Hi all,
I have a '75 w200 with full time 4wd. The tcase selector lever shows "Lo lock, Lo, N, Hi, and Hi lock"

I took this truck for a 10 min drive at about 30-40mph not knowing it was in "Hi lock". When I came to a stop after the drive I noticed that both front wheels were steaming (it was raining). Both wheels were almost too hot to touch.

Could this be because it was in "Hi lock"? What damage could I have done by running it this way?

 

if it's got a Neutral position, it's not full-time 4wd :S
You should be running with it in N when you're not needing the front traction.

As far as damage,
wheel hubs may be burned out. Would definatly think about new berrings, but would at least re-pack them if they look good. Might want to check your U-joints and transmission/ transfer case lubes too.

From what I'm told, there's a very slim chance your front axel and gears would be damaged, but fresh lube there wouldn't be a bad idea either...

ofcourse this is all good stuff to do on any newly accquired used 4x4 (or any vehical really)

If your front hubs aren't seized, you're probably OK, but I wouldn't be using it in 4wd mode until everythings checked out.

 

It should not move in neutral.
Should be in Hi for normal roads, Hi or Lo lock for slippery conditions.
What was steaming, the tires only or from the center of the wheels?

 

We live well off the hard road and use 4 wheel drive every time we leave and come back to our house. My wife has done what you did on a few occasions and there has never been any permanent damage to our vehicles although I don't recommend it. Charlie is right on selector lever position. As far as damage I doubt you have done any. Any time you drive the truck, even in 2 wheel drive, the tires actually have to travel different distances and something has to absorb these differences in travel distance. Like when you turn a corner the outside tires travel farther than the inside tires and the slip is absorbed in the rear itself or by the tires, depending on what type rear you have. With the truck in 4 wheel drive something has to be able to absorb the differences here also and that would be the tires in this case. The fact that it was raining probably allowed the tires to absorb these differences in travel distance much easier even on hard pavement and more than likely prevented any drive train damage. The steaming could have been tires, brakes, or hubs and as such does not by itself indicate a problem. If you are experiencing any other problems now you may need to check things out but otherwise I would consider myself lucky and use this as a learning experience and not do it again in the future.

 

Perhaps I'm confused... Maybe someone can set me straight?
From my understanding, there are three basic types of 4x4:
1 the type where you have to lock the hubs, and normally drive with the transfer case in neutral (at least all my brother's trucks were like this)
2 the type where you don't mess with the hubs at all, and drive with the transfer case in neutral, like the truck I had
3 and then there's what I think of when I see "full time" 4x4/4wd/all wheel drive - like these new veihcles where you can electronically turn off the front drive, and everything is controlled with the transmission gear selector.

I appologise for my ignorance. From my personal experience (which is limited), these are pretty much all the types that exist *in my world*. Thats why I'm here - learn, and to pass on the little bit I do know. Thanks

 

If the selector was in neutral and the truck would move the linkage was out of adjustment.
With the gears in the transfer case in neutral it is just like a transmission in neutral, it won't move.

 

My 89 has a Spicer 44-8FD front axle. It has no hubs as in most 4 wheel drives. The caliper is directly connected to the axle shaft by splines. The axles are locked together by a vacuum operated collar inside the left axle shaft. So I guess you can add this type to your world. I am not trying to offend just joking around. There are many different ways that have been used to get to 4 wheel drive.
In our trucks as far as I know the transfer case shifter has 4-HI, 2-HI, N, 4-LOW, and some of the older trucks have 2-LOW. (I wish I had 2-low in my Dodge like my GMC does.) The neutral position totally disconnects the transmission from the drive shafts at the transfer case.

 

Thanks a lot for the replies. The closer I moved my hand to the center of the wheel the hotter it got. The hub nut was hot enough to make my finger blister if I held it there for more than a few seconds (Yeah, I tried it).

We drove the truck around today in Hi with no issues, I'm just gonna keep an eye on it. One more thing, what's the proper way to shift the transfer case when the truck is running?

 

Mine shifts 2-HI to 4-HI in gear on the fly but not under load. To go to neutral and 4-LOW I must stop and shift the tranny to neutral or park. Yours may be different.