Bench-testing a Transfer Case

[zcenterb]

Hey R3V,

So I bought my first IX a few months ago for $1400 not running and a week or so after i bought it and a $50 dollar ECU later I had a running, jack-test proven AWD, mean and nasty 91 325iX.

The reason for making this thread is that the seller i bought it included a large amount of spare parts for the car, and one of them was a nice looking (didn't appear to be scuffed or too dirty and leaking anything) transfer case. I was thinking as maybe putting it up for sale so someone else could have a working AWD system, but wanted to prove it worked, more-so then just taking the sellers word for it anyway, before getting too serious about posting it.

So does anyone know of there are any good ways to bench test a transfer case to see if it is in good working order short of installing it in a car? Any info would be much appreciated, maybe this thread can help out others wondering the same as well.


Edit: Also, what do these things usually go for price wise in working order?

Thanks R3V

[ghatid]

Hey R3V,

So I bought my first IX a few months ago for $1400 not running and a week or so after i bought it and a $50 dollar ECU later I had a running, jack-test proven AWD, mean and nasty 91 325iX.

The reason for making this thread is that the seller i bought it included a large amount of spare parts for the car, and one of them was a nice looking (didn't appear to be scuffed or too dirty and leaking anything) transfer case. I was thinking as maybe putting it up for sale so someone else could have a working AWD system, but wanted to prove it worked, more-so then just taking the sellers word for it anyway, before getting too serious about posting it.

So does anyone know of there are any good ways to bench test a transfer case to see if it is in good working order short of installing it in a car? Any info would be much appreciated, maybe this thread can help out others wondering the same as well.


Edit: Also, what do these things usually go for price wise in working order?

Thanks R3V

There's no well-agreed upon way of testing the transfer case, but I do know that if you can turn the output shafts opposite of one another without much force, it's a bad VC. I got one that you can do it with just your bare hands (which is really really bad). If you can't easily turn one output shaft using a wrench with the other one stationary, you're probably in pretty good shape.

I don't know how much they're worth in good condition, but I bought one in bad shape for $300 and I'm not too upset, but that's because I live in CA where no one has tcases and the $300 included shipping.

[zcenterb]

I can barely get it to turn with a breaker bar, so I'm assuming its alright?

And yea i just have no idea how ide price it, a friend of mine bought his for 600 plus shipping and he looked for his for 9 months... saw them go for closer to a 1000, although i have seen the crappier ones go for around 200-300ish

[TehRaydarlover]

If it means anything I have one in my garage that I can spin with my bare hands, never had it in a car but I always assumed it was bad. if you can barely turn it with a breaker bar its probably good it go.

[zcenterb]

Awesome, thanks for the info guys. Anyone have any insight on a rough going rate On these things in good shape?