lockers that dont lock?

[cruiserdoc]

i have a powertrax lunchbox locker that I was going to replace with an Aussie locker today.

A little quick background, I destroyed my pinion and had to run my rear axle differential with a powertrax installed without oil to get my rig off the trail and home. I replaced the ring and pinion and did a total axle overhaul. I used the same powertrax locker upon reinstalation.

In testing my powertrax function last week, I put my cruiser on some loose dirt and stomped the skinny peddal. Only one wheel would spin which to me suggests that the locker isn't working. also I tried to climb up a ledge w/ my cruiser and I was unable to do it, just one wheel sat while the other spun. If the locker was working properly wouldn't both wheels spin in the loose gravel when i am purposely mashing on the gas?

Also i have been noticing alot more clunking from the powertrax since its reinstalation, I know that they are loud by design, I guess I have tslked myself into the fact that although it looked ok at the time of reinstalation the locker was damaged from running for an hour without lube.

I have a new aussie locker at my house, it is nearly an identical unit to the powertrax/lockrite designs.

Is my assumptions about locker function correct? both my wheels should break free on loose gravel/grass when I am purposely trying to spin them shouldn't they?

Thanks

Drake

 

[Pin_Head]

Yes. All autolockers allow one wheel to rotate faster than the ring gear, but neither wheel can turn slower than the ring gear. So when one wheel slips, both wheels must turn. On the other hand, they are simple devices, so I can't imagine how they would break so that only one wheel would turn. They aren't differentials. One possibility is that it isn't set up properly so that there is so much clearance on one side that the teeth on the driver and coupler never mesh.

Anyway, the proper way to test them is to lift both wheels and put the tranny in gear. Then have your assistant turn one wheel in one direction and hold it. On the other side, you should be able to turn the wheel in the opposite direction, but not the same direction. Repeat in opposite direction. If you can't find an assistant you can use a chock to hold the wheel on the opposite side.

 

[inkpot]

Yes. All autolockers allow one wheel to rotate faster than the ring gear, but neither wheel can turn slower than the ring gear. So when one wheel slips, both wheels must turn. On the other hand, they are simple devices, so I can't imagine how they would break so that only one wheel would turn. They aren't differentials. One possibility is that it isn't set up properly so that there is so much clearance on one side that the teeth on the driver and coupler never mesh.

Anyway, the proper way to test them is to lift both wheels and put the tranny in gear. Then have your assistant turn one wheel in one direction and hold it. On the other side, you should be able to turn the wheel in the opposite direction, but not the same direction. Repeat in opposite direction. If you can't find an assistant you can use a chock to hold the wheel on the opposite side.

Howdy! I agree. There really aren't many moving parts in the locker that would be hurt by running w/o lube. Id guess soemthing is gummed up, like the pins or the ID of the inner drivers. Since you are going to open it up anyway, just pop the cover and look to see if it is engaged. Lift up one wheel at a time and turn it forward to see if the driver on that side kicks out of the side plate. Now that I think about it, I suppose the heat from running dry may have damaged the springs and make them too weak to disengage. John