Permanently engaging electric hubs

[Eggpattern]

A few months ago I permanently engaged the problematic electric hubs. I found a few other guys on some forums that have done this. Now, I'm asking for some more input.

Is there any risk, other than poorer gas mileage, from doing this?

 

[Rummat81]

it will wear out your front axle parts etc i.e. like any other component.
In my case I had these engaged for about 4 years, and I started having pinion seal leak due to the slip joint play and drive shaft movement. This fall, I switched to hilux hub and manual locking, there is a thread in this forum.
If you can avoid having these locked up unnecessarily it would be better.

 

[oldblue]

This may be of interest,
Prado/Landcruiser Electric freewheel Hub conversion to Manual

 

[Eggpattern]

it will wear out your front axle parts etc i.e. like any other component.
In my case I had these engaged for about 4 years, and I started having pinion seal leak due to the slip joint play and drive shaft movement. This fall, I switched to hilux hub and manual locking, there is a thread in this forum.
If you can avoid having these locked up unnecessarily it would be better.

This was the kind of input I was hoping for. Thank you. Time to start thinking about finding a solution to engage the manually.

 

[Eggpattern]

This may be of interest,
Prado/Landcruiser Electric freewheel Hub conversion to Manual

I'm worried about the turnaround on this. It's my only transportation here. Also, receiving packages here is a bit of a gamble. Otherwise, I'd be all for going this route.

I think I'm going to have to put something together here locally.

Saw a guy on here modifying rubber grommets and screws. I don't know how this turned out long term. Any other suggestions on a low profile and water proof design that can be MacGyvered from here?

 

[Postoy]

Honestly, I think the best solution if you cannot get the parts to make your electric ones work is to swap spindles, hubs and free wheel hubs off any 1980-1985 toyota mini truck. I bought a whole axle, swapped the parts I needed and sold the rest. Almost paid for its self and only took an afternoon once I had all the pieces. I installed new bearings and rebuilt the free wheels hubs at the same time.

 

[oldblue]

If you were thinking of fitting manual Asian hubs I could send you the drawings of the spacer rings, you would need to get them machined up, and you can still use your truck while the hubs are not fitted.
You could go this way,
AVM do dedicated Freewheel Hubs specially for Prado and 70Series Cruisers which saves you from fitting spacers. They are very expensive . AVM 463

 

[Eggpattern]

Unfortunately, when it comes to mods money is a big factor. If I can avoid spending it, that's what I have to do. I say this a qualifier for the rest of this post. Also, after doing this mod, I still wish it was practical for me to do this mod the way oldblue does it. That said, this is just another way to swap to manual hubs.

Again, Uganda forces ingenuity. This is the best I could come up with. A sealable shaft.

 

[Eggpattern]

Drill = lathe. Slodered gear to shaft.

Destroyed old electric motor and flipped the cover. Caught a break here.

Drilled end cap.

 

[Eggpattern]

This is where I understand that brass and aluminum don't get along well together. I realize that I'm not a genius after all.

So a rubber washer goes on the shaft to seal it. I have to use rtv sealant to fully close a hairline crack and then I make a screwdriver to engage the hubs.

 

[divemedic]

This is freakin brilliant.

 

[Gun Runner 5]

In my case, having them locked at road speed, introduced a noticeable vibration. At a minimum I think it would increase unnecessary wear and tear.