So today I decided to finally lube my transfer case linkage, it's been a bear to get into gear.

After drilling out the rivets, and removing the cover plate I find this:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/37974521@N03/6296326375/http://www.flickr.com/photos/37974521@N03/6296326375/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/37974521@N03/, on Flickr

The 13mm bolts that hold down the upper housing were LOSE and allowing the housing to move with the shifter.

Even WORSE....look closely. The screw acting as a dowel pin HAS NO RETAINING NUT. I was able to reach down and pop it right out.

So, I packed the housing full of synthetic grease, applied lock-tite to the 13mm bolts, and then added a nut, washer and lock-tite to the linkage screw.

All in all, I was very thankful to have caught this before it left me in perma-neutral somewhere dangerous.

 

Dodged a bullet, buy a lottery ticket. Good catch. Bask in the glory. Meanwhile, Murphy's Law has re-grouped and is hard at work on the next issue....

 

Tell me about it, my volvo is starting to feel neglected. Since I got the rover, I've spent every weekend working on it.

 

Good catch. You wouldn't believe how many loose bolts I found holding my ENGINE together...

 

The real test of a young Jedi is how many bolts are left when the engine is back together.....

 

All the loose bolts could have been the major cause of the problems as well.

I just replaced a front load washer because of problems and decided to scrap out the old one. When I disassembled it, the problems were initiated by loose bolts!

 

Good catch on that linkage problem.

 

anyway to find the sizes of those bolts? I need a few

 

Rovers North should have all of that in stock. Give them a call. I bought a lot of new hardware from them when I redid my linkage.