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air locker probs

Posted: Wed Oct 28, 2009 4:05 pm
by danssurf82
the compressor stays on the whole time now, the locker still locks while the compressor is on, and i cant seem to find any air leaks... any ideas?

Posted: Wed Oct 28, 2009 4:08 pm
by Chucky
When the locker is turned off does it shut down?

If not I'd say pressure switch.
If it does I'd check the diff breather for air coming out when the locker is switched on.

Posted: Wed Oct 28, 2009 4:19 pm
by danssurf82
just checked it, yes i have air coming out of my breather...

what is wrong?

also how will it cost to fix it?

cheers

Posted: Wed Oct 28, 2009 4:25 pm
by Matt_85Lux
most likely it is leaking at the seal. Centre will have to come out and the seals replaced

Posted: Wed Oct 28, 2009 4:28 pm
by danssurf82
how much are the seals worth?

Posted: Wed Oct 28, 2009 4:57 pm
by Chucky
seal is bugger all, just a oring.
If you know how to , pull out the center and give it a go your self.

Posted: Wed Oct 28, 2009 5:03 pm
by Matt_85Lux
I have to replace mine, mate told me about $16 buck for the seals but not sure as I haven't priced them yet. If it is for a hilux ake sure you get the right ones as there are 2 different sizes

Posted: Wed Oct 28, 2009 7:28 pm
by joeblow
before you go pulling a diff out block the line and then see if the comp shuts off automatically. if it still does not take all the fittings off the solenoid and make sure there are no fine particals in it, if so clean it out. if you still have the problem change the pressure switch. but if it does shut off with the line closed off then yes, you may have to pull the diff out.

Posted: Wed Oct 28, 2009 8:38 pm
by DR Frankenstine
joeblow wrote:before you go pulling a diff out block the line and then see if the comp shuts off automatically. if it still does not take all the fittings off the solenoid and make sure there are no fine particals in it, if so clean it out. if you still have the problem change the pressure switch. but if it does shut off with the line closed off then yes, you may have to pull the diff out.
He has said he has air coming out his diff breather.. He will need to pull the diff out.

Posted: Wed Oct 28, 2009 8:49 pm
by joeblow
DR Frankenstine wrote: He has said he has air coming out his diff breather.. He will need to pull the diff out.

if the pressure switch is gone than it may be building up too much pressure for the seal housing in the diff to cope with, hence why i sugested trying the other things first.

Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 6:33 am
by Chucky
If he turns the locker off and the pump stops, this has tested the pressure switch.

I wouldn't want to block the breather and try and pressurize my diff housing to 100pis or whatever a pump goes to.

Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 7:05 am
by joeblow
Chucky wrote: I wouldn't want to block the breather and try and pressurize my diff housing to 100pis or whatever a pump goes to.
me too!....thats why blocking the 'air locker' line might be a better idea for testing ;)

Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 7:39 am
by Chucky
Sorry mate.

For some reason I read that as block the breather line. After rereading your post it makes more sense :oops:

But Dan still hasnt said if the compressor stops when the locker is off.
He has just confirmed that the air is coming out the diff breather.

No matter what the cause is, stuffed pressure switch of whatever, the air comping out the breather tells that the internal air line seal is buggered and needs replacing. And that means pulling the center out. But if Dan can change a CV he can pull the diff out and should be able to replace the seal himself.

Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 8:54 am
by Guy
Chucky wrote:Sorry mate.

For some reason I read that as block the breather line. After rereading your post it makes more sense :oops:

But Dan still hasnt said if the compressor stops when the locker is off.
He has just confirmed that the air is coming out the diff breather.

No matter what the cause is, stuffed pressure switch of whatever, the air comping out the breather tells that the internal air line seal is buggered and needs replacing. And that means pulling the center out. But if Dan can change a CV he can pull the diff out and should be able to replace the seal himself.
Unless the seal is leaking due to being overpressurised ..

Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 9:44 am
by mmaaxx
I have the same problem with my hilux front air locker....Ive rarely used it only a handfull of time and last weekendf when I went out wheeling the locker was locking but the compressor was constantly running.

When the locker is switched off, the compressor stops as soon as the line builds up pressure.

Seriously, this is a lodad of crap.....for the amount of money these lockers cost they should be bullet proof....to have a crappy 16buxk seal stuff it up you have to pay the labour to get it replaced.....if you cant do it yourself.

Its as if ARB put a crappy seal in there on purpose to keep the cash flow coming through their stores because they know people will be coming back for repairs.

Not happy....if I could, Id put an auto locker in the front, not air pressure worries then but in the new luxes this cant be done!

:x :x :x

Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 9:53 am
by grimbo
mmaaxx wrote:I have the same problem with my hilux front air locker....Ive rarely used it only a handfull of time and last weekendf when I went out wheeling the locker was locking but the compressor was constantly running.

When the locker is switched off, the compressor stops as soon as the line builds up pressure.

Seriously, this is a lodad of crap.....for the amount of money these lockers cost they should be bullet proof....to have a crappy 16buxk seal stuff it up you have to pay the labour to get it replaced.....if you cant do it yourself.

Its as if ARB put a crappy seal in there on purpose to keep the cash flow coming through their stores because they know people will be coming back for repairs.

Not happy....if I could, Id put an auto locker in the front, not air pressure worries then but in the new luxes this cant be done!

:x :x :x
what a load of rubbish. They need to be cycled every now and then to ensure they are kept lubricated etc. Better to have a cheap seal as your weak link, because nothing is bullet proof and to expect it to be is naive, than to bust the actual locker. If people instead learnt to maintain their stuff and use them properly then they are fine.

The only drams I ever had on my air locker was busted air lines from my lack of attention when driving and melted airlines because I routed the lines too close to the exhaust.

Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 10:52 am
by joeblow
mmaaxx wrote:I have the same problem with my hilux front air locker....Ive rarely used it only a handfull of time and last weekendf when I went out wheeling the locker was locking but the compressor was constantly running.

When the locker is switched off, the compressor stops as soon as the line builds up pressure.

Seriously, this is a lodad of crap.....for the amount of money these lockers cost they should be bullet proof....to have a crappy 16buxk seal stuff it up you have to pay the labour to get it replaced.....if you cant do it yourself.

Its as if ARB put a crappy seal in there on purpose to keep the cash flow coming through their stores because they know people will be coming back for repairs.

Not happy....if I could, Id put an auto locker in the front, not air pressure worries then but in the new luxes this cant be done!

:x :x :x
i'd take it back to who fitted it, let it be thier issue.

Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 12:42 pm
by Struth
grimbo wrote:
mmaaxx wrote:I have the same problem with my hilux front air locker....Ive rarely used it only a handfull of time and last weekendf when I went out wheeling the locker was locking but the compressor was constantly running.

When the locker is switched off, the compressor stops as soon as the line builds up pressure.

Seriously, this is a lodad of crap.....for the amount of money these lockers cost they should be bullet proof....to have a crappy 16buxk seal stuff it up you have to pay the labour to get it replaced.....if you cant do it yourself.

Its as if ARB put a crappy seal in there on purpose to keep the cash flow coming through their stores because they know people will be coming back for repairs.

Not happy....if I could, Id put an auto locker in the front, not air pressure worries then but in the new luxes this cant be done!

:x :x :x
what a load of rubbish. They need to be cycled every now and then to ensure they are kept lubricated etc. Better to have a cheap seal as your weak link, because nothing is bullet proof and to expect it to be is naive, than to bust the actual locker. If people instead learnt to maintain their stuff and use them properly then they are fine.

The only drams I ever had on my air locker was busted air lines from my lack of attention when driving and melted airlines because I routed the lines too close to the exhaust.
An air system such as a locker does not benefit in any way from cheap seals as sacrificial lambs.

You are joking when you suggest the seal as a sacrifice aren't you?

If 150 Psi of air is capable of damaging anything other than the seal on a locker then I will go he.

All a failing seal will do is prevent the locker from engaging and possibly pressurise your diff housing, how does that protect the locker.


Cheers

Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 1:09 pm
by grimbo
no but I'd rather a $16 seal going than other damage occuring because the seal didn't let go. Obviously something is not right in the locker whether it be because of installation or not enough use or faulty components so a $16 seal going isn't that big a deal to rectify a problem.

Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 1:25 pm
by bogged
mmaaxx wrote:Seriously, this is a lodad of crap.....for the amount of money these lockers cost they should be bullet proof....to have a crappy 16buxk seal stuff it up you have to pay the labour to get it replaced.....if you cant do it yourself.
$2.00 seals have caused $multi million planes to fall out of the sky before.

Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 1:27 pm
by Struth
Yes that is my pont though, the $16 seal letting go has caused a large problem for anyone who cannot pull a diff and replace the seal on their own who knows how much a mechanic might charge, it would also be a PIA for those that can do it. If the seal didn't let go in the first place you wouldn't need to pull the diff.

I just think that it should be an easy problem for the manufacturers to rectify, maybe they already have, but pneumatics companies do seals that don't let go and have been for many years.

I agree with cycling the diff occasionally to keep the seal lubed if it does in fact lube the seal.

Cheers

Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 1:35 pm
by mmaaxx
Ok then, so lets say that me not cycling the diff lock often enough has contributed to this air leak...how often then should I cycle the locker? once a month?

and will this rectify the problem I have now, or do I have to get new seals and then cycle it once a month to keep it going?

Non of this was said when I got it fitted. I was under the impression that when I need the front diff locked, it locked at the flick of a switch.......

Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 1:44 pm
by joeblow
Struth wrote:
I just think that it should be an easy problem for the manufacturers to rectify
Cheers
yes, its called getting a better fitter.

Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 1:51 pm
by Struth
joeblow wrote:
Struth wrote:
I just think that it should be an easy problem for the manufacturers to rectify
Cheers
yes, its called getting a better fitter.
Are you saying that it is likely the fitters who cause this issue and not the seal design, they would appear to be pretty hard to stuff up fitting wise to me.

Cheers

Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 2:15 pm
by joeblow
ed zackery............

Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 2:17 pm
by Struth
In which case take it back to the fitter, good thinking 99.

Cheers

Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 2:19 pm
by Chucky
you'd be surprised how many times these get stuffed up.

All the people who whinge about oil smell from the air line is caused byt the same thing.

Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 9:39 pm
by turps
Struth wrote:
grimbo wrote:
mmaaxx wrote:I have the same problem with my hilux front air locker....Ive rarely used it only a handfull of time and last weekendf when I went out wheeling the locker was locking but the compressor was constantly running.

When the locker is switched off, the compressor stops as soon as the line builds up pressure.

Seriously, this is a lodad of crap.....for the amount of money these lockers cost they should be bullet proof....to have a crappy 16buxk seal stuff it up you have to pay the labour to get it replaced.....if you cant do it yourself.

Its as if ARB put a crappy seal in there on purpose to keep the cash flow coming through their stores because they know people will be coming back for repairs.

Not happy....if I could, Id put an auto locker in the front, not air pressure worries then but in the new luxes this cant be done!

:x :x :x
what a load of rubbish. They need to be cycled every now and then to ensure they are kept lubricated etc. Better to have a cheap seal as your weak link, because nothing is bullet proof and to expect it to be is naive, than to bust the actual locker. If people instead learnt to maintain their stuff and use them properly then they are fine.

The only drams I ever had on my air locker was busted air lines from my lack of attention when driving and melted airlines because I routed the lines too close to the exhaust.
An air system such as a locker does not benefit in any way from cheap seals as sacrificial lambs.

You are joking when you suggest the seal as a sacrifice aren't you?

If 150 Psi of air is capable of damaging anything other than the seal on a locker then I will go he.

All a failing seal will do is prevent the locker from engaging and possibly pressurise your diff housing, how does that protect the locker.


Cheers
I am actually shitty that the POS needs a $16seal. I sealed the leaks in a $3000 injector pump for $6. Cost me $30 in KFC for Juzza to fit it and Sparky to stand around and be a pain in the arse.
But o rings are not expensive.

Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2009 8:21 pm
by dat383
[/quote]But o rings are not expensive.[/quote]


well how about you get yourself some bs136 Viton 75 and make yourself up a couple of quad rings to suit and see how you go?

there is nothing wrong with the quality or design of the quad rings that are used in airlockers,they only fail when people who don't know what they are doing install them.

Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2009 9:14 pm
by Matt_85Lux
My air locker was second hand and who knows how long it was in the original diff or how long it sat before I put it in mine after being removed, I didn't replace the seals when I installed it, although I was reccomended too, and they let go the other weekend after 2 years of use