How do you shift your Square's NP208?

[jetman]

Ok, just got a new mode fork installed in my NP208 (t-case pulled by me, fixed by a local shop for $150 labor, t-case installed by me). Lot's of sweat invested in getting this thing fixed and all the t-case oil leaks stopped. Works like new!

With that said, my experience with the NP208 for the last 30 years is that I am always a bit apprehensive going into or out of 4WD. A failure either way could make for a very long day. Always a bit of a fight, playing with the transmission, brakes, make truck roll a bit, etc before the t-case finally accepts the command to shift.

Does anyone have any really good way to make the NP208 shift? Leave truck in neutral, drive, slow roll, etc? Am all ears, do not want to replace any shift forks for the next couple of years...

 

[77 K20]

I had a 208 on my '86 GMC Jimmy and my dad had one on his '87 Blazer. Both of us would just shift them on the fly to get into 4wd. I'd just ease off the throttle a bit, and grab the lever and gently pull back. It would go right in.

 

[bucket]

That's the nice thing about a 208, the ease of shifting. I've run two of them, I often shift them at speeds of 55 mph or so, often not even letting off the throttle. It's never been an issue shifting them at all, just pull 'er back and keep on truckin'.

 

[jetman]

Many thanks! Will implement the "shift on the forward roll" technique in the future when going into/out of 4WD.

 

[bucket]

I've never had trouble shifting to 4HI while parked either. No matter what I'm doing, it always seems to easily shift between 2HI and 4HI.

 

[firebane]

Most transfer cases have shift on the fly capabilities. The only one that I know doesn't is the NP203 because its a full time system unless the part time kit is installed.

 

[Sherrow74]

actually on the np203 you can shift on the fly from high to high lock but you have to be going under 45 mph