MSOS versus ESOF

[Smokewagun]

I'll post this here with the 2008's because that the year I am concerned with.

I drive alot of highway, and in well over 300,00+ miles of various Superduty F-250's I have yet to have a problem with any of my Electric Shift On the Fly 4WD's (ESOF), despite the problems others have had. I thought to save $185 and the "no tow" of a wounded soldier, I would skip the ESOF and order MSOS - Manual Shift On Stop - the old fashioned shifter on the floor with manual hubs.

Well, thinking the 2008's would be the same as my current 2007, I read the manual. I was very suprised...

In the old days, you could maually lock the hubs, and go in and out of 4WD at almost any speed - let's say up to 55mph. Then, the only way to unlock the hubs was manually.

Then, auto 4X4 came out on Fords, where you could pull up on a manual floor shifter with the hubs in AUTO or LOCK positions, and go into 4WD. Then, the only way to disengage the hubs was to: A) shift manually out of 4WD and then unlock the hubs manually if they were in the LOCK position, or... B) shift maually out of 4WD and then drive a minimum of 10 feet in the opposite direction you were traveling when the truck was last in 4WD (i.e. if you were driving forward and shifted out of 4WD, you then had to back up 10 feet in a straight line to unlock the hubs. The "B" method still kept the hubs in an AUTO position, which left the wheel spinning independent of the front drive shaft, transfer case, etc. after you unlocked them as described, so they offered you fuel savings with piece of mind to go into 4WD without keeping the drivetrain locked and spinning with the front wheels. The manual LOCK position offered the other piece of mind that if you were going mud hopping, you knew the hubs were locked regardless, and would ALWAY go into 4WD when you pulled the shifter. AUTO was never fully 100%, but very good.

Follow? Good....

Anyway, I looked at my 2007 manual, and it now says that if you have the manual shifter, you have MSOS. It further says, you can only shift into 4WD below 3mph. Yes, I said THREE MILES PER HOUR. ***? What good is that. For driving a few hundred miles per day where I want to keep the hubs locked, what good is it if I have to slow down to 3mh first? With my success rate with ESOF, I guess I'll belly up to the bar for the $185.

The long delaaaaaayyyyyyed question is... Is this the same on the 2008's?

[JUNGLECARPET]

Ford no longer mixes the manual shifter and the auto hubs together, You get either or. The older system (No Dial Hub) would allow you to manually shift the interior lever and the rotating axle would automatically lock the hubs in. It wouldn't lock immediately, it usually would take a fair distance for the hubs to lock. The 08 manual package comes with the much older design of "lock or free" positioning. No "auto" position on the manual hubs.

I had a 78 F150 4x4 and you could do exactly as you said, lock the hubs and you could shift in and out of 2 & 4 HIGH at any reasonable speed. You would usually have to let off the throttle or give it a little gas while shifting and it would work beautifully.

Although I haven't tried this on the my 08 yet, I'm assuming mechanically it would work just fine. Being that the manual shift package has a neutral position on it, I think Ford is worried about a high speed run away vehicle causing possible disaster, thats why the low speed recommendation on shifting. Playing with the throttle while shifting should be like butter.

I remember my Ford manual saying under 5 mph, not much difference none the less.

Hope that helped!!

[Smokewagun]

Thanks Junglecarpet. I remember the old day shifting as well. I assume that the 2008's will be the same... back off on the throttle and pull it in and in it will go (with hubs in Lcok, of course). I was just freaked by the "3mph or less" in my manual.

On a side note, I have noticed that once my ESOF has been slipped int 4WD once (with hubs in AUTO), it will always lock in immediately. I think the big problem most have is the dirt, dust, and mud get into the seals and the vacuum won't engage the hubs anymore. Because I drive alot of highway, I'd venture a guess that is why my problems have beem minimal to date. Now watch... they'll screw up tomorrow!

[sheepman]

I have ESOF with auto hubs, (not my first choice) when I first looked at them they looked like the IH insta-matic hubs. However, there was no free, just auto and lock the insta-matic hubs have free, auto, and lock. I had a 68 scout that had them, they never gave me any trouble. So why no free on the 08 hubs? Has Ford improved the auto hubs so much that free is no longer needed? It just seems to me that it would keep'um in free for sure. Then they could use a one hub fits all. It's nice that they added the lock to the auto hub so you can hard lock the hubs.

[CaptSkup]

I have the manual transfer case, manual hubs on my 450. Had ESOF on my '04 F-250, the system locked in the 4HI position once and I could not get it to unlock. In my attempts, I accidently got it locked into 4Lo, long way from home towing the boat. Ford had to change out the shft motor mounted on the transfer case, and the switche on the dash. I really like having the manual version now. It gives me neutral, too. When I anticipate the need for 4wd use, I just rotate the hubs to "lock", long reach on a 450. When needed, I let up on the go pedal and smoothly pull the lever into 4Hi, have done it at 5mph and also at 45mph, unlocks just as easy. 4Lo operation does require very slow speed, a given.

[Captcaper]

Originally Posted by Smokewagun

Thanks Junglecarpet. I remember the old day shifting as well. I assume that the 2008's will be the same... back off on the throttle and pull it in and in it will go (with hubs in Lcok, of course). I was just freaked by the "3mph or less" in my manual.

On a side note, I have noticed that once my ESOF has been slipped int 4WD once (with hubs in AUTO), it will always lock in immediately. I think the big problem most have is the dirt, dust, and mud get into the seals and the vacuum won't engage the hubs anymore. Because I drive alot of highway, I'd venture a guess that is why my problems have beem minimal to date. Now watch... they'll screw up tomorrow!

Shifting at below 3mph is for low range only...Even ESOF can't do that.
I shift my Manual all the time at speeds of 50 or so and it shifts smooth.

I ordered it like that..I had ESOF twice and don't want it again..

With that said I can say I do miss not having to get out of the truck to lock but I don't miss the problems with shifting in and out of the ranges and troubles I had.

I don't know why they don't make those hubs that engage when you put it in 4x4. Then have to back up to release.. I did have those and theymust of gave problems with engageing too hard sometimes for most folks.. You had to go easy which most won't do..

IF Ford had a manual override incase the motor,relay,switchs,,etc. failed and kept the auto/manual combo hubs they have now I would get it..

I still wouldn't get the ESOF again...Up here in Northern NH you need dependibility and I do use it alot.