NP203 help

[Barlow]

Going home today, turned a corner and all of a sudden was free wheeling. When I checked the tcase i could switch n-high-high loc but could not get it into the low range. When shifting the tcase you could hear what sounds like the transmission output spinning in there, just wouldn't engage. I have the 203 without the part time kit. After the snow melts tomorrow I can get under it and dig a little deeper, but it seems like a tcase problem and I was curious if anyone here had suggestions or ideas.

 

[nvrenuf]

Take a good look at the shifter while you're here, they are bad about getting real sloppy with age. I believe you can rebuild it if necessary.

 

[chalet2506]

give the shifter a couple good kicks to see if that will get into 4 lo. If that does it, your shifter needs adjustment and or a clean.

 

[thatK30guy]

Do you hear any metallic grinding noises? If you hear it free-wheeling, along with grinding noise, the front inner shaft and spider splines may be stripped.

I had that happen to me on a '75 F150 once and it had the 203 behind a C6 tranny. Being that it was fulltime 'case, it finally wore down the splines and stripped out. I had to replace both shafts and the spider assembly. While I did that, I converted the 203 to part-time and installed locking hubs. Problem solved.

 

[sweetk30]

if the tcase poped in neutral then need to turn off motor and wait 10-15 sec and put tranny in park. as the output shaft will be spinning the input only in the tcase and make a grinding noise.

and the stock 203 shifter can be problematic with 30-40 years of use and crap buildup. can be cleaned and rebuilt. but ord sels a twin stick kit. and then get a parttime kit and be done with it. and if you decide later to go ord doubler kit 203/205 then its cheep to upgrade the shifter for that use.

bottom of the page is 203 twin stick kit. http://www.offroaddesign.com/catalog/transfercaseshifters.htm

 

[Barlow]

I appreciate all the responses. I don't think it is a shifter problem, it shifted from low to high just fine this morning in the ice. I think K30 guy may be on the right track. It is free wheeling, but I dont hear the grinding sounds unless I shake the shifter a little then it is pretty loud. The shifter feel like something inside the case has it bound up where it won't go into low. How bad is a np203 rebuild, and is it possible the chain finally gave way?

 

[thatK30guy]

203's are the worst kind to rebuild as they have tons more small parts than the others.
I've never heard of anyone breaking a chain but have seen and heard of them stretching instead. There used to be an aftermarket kit to tighten up the existing chain but they're no longer in business. That was just a bandaid to help it get by. Of course the best repair is to replace the chain.
Rather than spend money on a chain and rebuild kit, you'd be better of replacing the 203 for a 205 of which you could find for the same cost of the chain and rebuild kit, if not less.
But then you gotta figure a bit more dough into the swap for new driveshafts. They will be different lengths from the old ones. You'll be way better off with a 205 swap in the long run.

 

[Barlow]

Thanks for the info. I just had new driveshafts made for it when I added the lift last year so I hate to have to do that again. Also I like the full time part of the 203. Kept thinking about your first post and thinking you may be right. When I turned, if the snow wasn't slick enough, something had to give it might have stripped it out. It is a 35 year old case with nothing ever done to it. Did a lot of searching on this site and looks like finding a used one may be more cost effective than rebuilding. However, it sure would be nice to save the gearbox from the 203 and do the doubler thing. Not that I would ever need it, it just sound and looks cool.

 

[gone huntin]

I've got a good PART TIME 203 you could have for $100, but I'm 175 miles from you. I'm just south of Memphis.