Do you know if this same encoder sw is used on the 4 button TC? That might explain some things.

 

but i thought we weren't supposed to turn that by hand, no matter what.

please, correct me if i'm wrong, but i could've swore i read on here that you should align the t-case to the encoder motor position when reinstalling it?

it's been awhile since i came across that, but it seemed to be an extremely important notice, and why it stuck in my mind.

oh yeah, i was also told that the 3 button & 4 button systems used different switches & encoders.

 

Yes they are very different.

The NV233 encoder motor can be turned either manually using a 1/2" breaker bar or by supplying power & ground to the proper wires. There are physical limits to how far you can turn it. The encoder sensor portion of the assembly is separate from the motor drive though if you have to move the motor, you must also move the encoder. It is by far easier to just move the shift sector shaft in the transfer case though.

The NV236 encoder motor has a brake assembly into it that complicates maters.

 

While continuing my testing with my bench model, I noticed the vacuum switch was NOT functioning. Is this a common failure? I put vacuum to the port normally connected to the servo (the common port) then moved the TC from 2X to 4X several times while spraying first Chem tool then WD40 to Clean, then Lube it. Works fine now.