1356 transfer case detent plate - Diesel Forum

augustwest · 10-16-2009, 04:10 PM

I've been having trouble with my transfer case. Most of the time I lose reverse in 4H, and sometimes slip out of forward gears while coasting in 4H. 2H and 4L so far work okay, so I was thinking it's not a broken shift fork (but I could be way off there). I got hold of the service manual for the 1356 (thanks to cdnsarguy for sending it to me), and the detent plate in the manual looks completely different from the one on my truck. Mine is a flat plate with the detents on top, in a slot through which a pin on the control lever moves. See the picture below. Does anyone know if this is normal for the F350, or has a previous owner done something funny? I'm hoping my problem is a linkage one, so any other advice would be appreciated.

The photo is of the detent plate and control lever from underneath the truck.

1356 transfer case detent plate-dscn0911.jpg

LMJD · 10-16-2009, 07:56 PM

Oh man, you're forcing me to overwork what brainpower I have left because about the same thing happened to me 18 years ago after I bought my truck new and got into the first winter snow season. IIRC mine would pop out of 4WD high range under deceleration. After much checking, I found the notch in the detent plate DID NOT match up with the linkage when the case was fully engaged in 4WD high. In other words, the detent plate would only allow 4WD high to be partially engaged in the transfer case causing it to pop out frequently. The plate mounting holes are not adjustable so I had to file the detent slot to allow full engagement. Been working good ever since. By your post, sounds like the same deal. Another guy here had what appeared to be the same problem about a year ago. Hope he sees this and chimes in.

Quote:

Mine is a flat plate with the detents on top, in a slot through which a pin on the control lever moves.

I think that's what I have too. You can't always go by the genuine Ford manuals, over the years I've found my '91 manual has quite a few errors in it.

maddenji · 10-21-2009, 07:03 PM

My gasser plow truck had the same problem. The shifter fork was worn out. the oil pump had set up and spun inside the case. All the other ranges don't use that fork, therefore they don't have a problem. These T-cases are fairly cheap on Craigs list.