Lock-rite issues?????

87rockzuk

New Member
Joined
May 5, 2006
Location
Laurinburg
Finished (yeah right) my rig about 2 months ago and have only wheeled it about 3 times. 87 samurai, t-case gears, yota axles(longfields), spool rear, lock-rite front, 36's, etc. Still running stock motor.

Last weekend went to Uwharrie and about 15 minutes into our first trail a loud popping started in the front axle. I have broken a quick-lock before in a full size bronco and this sounded very familiar. We hadn't done anything on Sat. except riding on dirt trails heading up to the rocks and I had no previous issues on my other trips. The locker started popping and slipping pretty bad.
I tore the front axle down and removed the locker. The pins are fine, the springs seem fine, everything else in the diff looked ok.

Anybody got any ideas as to what may be going on....makes no sense to me!

Scott
 
second teh worn teeth on the spider gears

locker1.jpg

locker2.jpg


this is all it takes.
 
Like I mentioned before this is only the 3rd trip out. I don't recall the locker ever slipping before Saturday...can't see how they would have worn unless they had been slipping a lot.
After tearing the locker apart I don't see any wear on any of the teeth. I do have one small chip on the upper corner of one tooth. I've got friends that have been running these things for years without any trouble.
 
Might check your steering stops

My long story.... when i put toy axles under my old zuke buggy i didnt readjust the steering stops, the originals were still on the axle and i assumed they would work fine as is.. Hmmm kinda, they had caved in a little bit to allow the knuckels to turn more than they should and the loud poping noise i had was actually the burf binding.. With the stock motor I really wasn't likly to break it.

Put it on jack stands and check it out...
 
Thanks... that's a good tip and probably something I didn't check. The locker was loading up and slipping even when the wheels weren't turned or just barely turned.
 
A locekr on the front isnt usually a good idea... I have a lock right on my rear, but a Trutrac on the front.. the Lock right will lock and unloock bettter tthan most lockers, but true locking on the front axle is almost a guarantee to have problems
 
Dpsychoward said:
A locekr on the front isnt usually a good idea... I have a lock right on my rear, but a Trutrac on the front.. the Lock right will lock and unloock bettter tthan most lockers, but true locking on the front axle is almost a guarantee to have problems
Click to expand...



????
 
mbalbritton said:
second teh worn teeth on the spider gears

locker1.jpg

locker2.jpg


this is all it takes.
Click to expand...

That's exactly what happened to my rear lockrite; square teeth were no longer square. But that took ~25k street miles. Nitpick, I wouldn't call those square gears spider gears. But they go where a spider gear goes, so maybe I'm wrong.

I can't believe the front locker would start acting up after 3 trips unless the gap isn't right between the too sides. Powertrax has a spec for what that should be. Might be a shimming issue. I can't quite remember but I think on the Dana 30 you reused the little spacers that go behind the spider gears. Or maybe you leave them out? Follow the instructions for your axle. :)

As far as the front locker comment. Just plain wrong. Front lockers rule.
 
BoltOnJohn said:
Nitpick, I wouldn't call those square gears spider gears. But they go where a spider gear goes, so maybe I'm wrong.
Click to expand...

Yes and no. The side gears are the ones that attach to the axles. Spider gears sit perpendicular to side gears. Spider gears ride on a shaft that's attached to the carrier. Automatic lockers don't have spider gears by design (ARBs do though).

Here's a nice exploded diagram of the Detroit EZ Locker:
 

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mbalbritton said:
second teh worn teeth on the spider gears

locker1.jpg

locker2.jpg


this is all it takes.
Click to expand...

This exact same thing happened to my lock-rite after only one trip.
 
saf-t scissors said:
Yes and no. The side gears are the ones that attach to the axles. Spider gears sit perpendicular to side gears. Spider gears ride on a shaft that's attached to the carrier. Automatic lockers don't have spider gears by design (ARBs do though).

Here's a nice exploded diagram of the Detroit EZ Locker:
Click to expand...

Ok, looks like you corrected yourself. Those gears in question are not "spider gears." Call them what you want they can round off and cause your lunchbox locker to slip.
 
Dpsychoward said:
A locekr on the front isnt usually a good idea...
Click to expand...


It's not a FOUR wheel drive until all 4 wheels are pulling. :shaking:
 
Thanks for all the suggestions. I did used the shims on the side gears used on the stock yota spider gears. The spacing should be correct. I think it would have been acting up all along if that had been the issue.

I got tired of trying to get a response from Powertrax, so I just reassembled the unit to see what happened and try to do some troubleshooting to see if it could be anything other than the locker.

I drove the crap out of it the past two afternoons and can't get it to slip at all (it does ratchet correctly). I have driven on the pavement locking the wheel both ways, climbed trees, lauched hard....can't get it to do it again for anything. I did see a light scratch on the teeth all the way around one side gear...like a piece of trash got in the locker.....maybe that was the issue?????????? Well, I couldn't find the definite cause which means it will show up again the next time I go wheeling and have been excited all week.
 
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