[MJN]

Originally Posted by Old_iron

I am trying to get the front drive shaft to rotate freely.

Here's what I did. I jacked up the front end so both wheels are off the ground, and locked both hubs. I put the trans AND the transfer case in neutral. When I rotate one of the wheels, or try to rotate the front drive shaft, it moves a little then stops. Like its engaged in the transfer case.

It has a np205 behind a sm465, truck 4 speed manual trans.
The truck is not yet running, and I am trying to test the transfer case. As far as I know it worked before.


Am I misunderstanding how it is supposed to work? What am I missing?

So you locked both hubs and the t-case is in neutral, are you sure there isn't anything wrong inside the front differential? Does it have a locker/posi front diff? The driveshaft will be free to spin with the t-case in neutral or 2-hi as long as the hubs are unlocked. If you want to rule out the t-case then unlock your hubs and try to spin the driveshaft in neutral and 2-hi. If you haven't already- pop the differential cover off and check things out. If it all checks out, you're only out your time and a few bucks for fresh gear oil.

In your picture you have a NP205.