WHAT THE??????????????? 96 np231 issues

Im thinking this main shaft pictured on top is missing some stuff?

Is it supposed to have the brass syncro ring and mode locks?




also Im guessing this shift fork has seen better days?

I ran into the same thing when I took apart 2 cases. The 231 from my 1987 had syncro's and my 231 from a 1995 did not have syncro's. The one from the 95 was not missing parts, thats the way they were built I believe. They no longer needed syncro's because they did away with the front disconnect axle so the front driveshaft was always spinning the speed it needed to be spinning to engage. If you have a disconnect axle in the front and try to shift the transfercase without the syncro's while in motion it will grind if you are not going really slow. Thats the conclusion I came to.