Air lockers vs. electric lockers

The one thing I like about the OX is that you can lock it with the bolt.
In 17-18 years of owning 3 different types of lockers I've never had a locker fail on the trail. That bolt crutch would not make me even consider an Ox. If their locking mechanisms were more reliable they wouldn't need to keep pushing that as a good thing.
 
In 17-18 years of owning 3 different types of lockers I've never had a locker fail on the trail. That bolt crutch would not make me even consider an Ox. If their locking mechanisms were more reliable they wouldn't need to keep pushing that as a good thing.

Well maybe you haven't but in a previous post suicideking lost his compressor. So it has nothing to do with the internals of the locker. If when I burnt my air line and if I didn't have a repair kit with me and needed my rear locked I could have locked it manually.
It's a nice feature IMO.
 
So you can remember to carry the Ox backup bolt but you couldn't as easily remember to carry ARB's quick spice repair kit that literally takes seconds to install?
 
So you can remember to carry the Ox backup bolt but you couldn't as easily remember to carry ARB's quick spice repair kit that literally takes seconds to install?

And if your air compressor takes a dump what then? Jerry we can debate this til the cows come home. It's a nice features IMO but no OX lockers aren't on the top of my list. You don't like OX and that is fine.
 
I have two compressors and if either fails the other can drive either or both lockers by itself. A T-fitting or move the air hose and you're operational.
 
Great for you that you have 2 air compressors. But if for SOME reason beyond your control you either lost air or if you have the electrical option your switches aren't working being able to manually lock the locker IMO is a nice feature.

And I gunna remove my ARB's because of this? Nope I'm not but it's still a nice option to have for whatever reason where Murphy has intervened. OX makes a locker just like ARB & Yukon and I'm sure there are people who don't like one or the other. They all have their good and bad just like many other things we add to our rigs.
 
i thought i read that an air locker will engage when the button is pushed. some E lockers need to roll an bout 1/2 a turn to allow them to engage. my JK locker is this way, it has to roll to lock up.
 
i thought i read that an air locker will engage when the button is pushed. some E lockers need to roll an bout 1/2 a turn to allow them to engage. my JK locker is this way, it has to roll to lock up.

All lockers need some amount of differential wheel turn to engage.
 
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All lockers need some amount of differential wheel turn to engage.
maybe it was the amount of wheel movement being considered excessive compared to other types of lockers, they writer seemed to think it was enough of a difference to cause mention.
i particularly remember the mention of the JK locker and a couple others being this way.
maybe that was the quote compared to an e locker the air will lock quick enough to call immediate/ instant ?

there was something there that was enough reason to cause mention.
 
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maybe it was the amount of wheel movement being considered excessive compared to other types of lockers, they writer seemed to think it was enough of a difference to cause mention.
i particularly remember the mention of the JK locker and a couple others being this way.
maybe that was the quote compared to an e locker the air will lock quick enough to call immediate/ instant ?

there was something there that was enough reason to cause mention.


There was a video or something that I remember seeing also about it taking time to lock. Here is their newer video with their 4 pinion design and they say it locks up faster.

 
I think this might be what you were talking about.


I thought I would add this information to the thread:



This hyperlink will take you right to 5:52



.... at 5:52 you can see the elocker unlocks and re-lock after backing up. I’m not saying that is necessarily a bad thing because you might want it to unlock after backing up to relieve binding. You just have to be mindful of this when you back up. There are 3 evenly spaced pins on ramps that engage the locker so if you back up more than a third revolution of the tire, it will unlock so you may want to back up even farther to give it a chance to re-lock before you get to the obstacle. Also know that if you are trying to power out of a mud hole, remember that this is happening and you are engaging the locker under high torque.



I thought I had discussed this on this board before, but I can't find it now. So I'll add it to this thread as well.

My Eaton Differentials Owner's Manual says about ELockers "Several designs of ELocker differentials are in production..." and it goes on to talk about three:
Collar style ELocker designs
Collar-style ELockers are easily identified by the three dual ramp surfaces of the ramp plate on the barrel end of the differential case. Rotate the suspended wheel until the differential engages. Engagement should occur within a few degrees of rotation. Engagement will be confirmed with the differential locking the suspended wheel to the wheel remaining on the ground. Further rotation will not occur. The movement of the pushrods can be observed as they slide up the ramps during the engagement operation. The rocker switch should have a constant-on light indicating power is being sent to the relay. Ball-ramp style ELockers are easily identified by the three dual ramp surfaces of the ramp plate on the barrel-end of the differential.

Pin-style ELocker designs
Pin-style ELockers are identified by the actuator on the ring gear end of the differential case. Rotate the suspended wheel until the differential engages. Engagement should occur within a few degrees of rotation and will be shown by the differential locking the suspended wheel with the wheel remaining on the ground. Further rotation will not occur. The engagement of the locking pins may be heard just as the unit locks. The rocker switch should have a constant-on light, indicating power is being sent to the relay. Pin-style ELockers are identifiable by the absence of the barrelend ramp plate. The motion mechanism is contained within the differential case. All pin-style models are 2-pinion designs.

Directing-acting style ELocker designs
Direct-acting style ELockers are easily identified by the solid ring on the barrel-end of the differential case. Upon switching on the ELocker, the unit will activate immediately. Lacking rotation of the axle components, it is possible for the ELocker to require a slight motion of the suspended wheel to engage the locking mechanism. In service, the engagement of the locking mechanism should be transparent to the operator. The rocker switch should have a constant-on light, indicating engagement of the lock mechanism. If the rocker switch light is blinking with the switch in the “on” position, the unit is either in need of a slight wheel rotation to engage, or there is a “fault” in the electrical circuit – likely due to a damaged wire harness or a blown fuse in the harness.

I don't know if all three designs are still in production, but the collar-style sounds like what Jeff has experience with. And the pin-style sounds like it would work more like an ARB or Ox that simply stay engaged until you disengage them (I haven't figured out the Directing-acting version).

So I'm not sure how helpful this is. Maybe you can only get the collar-style now in which case everything said above still always applies. But if you can get the pin-style it might be different. (Looking at the Eaton web site this morning I don't see anything about multiple designs being available)
 
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They are BIG

We caution people all the time about aftermarket diff cover interference with the track bar and gas tank. But this seems to be forgotten about where the Ox Locker is concerned.
 
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All I can comment on is how durable the ARB locker is and as long as you have leak free connections they will work 99% of the time like they are suppose to.

View attachment 204623

I broke teeth off the ring gear and they took out the side cover on the ARB. Yes parts had to be replaced but it still worked after all this. And if there was enough force to break teeth off a Dana 60 ring gear what kind of force was being applied thru the ARB?
You run the AirRock system? Does it integrate any controls into it's system like it does for the swayloc?
 
I don't have any personal experience with ARB lockers but I have two good friends that have both had issues with the seals leaking inside. Perhaps those are just one of the those normal maintenance type things? I have Eatons front & rear and have been really happy with them.
 
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