Half measure locker remedy

[aktundra]

planning a trip, & dont have the time for a proper rebuild. my rear locker has always been “sticky”. In the past, a few taps of the hammer, and it engages. And of course, forget about the issue till the next trip. not so lucky this time.

If i recall correctly, there is a breather hole in the housing. Is it possible to spray PB blaster, or a cleaner in this hole, and sometimes release the locker, or is that just a mess and waste of time ?

 

[jonheld]

See the picture below from the FSM.
Remove the 3 bolts (RED) and gear cover. Hit the internals with some lightweight spray grease.
Remove the electrical connectors and spray them out with some WD40 followed with compressed air.
Jack up one rear wheel and exercise the locker 10 or 20 times.

 

[aktundra]

See the picture below from the FSM.
Remove the 3 bolts (RED) and gear cover. Hit the internals with some lightweight spray grease.
Remove the electrical connectors and spray them out with some WD40 followed with compressed air.
Jack up one rear wheel and exercise the locker 10 or 20 times.

View attachment 3989051

im a little creeped out, laying in my driveway & removing the cover a few days from a big trip. can i be reasonably assured, the guts are not going to fall on the ground ? makes sense to remove it, and clean & lube, but dont want to figuring out where bits & pieces are supposed to go

 

[jonheld]

im a little creeped out, laying in my driveway & removing the cover a few days from a big trip. can i be reasonably assured, the guts are not going to fall on the ground ? makes sense to remove it, and clean & lube, but dont want to figuring out where bits & pieces are supposed to go

IIRC, the cover just comes off and the rotating assembly stays put. It's been several years, but I don't recall this being difficult. I think there's a gasket for the cover that you want to be careful with.

If you're still uncomfortable, then simply R/R and clean the electrical connectors. That's always a good first step anyway.

Jacking up one wheel and exercising the locker a bunch of times can help to free things up.

 

[mudgudgeon]

If i recall correctly, there is a breather hole in the housing. Is it possible to spray PB blaster, or a cleaner in this hole, and sometimes release the locker, or is that just a mess and waste of time ?

There is breather tubes wrapped up in the harness loom
You could spray a lube down the breather. I'm not sure i'd use PB blaster. Something that would help liquify the dried up lithium grease, might help in the short term.

Ultimately sounds like you should take it apart, clean it all, relube it. Lithium grease dries out and becomes a waxy solid over time.

 

[jonheld]

Ultimately sounds like you should take it apart, clean it all, relube it. Lithium grease dries out and becomes a waxy solid over time.

Agreed. The right way is the right way.

I saturated the internals with Fluid Film. Works pretty well for what it is. Still miss ARBs.