Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Transfer Case Chain Stretch

[Todd G]

I think my chain in the NV241LD may have stretched enough to allow it to slip on the gears. It only happens in 4wd and in high and low range. It sure sounds like the chain is slipping. Very nasty. I had the case apart last week and there appears to be nothing wrong internally. How do you tell if your chain is stretched other than by the nasty sound? I can't believe there's no chain tensioner or anything like that in the case. I suppose I could take the chain out and measure it to see if it's out of spec.



Any suggestions?

 

[jheath]

What kind of sound does it make? Mine will bind and then pop occasionally when I am under a load in 4wd. My thought is probably chain . Is yours the same way?Please let me know so I might have a heads up on my problem.

 

[Piersol]

mine too (I think)

I have a 100,000 mile rig with auto trans and think I have a stretched chain. It's hard to describe the noise but when I idle (like in a parking lot) and it shifts into second gear I get a weird sound from the transfer case. Just a weird "meshing type sound". Under load you don't hear it. Nothing objectionable, just not right.

 

[Todd G]

Mine sounds like it is jumping gears. Not a good sound.

It happens when I apply anything more than idle in 4 Hi or 4 Lo. The truck jerks pretty good when it happens. I don't want to hurt anything else in the case or the rest of the drivetrain.

 

[Todd G]

I've been having cruise-control problems since I replaced the batteries a few months ago. I know about the problem with battery acid leaking onto the vacuum lines that control the cruise control. I wonder if my problem is a vacuum leak to the central axle disconnect? It could be popping in and out of front axle lockup. I will check tomorrow by removing and plugging the vacuum line to the front axle.

 

[grtescpa]

Originally posted by Todd G

I think my chain in the NV241LD may have stretched enough to allow it to slip on the gears. It only happens in 4wd and in high and low range. It sure sounds like the chain is slipping. Very nasty. I had the case apart last week and there appears to be nothing wrong internally. How do you tell if your chain is stretched other than by the nasty sound? I can't believe there's no chain tensioner or anything like that in the case. I suppose I could take the chain out and measure it to see if it's out of spec.



Any suggestions?

Just a stupid question, did you check the universal joint?

 

[Todd G]

It sure sounds like a u-joint. It only happens when I initially apply power. I can stand on the brakes, build boost, and it won't make the sound. Only when I first push the pedal. I went underneath today and didn't find any slop on the u-joints but there is quite a bit of play in the front driveshaft. Maybe the R & P is shot. I did disconnect the vacuum line to the CAD and put in 4wd hi and lo and heard nothing. Of course there was no power to the front driveshaft with the CAD disconected.