Spartan Locker Install issue (1 Viewer)

[Nframe]

So thought I’d run this by you guys before I do something rash.

In the process of installing a Spartan locker. All went well until it came to installing the Spartan center pin. The holes in the carrier would not allow the pin to enter. I attempted to freeze the pin and heat the carrier, which let the pin partially enter the carrier, and promptly seize itself in place. Unfortunately had the disassemble the ring and pinion to be able to drive the pin out from the other side.

The Spartan pin measures 0.808” in diameter. The stock pin measures 0.806” - 0.807”. Talked to Randy’s, and they confirmed that the diameter should be 0.808”, and thought there may be issues with the carrier through holes due to the smaller diameter stock pin. Looked for burrs or distortion, but none were apparent. Stock pin passes easily through the carrier. The Spartan pin definitely will not. Using a vernier gauge, hard to accurately measure the carrier through hole diameters, but appear to be 0.807”.

So haven’t made up my mind on what to do at this point. The hardened Spartan center pin was a selling point for me, but short of machining the carrier through hole's, or replacing the carrier, I don’t see how l can use it.

Would using the stock center pin in the locker be an acceptable option? Hate to compromise the strength of the locker, but economically to use the Spartan, may be my option. Really don’t want to go down the rabbit hole of messing with the carrier.
Not planning any extreme rock climbing with the rig, but would like to trust the diffferential.

Thanks for any advise.

 

[baldilocks]

I think I’d return the unit to Randy’s and buy something different after I confirmed that I received the correct Spartan part number. How about Tru Trac or Detroit Easy Locker??? Are these still out there?

 

[Nframe]

Probably good advice to look at another manufacturer.
Doubt I’d be able to return (bought it last year and it’s now “used” due to efforts to install).
Tempted to just buy the replacement Spartan cross pin to see if the pin is somehow the issue.
Thanks for the response.

 

[Nframe]

Anyone have a stock cross pin that could be measured?
Need to know the shaft diameter.

 

[Rifleman]

What the factory housing bore at ,807 and the factory pin at ,806 have is what's called a slip fit, Since your new pin is 001 thousands of an inch over sized compared to the factory bore that's called a press fit, So this leaves you with one of two choices, If you want to use the "hardened steel pin" from the kit and be able to slip it in and out of the housing you'll need to ream the bore in the housing to a size of ,809 with a reamer, Or just reuse the factory pin which I'm sure is HARD, like 60 to 62 on the rockwell C scale of hardness, and let me tell you that's VERY DAM HARD!

 

[AgentOrange]

I think I’d return the unit to Randy’s and buy something different after I confirmed that I received the correct Spartan part number. How about Tru Trac or Detroit Easy Locker??? Are these still out there?

I would opt for a Detroit or a Grizzly in place of this, especially after the weekend I just had...

 

[BILT4ME]

I would opt for a Detroit or a Grizzly in place of this, especially after the weekend I just had...

View attachment 3703269

Can you measure you pin OD there?

 

[AgentOrange]

Yeah soon as I get home I can do that. It's for a LockRite, but it still went in the Toyota carrier

 

[Nframe]

Looking forward to seeing what the stock pin measures at.

What’s so odd is that Spartan sizes their pin at .808, which I have to assume is designed to slip fit into the carrier, and would have been an issue for anyone using their pin.
I can’t imagine there is this much variation in the Toyota pin diameter and carrier holes that the size would be so much less in mine.

 

[AgentOrange]

Can you measure you pin OD there?

So the LockRite pin measured at .807"

 

[Nframe]

Thank you!
That’s what I’m getting on my stock pin, which tells me the Spartan pin is too large to easily fit in my carrier.
Have to make a decision whether to use the stock pin, or look for another locker to use.

 

[baldilocks]

Thank you!
That’s what I’m getting on my stock pin, which tells me the Spartan pin is too large to easily fit in my carrier.
Have to make a decision whether to use the stock pin, or look for another locker to use.

If you do any more than moderate wheeling, a locker in its own carrier is the way to go.

 

[Nframe]

Yes, you are right.
Looking at AgentOrange’s pic confirms that.

 

[Nframe]

Thanks to all that responded to this post.
I’ll follow-up with a final decision eventually

 

[LXDOC]

Push the easy button.