Bought a CJ5, got a question,

jzjames · Post by **jzjames** » Thu Mar 20, 2014 9:18 pm

Bought another vehicle, a 1980 CJ5 to play around with - for the summer months anyway.
It's the first 4WD vehicle Ive ever owned, and I dont know the first thing about them. Im too embarrased to go onto the Jeep forums to ask this question: How do you shift a CJ5 from 2WD into 4WD?
I drove it home 60 miles on a rainy night. Seems to run ok, and now Im taking care of a couple dings that bothers me.

Help me out, I dont know **** about Jeep CJ's. Thanks.

Madman · Post by **Madman** » Fri Mar 21, 2014 6:53 am

First thing is, does it have locking hubs (which I assume it should as an 80's model). If it does turn both hubs to either lock or 4x4 or 4wd. Next, it should be a manual transfer case (I'm assuming), a shifter on the floor boards. Shifting that lever will engage the 4wd high or 4wd low. Look for a manual on line for the shift patterns, or hopefully it is on the knob of the shifter.

jzjames · Post by **jzjames** » Fri Mar 21, 2014 1:04 pm

So on the hub, I tried to rotate it and it was not turning. Is it normally hard to turn with your fingers? Does it gotta be in neutral to turn it?
In other words: Neutral, get out of Jeep, turn selector to 4WD? Get in and select 4L or 4H?
Ive been looking for an owners manual which will give me the operation of it, but havent gotten one yet.

Madman · Post by **Madman** » Fri Mar 21, 2014 3:43 pm

It does not have to be in neutral to turn the hub. You may try rocking the wheel back and forth some to see if it is an alignment problem. If not, shoot some wd40 around it and let it soak in the event it is gummed up, which it looked pretty clean overall. You may have to disassemble it and see if something is binding (not too complex).

jzjames · Post by **jzjames** » Fri Mar 21, 2014 6:36 pm

alright brother, thanks for that.

cep62 · Post by **cep62** » Fri Mar 21, 2014 7:45 pm

If you get on a hard surface in 4wd it might be hard to shift back into 2wd .
you might have to lightly rock it back and forth while moving the lever.

hdpusher · Post by **hdpusher** » Fri Mar 21, 2014 10:13 pm

Sounds like you are just having trouble with "locking in" the hubs?

I have a 78 CJ5 and occasionally the hubs will stick and become hard to rotate from lack of use, mud, excet. As mentioned try WD/40 or other penetrating oil. Along with that I've used channel locks to help turning them to break them free. And as mentioned sometime you just gota take em apart and clean and inspect them.

Also check the area around the part of the hub that you twist and the outer hub. Simultaneous damage to these areas from lets say striking a rock could cause the two to be "pinned" together. You would have to break this "pinning" loose before they will rotate.
Pinning is hard for me to explain but hope you can picture it.

Im thinking your CJ should have the Dana 300 transfer case and that is the better one they used in Jeeps.

BrockGrimes · Post by **BrockGrimes** » Sun Mar 23, 2014 8:55 pm

Sent you a PM
I'm a mod over on http://www.jeep-cj.com/forums/
Cruise over there

hdpusher · Post by **hdpusher** » Mon Mar 24, 2014 8:31 pm

BrockGrimes wrote:Sent you a PM
I'm a mod over on http://www.jeep-cj.com/forums/
Cruise over there

Just Joined too. Thx

Im under rixcj5

iwhodat · Post by **iwhodat** » Sun Mar 30, 2014 10:18 pm

I'm a member also. I'm whodatsCJ7 on the jeep-cj forum. Brock, I knew I recognized your name from somewhere. I have a 78 CJ7.

Also rixcj5, I think I've seen you hanging around jeepforum

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