Miserableolgit wrote:

Aha, so this is why my ears have been burning!!!

Partial engagement by yours truly was the cause of the additional backlash and also why the transfer box jumped out of gear while under power as I pulled pretty smart-ish out from a junction. To put it simply the selector shaft was not fully engaged in the detent. I recall the vehicle was virtually new at the time and the ratio lever quite stiff, component wear or non factory adjustment did not enter the equation.

I have delved into enough Land Rover transfer boxes over the years and they are simple enough to understand, bar fluid checks and changes all the ones in Puma's I've owned have remained virginal when it comes to any delving on my part though