Transfer Case Shifting, Hard to Master?

[NHESS81]

I get the usual transmission clunk from D to R and vice verse on my 97 Disco. What I really wanted to talk about is that, while my transfer case is easy and free flowing to shift around, it seems that whenever I try to change settings I 'grind' the gears? This does not happen all of the time, and I always try to shift it around at VERY slow--painfully slow--speeds, is there some sort of trick to shifting from H to L or L to H and so on? Do you guys run into a gear grinding/lurch when changing settings to? Any help would be appreciated, as I do not want to wear my gearboxes and make my baby angry at me....

 

[Moose]

Are you in neutral (transmission gear selector) when shifting H-L or L-H?

 

[NHESS81]

Yes, I shift the main gear to N then i shift the transfer case....should I shift the transfer case really fast? I tend to go from H to N to L and let it fall in each, or should I just go from H to L really fast? I dunno, just tryin to make sure I am not going to blow the gears out...

 

[Moose]

I don't know...you might be moving too quickly still. Maybe try making a smooth and firm movement from H-L?

 

[em_aze]

Think of it this way, the T/Case is a seperate gearbox, but connected to the main box with no clutch or synchro between. When you change from high to low on the move the gear shift momentarily goes into a neutral, then as re engaging with low range has to speed up the main gearbox plus the mass of the torque converter etc. (assuming here yours is auto) This is where you get the clunk or grinding (no synchro. mechanism). However, when changing from low to high on the move the reverse is happening. The main box is slowing down and the gears are going to be rotating at speed where the engagement can be very smooth. This is what makes the full time 4wd. system so useful in taking off with a heavy load being towed, start off in low range then change to high on the move with little effort.
With a manual box, double declutching can get everything rotating at synchro. speed and the shifting up and down quite easy.
Hope this of some help