Air Locker Question

[Torsion]

Was 4wheelin on the weekend, got stuck in some real loose gravel shal sand (yeh it was loose and steep), activated the rear locker - I had the drivers rear wheel stuck firm and not turning, with the passenger rear free spinning?
Now all day I had concerns the rear locker was not working properly - should this happen with lockers?
When the locker switch is activated the locker airs up, when I release them they air off (release), the compressor did not run continaully or intermitantly (like a leak would suggest)??
I was under the impression this scenario would not happen with lockers any suggestion?

[Hilux Max]

I agree with you there......

how hard was the drivers wheel stuck?

did you end up driving out?

if locked, both would be turning at the same rate.....something else may be up?

is the diff noisy when driving or can you hear an intemittent "thud" when taking off?

if so, could be on the way out. hope not....

[Torsion]

The drivers side was jammed up but still in the loose stuff, I would have expected some sort of movement, if not, not much from the passenger side given it was free.
No I couldn't get out and had to winch out.
No knocking noises, I'm driving the car today on the bitument all good.

I've booked the car in with the installers of the locker to have a look, what concerns me with this is all they can do is jack it up and run the rear end without putting the axles under load.

[Quinny34]

Your locker may not have been able to engage if 1 wheel was locked in a funny position... mine can take a few seconds to engage and normally longer to disengage. Being a front locker it gets bound up alot more.

On some grass somewhere... just try them out again... Your compressor should at least fire for a short period then stop if its the new ARB unit... It should then go on and off intermittently as the locker is engaged.

If it works 1 tyre will rip up the grass badly when you turn... Dont do this at home...

Are you sure your compressor is working okay also?

[KTM525EXC]

mine made a hell of a crack when disengaging the other day i got up the rut and disengaged the locker to reverse to turn around then bang i thought i broke a cv lol
it was mud so it be pretty weak if it did snap
Troy

[9W6VX]

Troy,

I have driven a mate's BJ43 Land Cruiser with ARB diff locks all round and they don't exhibit this characteristic.

You can basically engage the ARB lockers on the fly except for the front where you have to be more cautious and ensure that the steering is straight. The rear can be activated as you please.

Using a LockRight diff locker will exhibit the cracking sound though ............. scares the shit out of people and myself too at times in my previous Bundera.

[Torsion]

Your locker may not have been able to engage if 1 wheel was locked in a funny position... mine can take a few seconds to engage and normally longer to disengage. Being a front locker it gets bound up alot more.

On some grass somewhere... just try them out again... Your compressor should at least fire for a short period then stop if its the new ARB unit... It should then go on and off intermittently as the locker is engaged.

If it works 1 tyre will rip up the grass badly when you turn... Dont do this at home...

Are you sure your compressor is working okay also?

I'll try this Quinny - good idea.
Yep its a new style ARB unit and yeh the compressor and switches are activating as you mention, the compressor is pumping up tyres?.
I'll give it a go and let you know.

[KTM525EXC]

Troy,

I have driven a mate's BJ43 Land Cruiser with ARB diff locks all round and they don't exhibit this characteristic.

You can basically engage the ARB lockers on the fly except for the front where you have to be more cautious and ensure that the steering is straight. The rear can be activated as you please.

Using a LockRight diff locker will exhibit the cracking sound though ............. scares the shit out of people and myself too at times in my previous Bundera.

hey brendon yeah when it did make the sound the steering was straight but i was reversing. i make sure its unlocked before turning. it may have still been slightly wound up when it disengaged, dunno???? if it happens again ill ask arb
Troy

[9W6VX]

Troy,

Best to check with ARB mate.

[KTM525EXC]

well its happened again. this time it wouldent engage and was like a gearbox trying to find a gear with no clutch i spoke to arb about the first time it happned and they said the noise i heared was normal which i could aggree with. but this time somthing isnt right any ideas what the grinding was? it happened twice. i activated the locker before i got to the hard bit on level ground while i was stationary with the wheels straight i then went up the track then when the wheel lifted and was in the air thats when the noises happened untill it engaged then it stoped. is the locker sealed unit? or if it is a faulty locker would it have damaged the other gears in the diff? im no diff specilest i dont really understand how it works any body got any diagrams?
Cheers Troy

[Quinny34]

I'd say you have an air leak maybe.... does your compressor run the whole time you've got the locker on or on every 30 seconds or so.... it shouldnt

Sound definatly like it is not engaging...

Possum may be able to assist a bit more as he has a rear locker....

[KTM525EXC]

nah compresser dosent leak at all its like the ring that engages the locker is getting jammed some how its on the front, same as you quinny

[Quinny34]

Yeah... take it back... mine locks up quick as when pointing straight... a little longer on a corner...

yours seems to have a serious issue... ARB are normally pretty good at troubleshooting and sorting that sort of stuff out...

Keep us all infomed though champ...

[KTM525EXC]

cheers quinny
ill keep ya all in the loop ill be on the phone first thing 2morrow

[KTM525EXC]

well they agree on the phone that something aint right lol its going in friday for closer inspection.

[9W6VX]

Troy,

Keep us posted.

[KTM525EXC]

sorry guys im a bit slow in keeping ya all updated lol well arb had a look at the lux, but they didnt take out the locker they just tested it. they said seems fine to them atm lol but if it does happen again there going to pull it out and mabe replace it they belive me but coz it dont happen every time its hard to prove.

[Quinny34]

hmmmm...... still doesn't sound right

[Boof]

Hey mate I had a similiar problem with mine although when it failed it was releasing air out of the breather, was yours?. On flat ground it worked perfectly but when the rear diff was twisted it up it would fail. Once it was pulled out they found where the air line went in inside the centre itself was elongated. They replaced the locker and I have not had a drama since.

Also I noticed someone above said the compressor should run intermittently when engaged, if your compressor is doing this you have a leak, it should only activate if needed when the locker is engaged, once engaged it should not run.

[Quinny34]

Boof, Point noted boof... Mine ha sonly every ran intermittently a few times whilst in use.. normally under pretty full on conditions... may just be some flex causing the air to leak... May not even be at the locker end... it only kicks in for second and then stops again...

But if it ever gets any worse than that I'll be sure to mention it to ARB...