Lunchbox locker problems in cold weather

[Evan]

If it's cold out, (10 F or lower) my rear Lockrite locker will often not engage when I'm just starting out in the morning. The driveline will just spin, sometimes with a faint popping noise in the rear. When this happens, I have to put it into reverse for a second, or feather the throttle to get it to engage. Then once I drive about a mile it's just fine. I'm almost sure it's due to the gear oil being so thick in the cold that it's stopping the drivers from engaging with the couplers by getting in between them. I'm running 80w90. For positive engagement you need some resistance from the shafts, so you need some natural force aside from the crosspin to push the drivers outward. That's why the little springs are in there...but I don't think they have the balls to overcome 0 F gear oil.

Does anyone else have this problem?

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

I never once had a problem like that in the 2 years I ran my lockright. It's not uncommon for it to get below -20 Celsius here in the winter either. I was running 80w90 in mine aswell.

 

[Evan]

I never once had a problem like that in the 2 years I ran my lockright. It's not uncommon for it to get below -20 Celsius here in the winter either. I was running 80w90 in mine aswell.

That's interesting. The couple times it was -20 here this winter it was a royal PITA for me to get going. Had a long line of cars behind me at the first light, while I was trying to get the damn thing to engage. The only major difference between our trucks is that you have a auto and I have a manual.

 

[97BlackBetty]

I dont have that problem with my aussie, same idea and design. If you havent yet, you may want to pull the diff cover to make sure everything is intact i.e. springs and pins. Thats the only reason I can see for it not engageing.

 

[Evan]

I dont have that problem with my aussie, same idea and design. If you havent yet, you may want to pull the diff cover to make sure everything is intact i.e. springs and pins. Thats the only reason I can see for it not engageing.

Everything looks ok. I'll be going to an ARB soon, but was just curious if anyone else had this problem.

 

[Hahnsb2]

Try synthetic oil.

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

Or maybe try adding a friction modifier?

 

[Evan]

Those are both good ideas. Maybe my thrust washers are too thin, causing mine to be a little more tempermental than others.

 

[Mac]

Evan,
I'm about 10 miles east of you and never had problems but I have the No-Slip version and never had a problem. I do have a auto and have to back up to get out to the road, truck sits out in all the nasty weather. Out by Lake Emily.
Dave

 

[Evan]

Evan,
I'm about 10 miles east of you and never had problems but I have the No-Slip version and never had a problem. I do have a auto and have to back up to get out to the road, truck sits out in all the nasty weather. Out by Lake Emily.
Dave

We still need to get together for some Mustang talk.

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

Did you ever measure the space between the couple halves on lock right? Maybe they are beyond spec.

 

[Will]

Did you ever measure the space between the couple halves on lock right? Maybe they are beyond spec.

Yep, that's what I think. I can't find the little slip of paper they put in mine that said what the measurment should be. Mine was well within it and seven years and never had that issue--or any other.

 

[Evan]

Yep, that's what I think. I can't find the little slip of paper they put in mine that said what the measurment should be. Mine was well within it and seven years and never had that issue--or any other.

So could that cause a locker to not engage only when real cold?

I never checked that spec.

I was thinking it could be an issue with a manual. Because it seems to always start out fine, but then when I put the clutch in and coast around a corner, then re-engage...the problem occurs. An auto never "coasts" right? In other words there is always some load on the driveline.

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

Wills rig is a 5spd tho

 

[Will]

So could that cause a locker to not engage only when real cold?

Do you have that paper in your manual? Mine was loose in there so more than likely it was something they discovered after they finalized the booklet.

Anyway, that clearance must cause a problem so it's probable that the cold makes it show up more readily.

The pins might be getting a little cocked in there if they come too far out of one side--when it's cold the axle lube is less able to let them slip back into their bore. I know people have the springs shear off and I'm betting that happens on a really whipped set of washers. But I'm no expert--I usually only get good at things when they fail on me and force me to spend long periods of time with them. If I were you though, I would get that thing apart and call Richmond to find out what the measurement should be if you need to. I would be glad to know what it is so we can pass it along because we've talked about this with people that have sheared the pins.