 4Lo to 2wd and as soon as i put the trans in D. the transfer case started grinding and shifting the trans into N didn't stop the noise. The noise scared the crap out of me so i did shut down the motor and put the trans in P. Then restarted the truck and everything worked without any issues. The manual indicates sometimes the transfer case can make all sort of noises while it shift in or out of gear or whatever, mine have only done that once. I changed the TC fluid after that episode just in case and didn't see anything abnormal in the fluid. Also 4Lo doesn't have syncros like when the thing goes from 2hi to 4hi and viceversa which i'd think is why we have to stop and put the trans in N or we can have the truck moving at no more than 3mph or so with the trans in N to engage 4lo or disengage it. This works for the rotary TC shifter or normal shifter lever. If you have the electronic transfer case the clustser will indicate you need to slow down while in N to less than 5mph ot about 3mph if i remember correctly, then i'll tell you to put the trans in gear

If you have the TC shifter lever and it grinded while you were were trying to engage 4lo or 4hi, typically if you move backward or forward just a smidge and try again it should engage/disengage for good.

 

[bm02tj]

If you have load on the gears they will hang on
drive straight stop and back up a little shift to N then shift out of low range

 

[crash68]

when shifting into or out of Low range it's best to be rolling slowly (less than 5mph) with transmission in neutral, you can be going forward or reverse. As mentioned if the drivetrain is under load it sometimes doesn't like to shift into/out of Low range

 

[Travelin Ram]

Nah, a little grind is not unusual as it’s not a synchromesh like a manual tranny. Best technique to minimize the chances of sticking between ranges or grinding is to be moving slowly and make the shift with alacrity. If you have a lever.

Electric shift you’re at the mercy of the engineers. A little clanking or grind is not unexpected.

 

[Michael Jones]

Thank you everyone! It's a Tradesmen model with a lever.