Grenaded a locker or carrier??

[JoshC]

Gernaded a locker or carrier??

I've been having problems with my 8.8 powertrac locker since our Tellico trip in may i think it was. Anyways, i got to take my case off today and look at it. Besides the milk that came out, i didn't see any springs missing.

If you've ever put on of these in, there is a small bar that comes with the springs that is used to "guage" the gap between the 2 sides. Well, it's loose in there. So i'm not sure if i've tore it up. If you look at the picture real good, the top of the carrier looks like it slants down to the left. It looks like it's warped some. I couldn't tell if it was twisted. But i can have both back tires off the ground and and turn one by hand and the locker will let go and i can spin that one tire free. I think it's shot!

 

[taxx]

Howdy,

Seeing as how I had a horrible week with my locker maybe I can offer some assitance.

Was the locker working after the gears where installed?

Who installed the locker?

what does it do on the street?

Any noises?

I doubt it is totaly f''''ed up. They are pretty stout, but depending on your answers above there is probably a solutiuon. I don't think that carier is bent, it is cast and would proly break.

 

[JoshC]

Well i did go back out and look at the carrier a little closer and that is the way it's made, plus you're right, it would break not bend.

For your questions Dave:

1-I had to order new springs after i took it out for the gear install and it did work just fine after those were installed.

2-I installed the locker (that could be my first mistake )

3-On the street it does fine. Every once in a while it will catch on a street corner and cherp the inside tire. But other then that it seems like it's not there.

4-No noises at all.

What happened with yours this week?

 

[taxx]

when they installed my gears they put it back together wrong. Mine wouldn't engage the pass side and sometimes didn't engage either side

First thing:

did the pin slip in or did you modify the pin?

the pin must remian perfectly round (that was the first mistake the guy installing my gears made)

Second thing:

Were you very carefull to install it as teh instructions said and align all the teath like they say too when putting it together? (it looks like you did)


So it isn't making any noises? And it is working on the street? Did you try burning out in gravel or sand? Which side do you feel is not engaging?

 

[jasonb]

Re: Gernaded a locker or carrier??

Originally posted by JoshC
But i can have both back tires off the ground and and turn one by hand and the locker will let go and i can spin that one tire free. I think it's shot!

i can do that also. or at least i can do what i think you are talking about. i thought it was normal.

i'm guessing mine was done right since kris has installed a few of them and i haven't had any problems with it at all yet.

but mine makes noises!

 

[JoshC]

As for the pin Dave. I don't know how it is even possible for the pin to perfectly round to get it back in there with the 4.56 or lower gears. It is shaved on one side, but it's not the side that the springs seat on. Know what i'm saying?

I really can't tell which side is engaging. If i can find some gravel or something i'll try to get it to spin, but i don't know if my turd will turn them over or not

I know i put it in right, i've had this thing out several times and back in with no problem.

Jason, mine never has made any noises at all. I'm sure yours was in right too or else you would have noticed it at Tellico.


Maybe it was the lack of lubrication from the water that was i there. I just put new fluid in it, so maybe that will help a LITTLE bit.

 

[taxx]

Originally posted by JoshC
As for the pin Dave. I don't know how it is even possible for the pin to perfectly round to get it back in there with the 4.56 or lower gears. It is shaved on one side, but it's not the side that the springs seat on. Know what i'm saying?

That is your problem. You CANNOT shave the pin. That is what we did thinking it would be ok cause of the springs. Nope, I called powertrax, and they told me it has got to be round, there is a ramping system in there not just the pin. You will need a new pin. I got min in with 4.88s. The way you have to do it (powertrax recomendation) and installers will tell you this, that it is perfectly acceptable, is take a die gringer to the inside of two teeth till it will pund in (when I say inside I say inside of the ring, inner edge) it will not affect the gears performance and will not affect the life, but if you want to use that locker with low gears you have to do this. If you want more of an explanation call powertrax, they are good people or hit me up. But I gaurantee if you replace that pin you will be good. i got my replacement pin from Randy's ring and pinion I believe. Under $20.

 

[taxx]

don't feel bad, I made the same mistake. But that is the reason they give you a new totaly round pin, its the way the locker works. that is why so many installers recomend lockers that replace the whole carrier.

Good news is it is an easy fix.

I give you the David Haughs Golden Key Gaurentee that a new pin will solve your problem.

 

[JoshC]

Originally posted by taxxman2k
I give you the David Haughs Golden Key Gaurentee that a new pin will solve your problem.

Alright, everyone sees this! If it doesn't work then dave will give me my money back! haha

Anyways. I have to grind 2 of the ring gear teeth down until the pin will push past those into the locker right? Can i do this will it's still installed, like the picture above?

Yeah, like you said, at least it's something simple. How much of the teeth did you have to grind down? Do you have a picture of yours by chance?

 

[GJarrett]

I'm confused. Why grind the gear? Why not just remove the ring gear, install the pin, and then rebolt the ring gear back onto the carrier? When I installed my front NoSlip the ring gear totally covered the pin and I HAD to remove it to install the locker.

 

[taxx]

Gerald:

In the rear you can't because of the C-Clips, one goes in before the locker is all the way in. In the front you are correct. In the rer there is no way to put it in the carrier before the ring gear is on because the carier has to be in place.



Josh:

Don't know about the whole money thing, but I don't think I will have to worry about that. if you call powertrax they will probably laugh and think it is me calling again and ask what is up with all us explorer guys grinding down pins.

As for the teeth, no I wish I had a pic and had I had a chance I would have taken one this weekend when I changed the fluid.... But it isn't much, on the inner rim of the ring gear the pinion never really touches, just grind on two of them till the pin pushes by. you woun't have to do as much as me since your gears are a bit higher. but just do little bits at a time then test, then make sure to clean it all out (yes do it while it is all in the carrier) then make sure the edges are smooth. i used a cheap die grindder with a stone bit and it worked great. Not problems.

 

[taxx]

As for the whole install problem with grinding the teeth it opened my eyes to why many profesionals told me they don't like lunch box lockers. A detroit must be so much easier (well if you can do gears)...

All the information I provided above is from powertrax and installers. It worked for me and I see no reason why it won't work for you. if you look at the locker when you have it out (I too thought it relied on the springs) you can see how the inner peices ramp off the pina nd push the gears together.

If you could put the axles in without teh c-clips you'd be ok, but since you can't this is the only option short of a detroit.

 

[WannaBTrckmagik]

When Trckmagik and I were building his Sporttrac we installed a powertrax I don't know how many times. The point is that all the problems and solutions you are talking about we never came across. Just thought it was strange.

 

[taxx]

here is the thread when I fried mine:

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=81371&highlight=powertrax

However I don't think it was a "stupid" mistake as I posted in mine, just should have called before I did it.

 

[JoshC]

Well the locker was working on the street corners today. I went down to my local off road shop to get an inspection sticker and i was telling him about the cross pin and he said they made a special pin for that. I don't know how you could get a special pin in there that was the right OD.

Anyways, i've got a bigger problems now. On my way home i some how incurred a huge vibration/grining noise that comes and goes on the road. I think my tcase is so fried that it's making noises, does that sound right? I don't think it's my locker. But i'm going to let the truck cool down for a bit and then i'll crawl up under it and check my fluids again and check my tcase fluid. It's never ending!

 

[taxx]

not to sound like a d!ck but I have to ask.... you refilled the diff right?

First thing I would do is replace that pin with the one from powertrax, that way you know it is right. The engaging will come and go with a wrong pin. I don't see that that would cause a vibration. But there are so many things that could. Where does it feel like it is coming from? One that comes and goes almost sound like a driveline vibration from bad pinion angles or a bad u-joint. When you had the rear apart where you messing with anything else?

 

[taxx]

PS....

I had that and saw drips from my t-case that I let my trcuk sit for 3 weeks cause I was affraid to mess with it only to crawl under there this weekend and find the bolts from the driiveshaft where about to fall out. 5 minute fix.

 

[JoshC]

FLUID IN THE DIFF OH GEEZ. j/k yeah i put some in it.

I think i have a couple of bolts loose for my DS's. I'll check those.

 

[taxx]

lol... good luck. if you have any questions I can answer let me know, I am no expert, but I had the exact sam problem as you and it made for a bad week and a 3.5 hour later arrival for the dunes than I had planned.

But gotta go now and build my new tranny x-member so I can have my shaft in before I hit attica this weekend. Will be nice to finally have 4x4 in the built rig again....