Proper steps to take engaging 4wd

[Vanhalen1985]

I have a 72 k10. Th350 tranny. What is the proper steps to take when engaging 4 wheel? Hubs first or selector? In park or neutral?

[Stocker]

Turn the hubs in first, then put the TC in 4HI or 4LO. Works better with the transmission in neutral.

You can, however, usually engage / disengage 4WD on the fly (as long as the hubs are engaged) but may need to breathe the throttle or work the steering back & forth a bit.

Is this your first 4x4? It's best to engage 4WD only on a soft surface (not on pavement) so the tires can slip a bit, to keep the drivetrain from binding. If it binds up, try reversing a short distance.

[Vanhalen1985]

Stocker, this is my first 4wd with locking hubs. I've had the truck for several years know and only put in 4 once or twice. Those times I did it wrong however. I was putting it in 4hi prior to locking the hubs and was getting some grinding. Thanks for the proper directions!

[72chevyk10]

i even roll the rig forward a bit after i lock the hubs in. gets them engaged so it connects to the diff. got stuck on a beach once cause like the tard i can be sometimes, i thought if i got stuck the hubs would lock when i turned them.. well they dont. drive shaft was spinning up front but tires didnt started getting pulled out and all of a sudden they engage. so what i do is: hubs locked, roll forward a bit, then engage stick. to pull it out: roll back, stick to 2wd, unlock hubs. in the winter time when i still lived up north id keep the hubs locked all winter doesnt hurt anything, infact its good to engage the hubs and drive some while in 2wd.

[Stocker]

Originally Posted by 72chevyk10

i thought if i got stuck the hubs would lock when i turned them.. well they dont.

Some do, some don't. You are talking about spring-loaded hubs. Others are positive-engagement and will lock in when you turn the dial.

[OrrieG]

Originally Posted by Vanhalen1985

I've had the truck for several years know and only put in 4 once or twice.

At least once a month you should get on a dirt road, engage the hubs and 4wd and drive for a few minutes to keep everything lubed. It will make it easier to engage/disengage in the future. This weekend I started by truck for the first time since 1998 and had a heck of a time getting the transfer case to cooperate. I have found that sometimes you have to drive in reverse a few feet to get out of 4wd. I never ENGAGE on the fly.