just picked up a 86 toyota 4x4 std cab, truck runs perfect and drives excellent. only problem is it wont engage into 4x4 it stays in 4x2, hubs lock checked that and the 4x4 light comes on in the dash just doesn't engage. read online somewhere that it could be something called a rooster comb gear? if so where is that located and is it easy to fix?

 

how do you know its not? put it up on jack stands yet?

 

i have a 4runner and 4x4 works on that, put a simple obstacle infront of my truck and it wouldnt climb it, did the same obstacle infront of 4runner and it went right up it

 

i just resolved the same issue on mine, although my hubs were turning, they wernt engaging, took em apart and cleaned them and now mines working, dont know if yours is the same issue, but it doesnt take long to disassemble and clean them either

 

so even though i manually turn my axle by hand and feel the axles lock, i should clean my hubs?

 

i know, i know. sounds crazy i was having the exact same prob, 4wd light on, i turned hubs from free to lock and could here it move, and nothin, no 4wd. im not sayin this is your problem, but i just walked inside from doing mine and it resolved the issue on mine, my hubs turned freely, took em apart and the were full of sand. it was free, took about an hour, and if you havent done them, they need to be done. at the very least you have eliminated 1 aspect of tracking down the problem

 

yes that is true, i will disassemble and clean and keep you posted, when i first tried to turn hubs to lock i had to use pliers so that can very well be the problem

 

if you havent rebuilt these before there is some most excellent material in the search mode....... good luck!