Use of aftermarket compressors for factory locker

[Grantw]

Is it possible to use a bigger aftermarket compressor instead of the standard tiny compressor to engage the factory locker?

Redrocket: What did you do to your locker? I am sure you have done this!

I am thinking of running the arb one instead (have one allready to be used for front locker) and would love to know if the higher pressure is going to cause any probs.....

[Bitsamissin]

Grant the Mitsu factory locker is a very low pressure unit and only needs 6-8 PSI for activation (hence the size of the compressor). An ARB airlocker requires at least 75 PSI and the compressor cycles between 70-90 PSI during normal use.
You could run it off the ARB air compressor but you would need to design it correctly because if you overpressurerise the Mitsu locker something will give and god knows how you would go about fixing that
It maybe as simple as a pressure reducing valve fitted off the solenoid on the ARB compressor. That way you could used the standard ARB wiring and ARB rear locker switch. There are adjustable pressure reducing valves available from Festo, Norgren etc.
The first thing I would do is connect the factory Mitsu air compressor to a pressure gauge and get a baseline pressure reading. This is your starting point. Mount the ARB locker compressor and wiring + switches (ready for front locker in June) and find an adjustable pressure reducing valve in the right range and mount that after the solenoid (airline runs off that).
The problem is ARB use 5mm airline (specially made for them) so fitting compatibility maybe an issue in the rear diff.
One things for sure you will get a shit load of locker engagements out of the ARB compressor/tank before it will have to switch on to repressurize

[Ian Sharpe]

Grant,

the factory compressor runs at 5-6 psi whereas the ARB one I believe runs at about 80psi or maybe even higher.

I doubt that the mitsu locker system could with stand those pressures as it wasnt made to.

I guess you could use a pressure reducer , but whats wronbg with the Mitsu one (apart from the fact that you cant pump up tyres with it)

cheers