Airlocker - What did i do wrong?

[alien]

Hey guys

Running an ARB air locker in the rear of my zuk, was playing with it on ultra wet slippery roads today (no, i wasnt being silly, just seeing how much more grip i had)... anyways, about 10m before turning a corner at about 15km/hr i switched the locker off, but as i turned the corner i got a VERY loud clunk from the diff... it obviously didnt disengage correctly when i switched it off.

So what im wondering, is why it did it, and was it a bad thing (i assume it was being the metal slapping metal is not usually recommended).

Cheers =)

[joeblow]

depends how you were driving, and how it was installed. it isn't recomended you engage the locker on bitumen.

[pongo]

when we turn off both the lockers on the trucks, we usually do a few gentle ess's to make sure they disengage smootly. if something going vang your too hard on gear

havent been 4bying in ages. something about 48t gross sliding back down the hill sideways towards a gravel quarry pit and needing a push with a excavator to get out seems do be enough these days.

[alien]

yeah i wasnt driving hard, i was off the throttle when i disengaged it and just rolling straight forward, then accelerated lightly to turn the corner.

I gave it another test just now and nothing... perhaps a one off?

[chunderlicious]

the opposite happened to me, i had the locker on and disengaged it while still spinning on loose dirt and heard the bang. now it doesnt really disengage i dont think. it is like an LSD.

whats the reasoning?

[Jeeps]

You screwed it LOL

The locker manuals say "It's possible to engage while moving!"

it also says "It will not disengage while under load" and also "damage can occur when trying to disengage if under load"

etc

[alien]

^^ hence why i wasnt on the throttle and going in a straight line...

i can understand it pooping itself if you're under load and turning while disengaging, but not in the situation i was in - it would be no different to doing the same thing on loose gravel.

[Jeeps]

sounds like the wet road you were on had some dry parts that caused windup. Also, smaller lighter vehicles (ie zooks) usually feel driveline kicks worse than other vehicles.

[alien]

Cool, thanks mate.

on the plus side, having it locked in the wet reminds me of why i loved it when it was welded a few years back... SOOOOO much easier to control in the wet.

Anyone with a zuk knows how easily the back wants to overtake the front on slippery roads =) the locked rear stops it whipping around and instead, if you go that bit too fast it just does a smooth gradual slide... but i've found that a corner which i'd normally lose it on unlocked, i can take at the same speed locked with no skid at all.

I dont use the locker on road at all really, but its interesting to know.

[joeblow]

if there is something wrong i hope the warranty guys don't see this post.

[alien]

why not, i've done nothing wrong... i was on incredibly slippery road - equivalent to driving on loose gravel (thats what it felt like), i wasnt hammering it or anything, just experimenting in controlled conditions. I also followed the manufacturer's process for engaging and disengaging (straight line, no throttle).

[benhl]

i was on incredibly slippery road - equivalent to driving on loose gravel

or perhaps snow/ice... ??

[hokey]

sounds like the locker disengaging. after i've switched mine off after going around a right corner for example it won't unlock until i swerve left a bit and you can hear a little release of air (compressor and solenoids under the seat) then you know its disengaged. Also get a slight wiff of diff oil too

[bazzle]

Prob just windup rleasing after you turned corner, its still amazing how much traction you can still get even on slippery rds, 4bee wouldnt move if there wasnt.
They can make a loud "pop" when releasing, prob not an issue.


Bazzle

[mickbeny]

Hi all...Unevenly worn tyres can also play a role in not unlocking quickly.

[chimpboy]

I agree with some other suggestions.

- Diff wound up due to locking on a hard surface
- Press button to disengage, wind-up keeps locker engaged regardless
- turn corner, diff unwinds or winds up more, either way the locker pops and disengages

... quite possibly no harm done at all.

I would think you could easily get wind-up on a wet road, there are different kinds of "slippery" surfaces. On a soft dirt surface the tyres don't have to lose grip as such to get rid of wind-up, the soil underneath actually breaks up for you.

[GRPABT1]

If you were engine braking then the locker could still be under some load, I know my locklright sometimes holds in locked when engine breaking.