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Eaton eLocker for D60 - Any updates on the "2nd Design"??

Greg72

Greg72

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I've been waiting patiently for the D60 version of the Eaton eLocker to come out....

Then, when it finally did I heard horror stories about massive failures and basically a "recall" by Eaton to deal with a problematic design flaw. The last I'd heard was that the locker had been re-designed and was in testing and was expected to be coming out in around the June 2007 timeframe.

Has anyone got any updates, or news about it's availability?


I just got spanked pretty hard by the trails at Rausch Creek over the weekend, so it's time for a selectable front locker (duh!). :D



:usaflag:
 
Where's the pics of that trip????

I am keeping my eyes out for this info also, I think it would be the hot set up....
 
I ordered one from 4 Wheel Parts about a month ago and still haven't received it. I didn't know about the problems and redesign and was somewhat surprised when they said it was brand new and were waiting for the first shipments. It'll probably another two weeks before I get it, according to my latest info.

We'll see what happens.
 
Got any links to problems people have had with it?

Results I had seen otherwise had been 100% positive. Seems odd only a D60 application would have a problem.
 
dyeager535 said:
Got any links to problems people have had with it?

Results I had seen otherwise had been 100% positive. Seems odd only a D60 application would have a problem.
Click to expand...


Here's a link to my buddy Nate's issues with the eLocker (from the NorCal Big Dawgs forum)

http://www.norcalbigdawgs.net/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=10279&highlight=elocker

Photos of the failure are here:

http://www.norcalbigdawgs.net/Gallery/album200


One teaser shot...

2007_0106image0004.sized.jpg
 
Still sounds weird. Eaton is redesigning, but why would there be anything inherently different between this one, and say the 14SF design?

Perhaps it's how they are used...odd is all I can say.
 
The 10b/14sf design and the D44/D60 design are quite different. About the only thing they have in common is that they engage using an electromagnet. The original e-locker for the 14sf was a "pin" design. The 10b unit is identical except for size. Due to space constraints in the D44 and D60 housings they couldn't use this design - they needed to move the magnet over to the other side (it is on the ring gear side in the 14sf/10b apps). The "collar" design is what they came up with, but there was apparently a design flaw that would cause failures. So, it is being redesigned to fis the problems, and of course the new design needs to be thoroughly tested to ensure Eaton isn't forced to pay refunds and scrap a bunch of them. This all takes time.

Here's a link to an install PDF. The first page shows an exploded view of both types: http://www.eatonperformance.com/PDFs/ELocker%20Instructions%20Revised%207-28-04.pdf
 
Sounds like you have a pretty thorough understanding of the issue and design.... have you heard any scuttlebutt about when the new ones are going to be available? Are they testing at this point, or not even that far along???? :dunno:

This is the locker I really want, once they get the design corrected.
 
Greg72 said:
Sounds like you have a pretty thorough understanding of the issue and design.... have you heard any scuttlebutt about when the new ones are going to be available? Are they testing at this point, or not even that far along???? :dunno:

This is the locker I really want, once they get the design corrected.
Click to expand...

I really don't know when they are going to re-release the Dana 44/60 versions. I do know that the pin-type ones I have work great and seem to be super reliable. Hopefully the ones for the Dana axles will be equally as good when they rerelease them. What I would do is go to traction.eaton.com and ask them when they plan on shipping the redesigned units.
 
Well, I just talked to a customer service rep at Eaton to get little more information. According to Eaton they did do a fairly extensive redesign on the product but I didn't get all the details on that. They are starting to manufacture again and will begin shipping to clear the back orders in about 2 weeks. It looks like it may take only a week or two to clear the backlog and then there should be some inventory shipments to various distributors so we'll see.
 
Good News..... thanks for the G2.

I've always felt that the simplicity of an electric actuator is the way to go since I don't have OBA (and don't really want it), but I got spooked after hearing about the problems Eaton had on those 1st units.

Being the guinea pig on a $900 locker is not how I like to play the game.



:usaflag:
 
No problem. I like the ELocker concept, too.

I'm not sure how comfortable I am on being a guinea pig on the next design but I'll assume they learned something and the next generation is going to be better. As far as the $900 part goes, check this out. Cheapest price I've found.

I'll let you know when I finally get mine.
 
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