Transfer case chain stretch

[4.whoa]

My np 231 is popping.I reached into it via the filler plug hole to check the tension and the chain is dragging on the bottom of the case Is it common for these to stretch so much? is there a tensioner like for the timing chain? I need to fix it soon, but cant leave it apart , so will i need anything other then a chain?
Sorry for all the ?'s but I'm more into street then off road and haven't worked on one yet.
thx

[yuppiexj]

They stretch when run low on fluid. or just age.
A rebuild is pretty easy and not that expensive (I paid $125 for all my parts)

If you have a time crunch get one from a bone yard probably today.
http://www.car-part.com

It shows a bunch within 100 miles of 67501 ZIP for $250 or less
Buy one. Install it.Then you can rebuild your stretched one, at your leisure.

if you remove the front drive shaft , your can limp a few extra hundred miles out of it, since then the chain would no longer be moving when the Jeep does.
I would advise you to take care of it soon, eventually the chain will eat through the case and leave you with a boat anchor instead of a rebuildable core.
The oil pump in the transfer case is probably already toast from the Al shavings it's been trying to pump around.

[92tank]

you will need a new chain for sure, and maybe the gears that it runs on.(if they are worn out) and make sure you check all the bearings and seals and the shifter forks. as far as taking them apart its not that bad. IIRC you have to push the rear output shaft out of the bearing as you separate the case halves, should be able to use just you thumbs. (or an extra set of hands/rubber hammer)

[4.whoa]

It's not being driven now, but I need to get it going B4 we get bad weather. we got some ice last week ,so I put it in 4 wheel and thunk thunk thunk I just don't have any more garage space to take it apart, so I need to be quick. Do i have to get another from an xj or will any others fit?

thanks for the help

[shawnxj]

you have to watch out for different years because they changed the input spline but as long as you get it from the same year range they put the same transfer case in everything. so if you have a 99 np231 then you can get any of the np231's jeep used but you can't go get a 99 np242. different input spline. i don't know off hand which year uses which spline count but jeep only used i think 3 different input shafts between 88 and mid 2000's

[92tank]

it also depends on the trans

[4.whoa]

'95 aw4

[4.whoa]

Well, I finally am getting to this. I've had some problems with my work truck, so the jeep got the back burner..............AGAIN I've been looking around and can't find a kit with the chain and sprockets anywhere. All the "master" kits I've seen are only bearings and seals......what the hell, a master kit should be EVERYTHING. I can get a chain by itself from autozone, no sprockets though. I thought about switching one of those wider chains but an article i read said the speedo gear wouldn't fit but then didn't say what to do about it I checked quadratec, 4wd.com , rock auto ,oriellys , summit ...did a google search and got a bunch of junkyard articles ( not going to make a frankenstein TC )
Think i could get by with only a chain? were getting hammered right now about 6" already and calling for snow to continue thru tommorow , so I need to get off my lazy rear and fix it .
Thanks-
Russ

[yuppiexj]

A and A Auto Truck Salvage has a 95 XJ AT transfer case for $125.
It says they'll ship on their website. http://www.aarecyclers.com/index.htm

I wasn't in a super-rush on mine, I was able to snap up a NIB OEM chain for $50 from ebay.
http://search.ebay.com/np231-chain

[PolloLoco]

I'm installing an SYE this weekend so I ordered a new chain to put on while it's apart. My transfer case only has 80,800 miles on it but I don't plan to take it apart again. I got a new chain for $83.25 on eBay here. Considering that pulling the chain is part of installing an SYE it shouldn't be that hard. Instructions that I've seen even show it being done with the transfer case still in the Jeep. You should be able to knock it out on Saturday or Sunday.

I don't know about that $50 chain, I searched for a Jeep 231. I don't know what are the differences between the Dodge, Chevy, and Jeep 231s but I know that somewhere there are differences.I figure that if undercoverfabworks purchased the same item that I did (I checked the seller's feedback) then I'm on the right track. btw- I have a UCF ultra high clearance skid painted in my basement that will go on this weekend with the SYE.

What did you search to find the chain on Autozone? I did a search online but couldn't find it on their site.

[4.whoa]

What did you search to find the chain on Autozone?

I called them, their web site is a pita-imho. I tried to order it yesterday,but it tells them that they can't order it(figures). I talked with napa, they show 2 chains. one is a 62 link and one is a 72 link. it shows both as for a '95 xj aw4 np231. he says it has no other info in his computer so what do you guys think? he thinks the 62 link is more common, but doesn't really know.

A and A Auto Truck Salvage has a 95 XJ AT transfer case for $125.
It says they'll ship on their website. http://www.aarecyclers.com/index.htm

works been real busy with the snow so, I finally called and they just sold it

Thanks for the input