O R I O N (7 Viewers)

[Firemedic831]

I have basically a brand new one built by Valley Hybrids at most 300 miles on it that i will be selling . Only reason is i am going to a Atlas for other reasons .

 

[cstav86]

I agree, it's too good of a mod to go back. Working on a locking mechanism like @NikP
I will weld a vertical rod on top of the indexing plunger with a T handle to actuate it. The indexing plunger is a weld on, but I may run hose clamped until I am confident in the setup. I did try and flatten both surfaces of the shifter and the plunger body so they marry up easier.
I used aluminum for the plate on the trans, it's just easier to work with than steel.

 

[NikP]

Working on a locking mechanism like @NikP

I like it! I'm glad my design provided some inspiration! It took me a couple iterations to get the holes in the transmission plate just right.

 

[cstav86]

Here’s a final look at the indexing plunger. I made a T handle and kept the actuation simple. If I rest my palm on the top of the H-N-L shifter I can actuate the plunger with the T handle between my middle and ring finger.

 

[559Fj40]

So I pulled the trigger on the orion and had valley hybrids get it all assembled and mounted to my sm420. I'm going to need to play with the new twin stick kit a bit to make it work because I have a plate style adapter and not the longer advanced adapters setup. Those of you that have been through the popping out of gear thing, if you were in my position, would you give it a shot and run it as is? Or work on fabbing something to hold the shifter in place now while the trans/t-case is out of the truck. I'm leaning towards copying one of these locking pin setups and getting that dialed in now before I put everything back in the cruiser.

 

[NikP]

Those of you that have been through the popping out of gear thing, if you were in my position, would you give it a shot and run it as is?

Man, I'd be torn on what to do. I'd be tempted to run it and see if there's something Georg does differently when putting it together to keep it from popping out of gear. His video doesn't show anything specific in that regard. It won't hurt anything to try it, but you'll crap your pants when it pops.

Not a big hassle to fab the lock pin setup but you have to remove the tunnel cover again to gain access.

 

[peesalot]

I would run it and see if it stays in gear. Georg & crew know what to watch and I would be suprised if it popped outa gear. I would test it with no linkage attached , in 2wd, run it up and let it have some good decell decompression in low and in high. On my sm420 a good 3rd gear wind up and let off like you were going 45 and coming to a stop, when she's really rippin on decompression it will pop if its gonna.

 

[archie73]

I’d run it- see what happens. Be ready, but Georg probably knows what he’s doing. Worst case scenario, have a bungee ready to hold it in gear. That’ll get you home.

Full transparency- I don’t think mine popped out of gear right away. It took some use to make it happen. But then again I built my own, so there’s that…

 

[msapers]

Well, I just ordered my Orion from AA yesterday. I'll be rereading this thread a few more times.

 

[peesalot]

I have finally, after many years found that a balanced rear driveshaft with proper angles seems to keep it from popping out of hi on decel, which is the only issue it ever had. The problem for me is on a SOA 40 with 95 wb its not so easy to get a setup that doesnt vibrate

 

[Firemedic831]

I have finally, after many years found that a balanced rear driveshaft with proper angles seems to keep it from popping out of hi on decel, which is the only issue it ever had. The problem for me is on a SOA 40 with 95 wb its not so easy to get a setup that doesnt vibrate

lets link that pig

 

[peesalot]

Yeah, I know, got the stuff but not the time/space to make it happen. No hurry, if I die first so be it. My 40 loves me and has taken very good care of me so I am hesitant to change her outfit.

 

[Firemedic831]

Bring it we can do it at the springs

 

[Devil's Slide Doug]

#464
2nd hand from Firemedic831. 4 to 1 built by Georg. I’ve already put hundreds of road/freeway miles on it with no issues. Looking forward to the Rubithon next month.

 

[559Fj40]

Put some road miles on my Orion last week with a few back and forth trips to work and the store just to make sure things were settled and tight. Then spent some time doing some pretty light wheeling but tested out the new low range. Very nice. Going to love it on rubithon this year.

Did not spend enough time in low to see if I get anything popping out in low but on the way home it was popping out of high on downhill coasts. Not mad, I knew it was a possibility going into this, just time to pull the tunnel and fab up a way to lock the shifter in place like I saw a few posts up.

 

[65swb45]

Keep in mind that locking the shifter does NOTHING to relieve the forces at work inside the case, and the load on the shift collar WILL wear through the hi-lo shift fork.

 

[559Fj40]

Keep in mind that locking the shifter does NOTHING to relieve the forces at work inside the case, and the load on the shift collar WILL wear through the hi-lo shift fork.

I totally get that. It is a bit of a band aid for now with rubithon in a few weeks but beyond that I’m not totally sure what else there is to do.

I didn’t trust myself to take the time to do this case 100% so I had the pros build it for me. It has all the fresh parts one could throw at it. The driveline angles aren’t extreme and the new driveline has maybe 500 miles on it. Less than 500 on new rear end. So unless something was wrong with the setup (not trying to blame that right now) I am not sure what else to do. Seems like some of these are flawless and some have this issue and I was warned of that before I even ordered the case.

I don’t daily drive it and it gets trailered to the big trips so even if there’s extra wear on the fork I feel like it will still last me quite awhile.