(Home) 4WD bits

Hi,

I have just fitted a new gearbox to my 4x4. Trouble is my Townie has a lever beside the gear shift to select 4x4 and high low ratio (same lever does it all). The new box has a vacuum actuator.

Can anyone supply me with a diagram and description (eg is it all switched, or is there still need of the lever for high low selection) of how this thing is set up, and even better with the switch and solenoid so I can fit it before the snow hits up here in the Wild North West?

Thank,

Tom

- (#11011) Tom Lister, 9 Oct 03 3:37

Lever for high and low, button dash for 4x4. The standard setup just switches the vacuum feed as required to engage the 'box. There's pictures in the archive of the solenoids etc.

- (#11114) david miller, 9 Oct 03 8:45

Thanks David.

Having looked carefully at the diagrams, I think trying to convert my Townie to Vacuum would be too difficult. Colin in the garage is going to fit a simple rod assembly, and bring it into the cabin through the floor. I only use the 4x4 a few times a year, so that should be adequate. (I hope).

Any thoughts on the best way to implement the rod would be gratefully received....

- (#11115) Tom, 11 Oct 03 13:33

Tom, I think you've lost me & David here. AFAIK ALL Townies & derivatives that have 4WD have a Hi-Lo lever to the left of the gear stick (Whether Auto or Manual) then have a button under the front control for the rear AC that switches into & out of 4WD, the way you are describing suggests that you can't use Hi ration 4WD, but on EVERY one I have seen you can run in Hi 4x4 or Hi 2x4 or Lo 4x4, you can only select Lo ratio if you first select & the system engages into 4WD. Please advise on the system you have, as I've never seen one that you can't run in Hi 4WD.

Regards Rob.

P.S. what year is yours???

- (#11116) Rob Drinkwater, 11 Oct 03 16:04

If everything is intact on the box surely it would be simple enough
Is it not possible just to have an in-line vacuum tap to the boxes actuator? It would mean a couple of vac tubes entering the cab connected to the small tap (mini-ball valve from b&q) which you would open to activate.
Or is this an over simplistic/ignorant suggestion?

- (#11117) chris turner, 11 Oct 03 16:44

My Townie is of a certain age... 1987, I believe. The configuration of the old box was a purely lever operation, where the lever beside the standard gear shift had three positions. It had Hi 2 wheel drive in it's forward position, and when moved towards the rear, selected Hi 4x4 and then Low 4x4. All this was by rods to a lever on the side of the box. The new box has the same lever sticking out of it, but only dictating Hi or Low once 4x4 has been selected by the assembly at the rear of the box. Until the 4x4 is selected the lever won't move.

To actuate the vacuum slave, I would need to take two vacuum feeds, for above and below the diaphram, find somewhere to splice them off because they are not catered for by the current system, and also fit a tank because of the length of the piping, which has to run up to a valve of some sort in the cab (e.g a B&Q special :-) ) and then to either side of the diaphram. It just seems easier to stick a rod or lever on the rocker arm and bring it into the cabin in some way. I suppose I could even leave it outside the cabin, and just climb out to select it at the same time as I get out to lock the hubs

Tom

- (#11118) Tom, 11 Oct 03 18:49

OK, that answers my earlier question, I didn't realise that the earlier 'boxes had a mechanical shift for the transfer box, ignorance told me to assume they were all vacuum operated like mine. Just bouncing an idea around here, I never use the idle up button on mine, how about using that, and it's associated solenoid, with a bit of re-routing & capping off of pipes, to make the car 'suck' it's way into 4WD, this would effectively give you the same operation as we have on the later models. Leaving the other solenoid under the passenger seat to operate the a/c revs increase compensator.
Can't promise this will work mind, just a thought.

Regards Rob.

- (#11119) Rob Drinkwater, 12 Oct 03 16:54

Hi Rob,

Thanks for the input. I don't use the idle up switch on my venerable beast either, because when we put the new engine in Colin had neither the time nor the inclination to hook it all up, especially as the electrics on the replacement were quite different from what I had had before. Can't say that I have missed it. Using it as part of 4x4 actuator circuit is excellent lateral thinking, and I will suggest it to Colin - I will let you know which route we take, and how it all works (or not!)

Thanks,

Tom

- (#11120) Tom, 12 Oct 03 19:13