I never had an issue at a stop. I wonder if his transfer case isn't bad. Would that snap ring cause that?

 

My is stiff to shift regardless of if I am moving or not. My 96 would shift fine while moving, but, was rather difficult when stopped......

Snap ring is a possibility. I think this is his second t-case though? Or am I remembering that from another thread?

 

I'm believe you are thinking about that transmission thread. My transfer case I can move with my pinky at a stop it's smooth as butter.

 

I've never replaced the t-case since I've had the truck, which I purchased November 2018. Shifting did get easier when I replaced the actuator 3 months ago and started getting harder to shift the worse it was getting it into 4wd. This is exactly what happened when the original actuator went. That one was solid rust.

I'll find out tomorrow what's up and if the new actuator has gone bad or if there is a vacuum leak some place else. I'll update my findings for others who may be having similar problems.

 

I would bet the actuator filled with gear oil

 

Harder to shift, meaning that the feeling on the shifter itself is harder, you have to force it to the 4wd position?
Or there's a delay between from shifting to 4wd and actually it being in 4wd?

 

Update ...

Okay, so here is the update after visiting the mechanic this morning. They said the problem sounded like the linkage needed to be adjusted. But after looking over the truck, they stated the linkage was really rusted and sprayed it to loosen things up. They told me to keep working it in by moving the shifter around and I should be okay.

When I got home, I sprayed it again with Blaster penetrating lubricant and as things stand now, I can get the shifter in and out of 4wd with less force, but I'm not sure if it is slipping in all the way, as I know it has been back farther than it is now. The 4wd light does come on within a couple seconds. Tomorrow. I'm gonna put it in 4wd and spray it down again and work it in some more. I can't get it into 4L, not that I think I'll need it, but this is another reason I believe the shifter should move farther back than it does now.

Taking into consideration the truck is a 95 and when I first purchased it back in November 2018, the column shifter was really hard to shift into anything (P R N D 2 1), but has since worked itself out so that is is real smooth shifting, as least to the gears I use mostly (P R N D), I'm gonna give the 4wd shifter linkage a chance to loosen up after spraying it some more and working things in as to see if it continues to improve.

I'll update as I go along for others that may be having a similar problem and thank you all for your input, as it has given me some direction and support in helping to rectify this situation.

 

I don't see how it has to work itself in. It's plastic bushings and a metal rod.

 

Yeah, but dry bushings are dry bushing.... That, and the various levers still need to pivot. Cleaning things up certainly won't hurt anything.

 

You would be correct but that wouldn't cause his issues. It sounds like to me either a transfer case issue or linkage needs adjusting