transfer case issues ???

[mendo069]

i was draining all fluids from my beloved deuce when i came across something that everyone fears most...... metal chunks on the transfer case magnet... after draining all the gear oil i fished out even more bits that matched that on the magnet.. my digital camera has taken a dump so i can't post pix yet.. but to me they resemble a bearing cage.. it has a concave piece then a spacer then a concave piece then a spacer... i can't think of anything else it could be.. no bearings were in the oil.. norman at ant. valley eqpmt. said he has never seen this before. first, if anyone might have a clue on what this might be, i can use your input... then, should i replace with a used take out, a government rebuild, or should i shop around for someone to rebuild??? i have heard pros and cons on all of the above.. can get gov. rebuild for about $1000.00 or a used take out for $500.00... then some people say to just run it... i have no noises (bad), truck shifts fine... do you guys think i got time, or should i start on this asap... thanks for your help... mendo.

 

[clinto]

I'd pull it and have a local shop go through it, after inspecting it.

 

[hndrsonj]

I'd drain and drive it. worst case buy a GL spare. You will probably never need it though.

 

[ke6kze]

Hi Mendo, I too found metal fragments in the transfer case. I changed the oil and used the truck just fine. After about a year
I changed oil again in tranfer and trans to see how things were
going. I had bearings on the transfer magnet. The transfer was
not noiser than normal. The bearing must have been from the
top end of the case because it did not effect the unit. I purchashed
a rebuilt transfer from Ant. Valley Equip. They send the old units
out to be rebuilt. The new unit works fine. there is a new gear
whine. The transfer gets hot, it is not broken in yet. The Deuce
adverages about 1200 miles a year so breakin is slow.