I’m doing an sye in my 231. Everything seems to be going fine except I messed up this one spring. I took off what I assumed was the drain plug and a yellow spring came out with it. After it drained I stuck the spring back in with the plug. Later in the process I was trying to shift it into 4wd and it was difficult. Later I realized that spring was contacting the shifter mechanism inside the case and got kind of mangled. I must be missing some other part. How is this spring supposed to be on the mechanism? Can I get what I need?

 

The plug in the bottom isn't actually a drain plug, the drain plug is on the back of the case. That is the detent ball for the shifter linkage. The spring presses a ball into that selector which is what give you the firm click when each selection is made. The spring may be reusable (I'd try just flipping it upside down and see how it goes) but you will definitely need the little ball.

 

Bummer! That’s exactly what I was afraid of. The spring will work flipped I bet but I’m not sure I’ll ever find that ball. Is it just a ball bearing? I guess it would probably be in my oil pan that I drained into. Thank you for the quick reply!

 

Yes, just a little steel ball if I remember correctly. I'm sure you could go to a junkyard and pull that plug on another Cherokee or probably even another 4wd vehicle with a similar tcase and they might not even charge you for something that little.

 

Tons of vehicles came with that transfer case. I'd get 2 or 3 from a junkyard.

 

It looks like the part number is 53008217 for the plunger. Mine must be out there somewhere but I’m working in the grass so I may never find it.

Edit: I got up this morning before work and emptied my oil can into a bottle and dumped the rest into a pan and the detent plunger was in there so I'm good to go. I'll just flip the spring. It'll be fine.

 

a ball bearing from a bearing shop or hardware store, diameter ~ same size as spring OD will almost certainly get you out of trouble

they are usually standard size like 1/4, 5/16 etc

 

Actually, that might work but the part looks like a little bullet that fits around the spring.