Never bought a transfer case until today...

OliverGuy · Dec 18, 2013

Snowplowing has been done by my Dad and by me and a lot of trucks over the years. The oldest truck with a 10-12 hour normal route is 18 years old. Bought the first transfer case today, the 7-8" of wet stuff finished one of in a '99. All these are Chevy/GMC 2500's and 3500's. Bought a lot transmissions, but never a t. case. Maybe I'm lucky I don't know. If they can handle the abuse we hand out I say kudo's to whoever made them. Guy that changed it for me said "boy this sure is rusty underneath..." Yep. Only good thing for me is a t. case is cheaper than a rebuilt trans!

Joe Scribner · Dec 18, 2013

I've changed quite a few over the years for my customers. The biggest problem usually is the chain stretches and starts to slip over the gear. Some of the newer Chev t-cases have an internal clutch for the front driveshaft outout. In these, use of the proper fluid is critical or the clutch pack will go out.

Frankmn · Dec 18, 2013

I like the gear drive 205's. No chain to slip and almost indestructible.

Bryan inIowa · Dec 18, 2013

Lucky if they are NP236/246 . They wear holes in the case . Oil pump gets loose and moves around . They make a case saver for them so they can be rebuilt

John B. · Dec 18, 2013

I saw a man in our shop one day jack up his F150 4x4 in the front so both front tires were off the ground. This made the front driveshaft slip joint stretch like the shaft should. When he went to lower the truck the shaft didn't contract like it should since it had never been greased. The force caused the drive shaft to push against the transfer case and broke the transfer case at the case mounting holes where it bolted onto the back of the transmission.

Bob · Dec 18, 2013

Are you saying he never bounced over a bump, or bottomed out in a dip????

I"ve seen MANY break that way, "cuz the sip yoke is rusted, or has worn splines that hang up so it can"t telescope when you hit a bump.

But after being on a jack????

Methinks it was broken before and that"s when he noticed it!

DENNIS MIN · Dec 18, 2013

frankmn,

Almost.

But if I was a gambler, I'd bet on those 205 cast iron gear driven cases. Tough like an old tractor that seen way more than the full-time chain-driven aluminum sorts.

D.

Paul in MN · Dec 18, 2013

In the snowplow trucks I've had since 1965, they have all had the NP 205. I had to have one rebuild in a commercial shop. It was on an 86 Dodge W250 snowfighter truck. To get a slightly higher CAFE average, that year Dodge specified the 205 to be filled with ATF. These gear boxes were made to have a heavy gear lube like 85W-90 in them. 2 years later in my 88 Dodge with the same set-up, they recommended a heavier oil (straight weight 30 motor oil!!). I suspect that the only 205's that have failed had too thin a oil. All of my IH trucks had the NP 205.

I doubt the 205 is even made anymore. We are all forced to use the "rubber band" drive.

Paul in MN

Bill in IL · Dec 19, 2013

Indestructible for sure but a bear to shift cause of the driveline torque and no play in the transfer case vs a chain drive. I suppose a small price to pay for a bullet proof transfer case.

Never bought a transfer case until today...

OliverGuy

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Joe Scribner

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Frankmn

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Bryan inIowa

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John B.

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Bob

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DENNIS MIN

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Paul in MN

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Bill in IL

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