Air Diff Locker On GU

[Seanz]

Just a head's up with winches and locker's have always been advised
that to disengage front locker, while winching. As is puts a
extra strain on front axle and bearings if locked under load.
Anyone with other knowledge about this, unless lockers have changed
Cheers

[P4trol]

I'm waiting for further advice from the forum, but if you have the winch on, chances the wheels are already spinning, ie no stress.

[MudRunnerTD]

Just a head's up with winches and locker's have always been advised
that to disengage front locker, while winching. As is puts a
extra strain on front axle and bearings if locked under load.
Anyone with other knowledge about this, unless lockers have changed
Cheers

I'm waiting for further advice from the forum, but if you have the winch on, chances the wheels are already spinning, ie no stress.

Yeah P4trol got it in one. If your winching its because you have No Traction, when you regain traction you can stop winching. Lockers on as part of your self recovery equipment.

[MudRunnerTD]

Ok, well I will post up my experience with the elocker. $2200 fitted. Comes with an awesome cube shaped space case.

Actuation is silent. The way I think they are best used is 1) planned use, activated before an obstacle or 2) didn't think it would be needed, but I'm stuck, and need to get out (maybe last ditch before you break out the shovel!).

My main experience is mud so far... It doesn't make you suddenly un-stuckable. The same rules apply in mud, momentum being desirable. The difference is that in between the really slippery bits, both front wheels (I had the front only done) are keeping momentum going. Before the vehicle would sometimes come to a halt with one front wheel spinning

Activating it, once you had come to a halt in mud, still leaves a dicey feeling when you get going again.

In sand, (haven't done much testing yet) I found leaving it off worked better. Especially turning full lock, where you can put a bit of right foot in to pull it around.

So I still managed to need to winch myself a few metres up out of a bog hole before all 4 wheels stopped spinning. You have to experiment and work out what does and doesn't work!

Worth it? I'm impressed. It is that little extra something that gives an edge over a standard 4b and allows you to go further - and get back.

S the thing you want to avoid (AirLockers, so assume yours Elocker will be the same) is Crash switching, switching the locker on while your hard on the gas and things are spinning up. For obvious reasons this is a bad thing to do, lots of Comp guys do this (less now) and a little mechanical sympathy will go along way.

On the other hand though, you don't have to stop to engage, this could and probably will cause more trouble for you. If you find yourself loosing traction and you want the front locker just back off the gas or put the clutch in a second flick the switch and hard on the gas again, maintaining your momentum is paramount.

Any kind of Locker is a Traction Aid, it is not the Be All and End All, you can and will continue to get stuck. You will go further than most though but you will get stuck.

They are a Game Changer but you still must abide by the TTT rule! Traction Traction Traction. Enjoy.

[FNQGU]

Yeah P4trol got it in one. If your winching its because you have No Traction, when you regain traction you can stop winching. Lockers on as part of your self recovery equipment.

You could also be winching from a stationary position, with your foot on the brake. eg. pulling someone else out backwards. I haven't heard of anyone ever having done any damage to their front axles, bearings or CV's whilst winching someone out though so not sure there is any substance to it though.

[P4trol]

I just saw a YouTube clip which made reference to switching lockers off when winching.

There was a thread here or on another patrol forum, with a short promotional video clip. It featured a land cruiser crossing a muddy tidal Creek. They got stuck crossing, then right on cue the tide started to come in. Lots of drama, swearing etc for the camera. The vehicle snatching then rolled as it tried to snatch. The promo video ended there. I believe it is a TV series.

Anyway, they have other short videos too. In one, the driver was heard to mention turning off the lockers while winching - presumably whilst in neutral. I am guessing they would be talking about the extra drag via the driveline (front wheels, back through locked diff to the transfer case)

Whilst they said this, I noticed straight after they had the locker on as one wheel popped into the air during winching. / edit: not quite true, they used the other vehicle as an anchor, and had started to use it as a tow vehicle by this time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hueK...e_gdata_player

Starting just after 4 minutes for the comment.