Power Wagon Registry

I am sure this has been covered, what seems be the quickest and easy way to get lockers to engage. I have a 2017 with about 5000 miles on it, I have engaged rear numerous times the front a few, sometimes slow sometimes not. Rolling, setting still, trans in gear or not. Thanks

the best way I have found for my 14 is to make figure 8 type turns. Usually about halfway through the figure 8 lockers kick on. I also really struggled to get the locker to engage a few thousand miles after ownership. I drained all the fluid out of the diffs and cleaned the magnets for the lockers, they were covered in metal from being a new truck and breaking in. Also filled with Amsoil fluid.

- figure 8 or S turns as stated above
- use them regularly. This tends to make it easier to engage them, so whenever you can safely do it you should.
- when you change your diff fluid, take a Q-tip and wipe any metal flakes off the sensor magnet inside the diff. Do a search on the forum, there is a good writeup on this.
- installing a Filter Mag is probably a good idea. I did it in both diffs and think it will generally help the diffs survive longer and the lockers to engage more easily.
- keep your SmartBar dry. This is also covered in other threads. Some dielectric grease inside or some fluid film will help a lot. When moisture gets inside it kinda stops working.

I have had the best luck getting the lockers to wake up by switching between forward and reverse gear. If it doesn't work, drive a little farther down the trail any try again until it goes. This method is also handy when you don't have room for S-turns.


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Hardwire

After doing some testing both in soft grass and with the truck on jack stands, I now know exactly how the system works.

Apparently my replies need moderator approval...that's interesting. Anyways, when you turn your knob to lock either rear or both front/rear it's it a lock signal, it's more of a lock request. The computer is probably waiting for the splines to align, or else it's waiting for differential rates of rotation between axle shafts. Either or, or WILL NOT lock up until one wheel starts rotating at a diffeeent rate.

When I had the truck on soft grass, I couldn't get the front to engage. I did forward, reverse, some slight turns, all the standard stuff and it wouldnt lock up. Thinking there might be something wrong I put the truck on jackstands and put the 4WD system through its paces. With the truck resting on its axles and the wheels free to turn, I engaged the lockers. They will not typically engage while torque and rotation are equally distributed as if we're an open diff, BUT the minite that one wheel encounters resistance and slows, the locker instantly clutches the 3rd member, you can hear and fee it click-in and the flashing light goes away.

So this is what my theory is... they're not really supposed to "lock" when you turn the switch. They're really in stand by mode while it's flashing, waiting for that wheel slippage (either for spline alignment or some other reason). So, when you want the traction of the locker, it will (should) engage at the first sign of slippage, but not likely prior to that point. If you feel the need to do the S-turns or write tie Name in the mud just to get a locked indication, knock yourself out, but from what I can tell it's more of a hands-free system.

It's the first 3 posts, after that your good to go! We have gotten spam bursts in the past and still get them from time to time. This is why we started doing the first 3 approval requirements. Make another post and you will be set.

Yeah, I smoked 'em, sometimes you just gotta #sendit

Do I need lockers for this?

Yes, since the first 3 obstacles are nearly vertical, off camber paths. If you can get through those, it should be smooth sailing afterwards...

Yeah, I smoked 'em, sometimes you just gotta #sendit

MikeKey wrote:Do I need lockers for this?

A manufacturer wouldn't give us anything we didn't need. Yes, lockers required.

Pit Slave wrote:Yes, since the first 3 obstacles are nearly vertical, off camber paths. If you can get through those, it should be smooth sailing afterwards...

Yeah, I smoked 'em, sometimes you just gotta #sendit

Because that's the top of the mountain........