Troubleshooting ARB Air Locker

[cpmarcani]

I don't know what I have here. A couple of weeks ago I broke a Birfield (Longfield Birfield Problem thread). Well I got it back together and now the front locker doesn't work, I mean nothing!

Before when I ran it with the hubs locked the driveshaft would turn, now it doesn't. The pump works like it should, doesn't act like there is a leak. I pulled the diff...there is no obvious problem, no metal to speak of in the housing.

I have never had any problems with an air locker before nor do I have any manuals on it. My searching on the web has not come up with much.

Does anyone know how to troubleshoot an air locker or know where to look for that kind of information? I don't even know where to get parts for one.

I have an event I want to attend next weekend so I want to get this done this week.

 

[Degnol]

Just a guess, but are you sure it is not a lockout hub problem? Aisins or Warn?

Poser ought to chime in here.

Ed

 

[cpmarcani]

Just a guess, but are you sure it is not a lockout hub problem? Aisins or Warn?

Poser ought to chime in here.

Ed

No the hubs work, I checked that. Warn.

Yea!! where is he?

 

[venpick]

no air leaking from anywhere? just nothing happens? if you still have differential apart pull out the center pin and look ot it to see if it is bent. First off make sure when you activate the switch that the air is actually going down the line. try taking it off at the point it goes into the pumpkin then throw the switch, the compressor should run non stop. if not something upstream. if air is going into the locker then check to see if the pin is bent. you have to take out the little allen bolt then fish out the tiny pin with either the "ARB SPECIAL TOOL" or what i like to call a 2" screw. then take the center pin out that holds the spyder? gears in and look at it to see if it is bent. Remember to clean the area between the housing and the 3rd member really good or it wont seal right lots of rtv silicone is key WAIT a minute i just realized this is your front axle there is no diff cover youll have to pull the axle shafts etc to get the unit out. hmmmmmmmmm. NEVER MIND> just hope that it is not working because you forgot to throw the rear switch first and it wont let you throw the front first without the rear going

 

[venpick]

edited

 

[rusty_tlc]

I don't know what I have here. A couple of weeks ago I broke a Birfield (Longfield Birfield Problem thread). Well I got it back together and now the front locker doesn't work, I mean nothing!

Before when I ran it with the hubs locked the driveshaft would turn, now it doesn't. The pump works like it should, doesn't act like there is a leak. I pulled the diff...there is no obvious problem, no metal to speak of in the housing.

I have never had any problems with an air locker before nor do I have any manuals on it. My searching on the web has not come up with much.

Does anyone know how to troubleshoot an air locker or know where to look for that kind of information? I don't even know where to get parts for one.

I have an event I want to attend next weekend so I want to get this done this week.

I'm confused, you say "before the drive shaft would turn now it doesn't." That indicates that the transfer case front output isn't engaging to me.

If you jack the front end off the ground with the transfer case in 2WD and turn one wheel with the locker disengaged the other wheel shouldn't move. Engage the locker and both should move. This the same test described by ARB to test a locker after an install.

 

[Josie'sLandCruiser]

Hi All:

What do you mean by "now the front locker doesn't work, I mean nothing!"
The ARB will not lock, or ??

An Air Locker has nothing to do with whether the drive shaft turns or not; the drive shaft either turns b/c the transfer case is in four wheel drive, or the manula lock-out hubs are engaged.

The Tech guys at ARB-USA (Mark and Nils) are always available to answer questions.

Regards,

Alan
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I don't know what I have here. A couple of weeks ago I broke a Birfield (Longfield Birfield Problem thread). Well I got it back together and now the front locker doesn't work, I mean nothing!

Before when I ran it with the hubs locked the driveshaft would turn, now it doesn't. The pump works like it should, doesn't act like there is a leak. I pulled the diff...there is no obvious problem, no metal to speak of in the housing.

I have never had any problems with an air locker before nor do I have any manuals on it. My searching on the web has not come up with much.

Does anyone know how to troubleshoot an air locker or know where to look for that kind of information? I don't even know where to get parts for one.

I have an event I want to attend next weekend so I want to get this done this week.

 

[cpmarcani]

I'm confused, you say "before the drive shaft would turn now it doesn't." That indicates that the transfer case front output isn't engaging to me.

If you jack the front end off the ground with the transfer case in 2WD and turn one wheel with the locker disengaged the other wheel shouldn't move. Engage the locker and both should move. This the same test described by ARB to test a locker after an install.

What I meant is that when the hubs are in "4x4" the drive shaft should turn when you roatate the tires. If you lock out the hubs and drive down the road the front axles and drive shaft turns. Mine does not turn. I can pull the boot aside on the twin sticks and see the front driveshaft.....nothing

I can engage the locker and nothing turns, the other tire should turn along with the driveshaft.

 

[cpmarcani]

I don't know!! Poser and I spent a couple hours on the phone last night and could not figure it out....

Everything looks and tests OK... but It did not work, I guess I will put it all back together a second time and see what happens... unless someone has a better idea??

 

[rusty_tlc]

Maybe you could hook up the air and bench test it somehow?

 

[Poser]

What did you figure out Chris man???

 

[venpick]

ok but here is the thing i want to know what happens when you engage the transfer case and use it to turn the drive shaft. Do both front wheels turn when you do that? I understand when you are not in 4x and you have the hubs locked and the locker locked your front drive shaft does not spin. However if the tires spin because the drive shaft is turning from the engine side then all is good. Spider gears and ring and pinion gears and planetary alignments is all cooking my noodle.

 

[matt.mcinnes]

Ok
First the stupid question you have the rear locker engaged first before trying the front?

ARB have the lockers interlocked so you can not engage the front without the rear in first.

 

[matt.mcinnes]

TESTING

Select 2 wheeldrive

Hubs unlocked front drive shaft should rotate freely by hand.
One hub locked in front drive shaft should rotate freely.
Both hubs locked in front drive shaft should not rotate.

Jack the front up place both axles on stands with both wheels clear of the ground.

Rotate the front drive shaft, both wheels should turn but in oposite directions (diff working)

Engage rear and front locker

Rotate front drive shaft both wheels should turn in the same direction locker is engaged and working.

Think that's it

 

[cpmarcani]

Well I figured it out,


Feeling kinda stupid...Take a guess.....


This all started when I broke the short side Birf...I am gona wait untill I can afford 30sp Longs so I took a used one I had laying around and installed it so I could use the truck and not tie up my Lift...the nabors still need their oil changed...LOL.


I don't remember where it came from, I have had a bunch of 40's and related crap over the years...


THE INNER SHAFT WAS TO SHORT...the splines did not go all the way into the locker. Felt like it did but when I lined it up with the shaft from the broken birf...

Here look for your self.

 

[matt.mcinnes]

Top news the lockers all good then.

The above test should have picked that up if you tried that?

 

[peesalot]

Holy s***, Now you feel dumb. Here is what I want to know, if you have 40 axles then what had a short side that much shorter than a 40 ?

 

[greenfox]

Holy s***, Now you feel dumb. Here is what I want to know, if you have 40 axles then what had a short side that much shorter than a 40 ?

What pees said?

 

[Poser]

Here is what I want to know, if you have 40 axles then what had a short side that much shorter than a 40 ?

What pees said?

Mini truck front inner short side is shorter than 40/55/60...

 

[rusty_tlc]

A classic Crawford moment

We have all done something like that at one time or another.

Kudos for being big enough to post it up.