hey guys bought a 87 samurai  it think after checking it the shifter forks are frozen, the owner said it was rolling and he tried to put it into 4 wheel drive and it locked up, with the clutch in you can turn the shaft closest to the shift lever, so i don't think the transfercase is locked up. yankee said some one has probally had this problem and could explain how to correct it with a well placed screwdriver in where the shift lever goes. thanks for help

I got a really good deal on mine cause the last owner thought the same about mine. I found out it is what is called the shifter sheet. If you pull the old cup shape bushing out and mess with the shifter while putting it in forwrd and reverse and rock the truck back and fourth it will whift out.

I ordered a brass shifter sheet that is not supposed to wear out.

Is the vehicle locked up and won't move, or is the problem that it won't move under power?  If it won't roll anywhere, it might be a transfer case issue.

What happens when you disconnect the drive shafts and try to roll it?

the problem is in the transfer case. vehicle will move when in neutral in transmission, you can push it. the shaft closest to the transfer case shifter will turn, going to take the shift bushing out and try to rock it in foward and reverse to try to get the shifter forks to un bind this weekend, its like the transfer case is stuck in neutral.

The majority of the time it's the shifter sheet ($20 shipped). Get an aftermarket one from one of he advertisers on this site - they'll last longer. On more rare occasions, the t-case needs to be disassembled and overhauled. I believe the rebuild kit is well under $100, and the job can be done with hand tools on a leisurely weekend.

I've heard good and bad things about rocky road, but here's a good wrietup:
:http://www.off-road.com/suzuki/reviews/rrsheet.htm

Brass version:
http://www.izook.com/tech/samurai/drivetrain/tbra/tbra.htm

Good to know noob stuff:
http://www.zukikrawlers.com/showthread.php?t=14056

Oh yea.  If the transfer case is just stuck in neutral it's an easy fix.  I used to have to take it apart all the time on mine before the new shifter sheet.  It only took me two years to install it.

For detailed information on the transfer case problem that you have, do a search for transfer case at Ack's FAQ.  The link to Ack's FAQ is in my signature, below.

If you want a more specific list of links to information, search for shifter sheet - which is probably the defective part.

I have the T-Bra, a brass shifter sheet from Zuks OffRoad (ZOR - http://www.zuksoffroad.net/) in my truck after having to replace the OEM shifter sheet twice.

hey thanks for all the help fellows, after taking the shifter sheet out and rocking it back and forth, it started shifting, ordering a new sheet today. now i got to get the air working, its hot in georgia usa.