Detroit locker in reverse

Binder · Jan 5, 2011

Travis said:
, it just won't "lock" unless under power.

How do you know this?....Really it sounds to me like it's probably working correctly but it's just not doing what you think it should be doing.

Travis1 · Jan 5, 2011

Binder said:
How do you know this?....Really it sounds to me like it's probably working correctly but it's just not doing what you think it should be doing.

For example, if I drive my front left tire up to a verticle obstacle and engage the front axle when I meet that obstacle, or if I come up to the obstacle on very light throttle or neutral throttle, (think pressure on gears):

That front left tire sits there dead stick, while the front right turns. Actually, all three turn at that point, causing me to pivot around the obstacle rather than go up it.

Now, if I have some throttle going, or better said, some pressure on the gears when my tire approaches that obstacle and makes contact, it will be locked in and power up the obstacle.

It's pretty rare to have the front locker engaged prior to reaching the obstacle allowing the tire to climb.

What is supposed to be the same style detriot in the back (amc20) does not operate like this. It's always locked up unless there's a reason for it not to be.

Bill · Jan 5, 2011

I have seen detroits do some funky $hit eh...installed so many of them in 44's that I have almost a full 5 gal bucket of 44 carrier bearings (can't seem to throw them away because they all seem good but everyone wanted new bearings)

so when I was ready to pull the trigger on a locker I went with an arb and I am one of those fortunate ones who have had no problems with it in 10 years...

Binder · Jan 5, 2011

Travis said:
For example, if I drive my front left tire up to a verticle obstacle and engage the front axle when I meet that obstacle, or if I come up to the obstacle on very light throttle or neutral throttle, (think pressure on gears):

That front left tire sits there dead stick, while the front right turns. Actually, all three turn at that point, causing me to pivot around the obstacle rather than go up it.

Now, if I have some throttle going, or better said, some pressure on the gears when my tire approaches that obstacle and makes contact, it will be locked in and power up the obstacle.

It's pretty rare to have the front locker engaged prior to reaching the obstacle allowing the tire to climb.

What is supposed to be the same style detriot in the back (amc20) does not operate like this. It's always locked up unless there's a reason for it not to be.

Definately something wrong with the front.

TreeClimber · Jan 5, 2011

Travis said:
For example, if I drive my front left tire up to a verticle obstacle and engage the front axle when I meet that obstacle, or if I come up to the obstacle on very light throttle or neutral throttle, (think pressure on gears):

That front left tire sits there dead stick, while the front right turns. Actually, all three turn at that point, causing me to pivot around the obstacle rather than go up it.

Now, if I have some throttle going, or better said, some pressure on the gears when my tire approaches that obstacle and makes contact, it will be locked in and power up the obstacle.

It's pretty rare to have the front locker engaged prior to reaching the obstacle allowing the tire to climb.

What is supposed to be the same style detriot in the back (amc20) does not operate like this. It's always locked up unless there's a reason for it not to be.

I had a prototype Detroit 'Electrac" locker for a couple years. It's a truetrac guts, with an added electric locking function. When it was unlocked (or in Truetrac mode) it operated the same as you just described.

I'm wondering if you got a Truetrac shipped by mistake in a No-Spin box, and simply installed it.

Digger 5 · Jan 5, 2011

Zoediak said:
linky no work... :booo:

I had some trouble too. Try going back to the 3rd page, post number 23.

Digger 5 · Jan 5, 2011

Binder said:
Definately something wrong with the front.

x2

The test will tell.

Digger 5 · Jan 5, 2011

FWIW- If you try the test and when the t-case is locked in gear and you spin one tire and the other tire turns in opposite direction, you probably have a Truetrac.

Travis1 · Jan 5, 2011

Digger 5 said:
FWIW- If you try the test and when the t-case is locked in gear and you spin one tire and the other tire turns in opposite direction, you probably have a Truetrac.

I'll be checking it out this weekend. Now I'm curious.

super samurai · Jan 5, 2011

i really notice how mine reacts compared to the spool in back. i run a spool out back and a full detroit up front on my buggy and my sammy. when i pull up to an obstacle dead stop and start to climb the rear defenately spins first then the front goes but this is very brief and i have to be barely crawling, but if any throttle is applied it is locked. so i guess that would be a test also maby? crawl with no throttle and see and even then if it meets any resistance it will lock.

JOOP · Jan 5, 2011

super samurai said:
i really notice how mine reacts compared to the spool in back. i run a spool out back and a full detroit up front on my buggy and my sammy. when i pull up to an obstacle dead stop and start to climb the rear defenately spins first then the front goes but this is very brief and i have to be barely crawling, but if any throttle is applied it is locked. so i guess that would be a test also maby? crawl with no throttle and see and even then if it meets any resistance it will lock.

Mine does too. It always scares me because it's usually the drivers tire that I line up and I'm think I broke something until it starts going.

Bill · Jan 5, 2011

JOOP said:
Mine does too. It always scares me because it's usually the drivers tire that I line up and I'm think I broke something until it starts going.

do you have lock-outs?

super samurai · Jan 5, 2011

Bill said:
do you have lock-outs?

joop has hubs
i have drive flanges
so that seems to not be an issue
also i put dtroit true tracs in my 70 bronco and they are a very stiff limited slip, they almost act like a locker, stiff to overcome.

JOOP · Jan 5, 2011

Bill said:
do you have lock-outs?

I have the spicer HD hubs. They have a solid slug inside.

maxx · Jan 6, 2011

Mine seems to always work when I want it to, I've never sat there and said "come on you damn thing" Like I did with the truetrac in my old XJ. Also, Whenever I lift a tire the tire in the air always spins.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UF92MiiGlEI

Heres the best video I have "approaching obstacles"

http://www.youtube.com/user/maxxpehling#p/u/3/WwaQqj1edVI