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Air locker not working under load?

Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2011 10:20 am
by ethann
Hey, I've got a question for the air locker gurus.

I would try to get it into Arb but hard to get time off work through the week.

The locker (centre) just came out of Arb not long ago to have the brass tube fixed.
It bench tested 'working'.
Put it back in, while on car stands locked the hubs and press the switch to tight the wheel nuts and it locked up fine.
But once got out bush there was nothing. Still throws power side to side depending on traction, cvs/axles good and so are FWHs.

Any ideas?

Cheers.

Re: Air locker not working under load?

Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2011 12:41 pm
by flexytj
engagement gear

Re: Air locker not working under load?

Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2011 8:27 pm
by turbo gu
I am guessing its a new model locker? I have had 2 fail with engagement gears wearing very quickly

Re: Air locker not working under load?

Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2011 9:17 pm
by BUSTED100
run the higher pressure switch 110 - 150 PSI

Re: Air locker not working under load?

Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2011 2:48 am
by CRUZAAMAD
i had oil in the line, stopped mine from working, finally pulled the centre out attached hose and axles, locked up, used silicon spray to clean the line out.

Re: Air locker not working under load?

Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2011 8:46 am
by joshy
Is it the same one you posted on action about?, the older model?
Otherwise engagement gear. we bought a batch of 6 lockers and so far 3 have failed.

Re: Air locker not working under load?

Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2011 2:24 pm
by Wozza244
Absolute buckets of snot ARB Lockers appear to be.... Ive had them, had a good run but wont be getting them again.

Re: Air locker not working under load?

Posted: Sun Aug 28, 2011 7:25 pm
by A.J.
Yep, both my Air Lockers were 2 of the 3 that failed, as Joshy mentioned.

ARB fixed them under warranty but it took a lot of mucking around and too nearly 3 months!

Apparently the engagement gear shattered, they tried to blame it on my driving, my diff gears, setup etc. but I'm not stupid.

In the end they fixed them with a lot of arguing and only because I applied pressure!

Re: Air locker not working under load?

Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2011 11:49 pm
by Stoive
i did an engagement gear in one of mine, though i will openly admit it was my fault, engaging the locker and then taking off too soon after at full throttle, in my defense i was in a position i was not willing to roll back in (or roll over for that matter)

didnt break the gear, just beveled the edge and a small bur was stopping it from locking

the best way to operate them is to flick switch, then roll a bit - half turn of the wheels maybe, then you know its fully engaged, everybody badmouths arb lockers, but i think it alot of it is user error (alot, not all).
if you want to punish the crap out of your lockers get detroit classic locks! i have faultless experience with them

3 air lockers i have owned now and this is the first one i damaged, but like i said, my fault, and i believe there is no way to make a locking diff like them, that can lock instantly without fault at ANY position.

besides that, arb was ok to deal with in getting a new part