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Manual Hubs

Chief Brody

Chief Brody

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Is there a trick to "tuning" manual hubs so you can lock and unloack them by hand?

My oem Spicers require pliers and the sdrivers side is stuck in LOCK position.

Thought I'd take them apart tomorrow, would love to get them smooth enough to turn by hand :dunno:
 
I cleaned them when I put them in....they have never been used...

maybe I did something wrong :dunno:
 
also can't believe you can't buy just one bushing...
 
Sometimes just backing the truck up or pulling forward a few feet relieves the binding so the knob will turn easier--I had to use pliers on my hubs on my older trucks (71 GMC and 72 K5) once in a while to get them to turn..and they were assembled correctly and well greased--they just liked to bind up once in a while..
I recall a "slug" tool some company made that fit in the hub knob, kind of like a locking lug nut "key",so iced up hubs could be locked or unlocked easier with gloved or bare hands.....but I've read on the 4wd instructions on the sun visor to "never use excess force or tools to turn the hub lock"...in a perfect world maybe!..:rolleyes:..
 
I've moved it every way and can't get it to turn...

wish I could find one of those keys though
 
Do you have a part time kit in your NP-203?...if not I dont think you should run locking hubs,they had drive slugs instead originally..without being able to put it in 2wd,the hubs wont want to unlock most likely..

You might be able to buy a bushing from a dealer still--or maybe "HELP" or Dorman reproduces them now...might even be able to find a flanged bronze bushing at a good hardware store or bearing supply place..

I have used roll pins instead of cotter keys on some things--but usually regret it when it comes to removing them later...they'll never break though...

I have a NP-203 in my shed that has sat there probably 20 years,I think the chain was loose in it,it would "bang" if you hit the gas fast from a stop--I still have the shifter too,not sure if every trinket that goes with it is still there or not...I only kept it in case I needed the yokes,or wanted to make a doubler someday..dont see that day coming any time soon !..:doah:
 
Don't pack them with grease, btw.

When cold/nasty, I use a piece of PVC tee with notches cut in the end...

T.JPG

I think it's 1.5" pipe whose OD matches the ID of the hub, but I could be wrong.

Anyway, the tee part forms a handle and you get lots of torque and don't stub your fingertips in the cold/mud.

Total wussout, I know, but I love it, keep it in the glovebox.

-- A
 
diesel4me said:
Do you have a part time kit in your NP-203?...if not I dont think you should run locking hubs,
Click to expand...

yep, had the MileMarker installed when I had the transfer case rebuilt.
 
dremu said:
Don't pack them with grease, btw.

-- A
Click to expand...

I believe I unknowingly made that mistake...I figured the more grease the better....guess I'll go in and remove some of it and see.
 
I have always greased the hubs on my trucks,but I used hi temp wheel bearing grease,the red Drydene stuff or Wolf's head disc brake wheel bearing grease,which isn't as thick as chassis lube..and just enough to coat the splines and inner parts,not packed full either..anything left ungreased here turns to iron oxide too fast...I tried white lube once,it sucks,it turns hard and acts more like glue than grease..maybe some synthetic or silicone based lube would work OK..
 
Well that was part of the problem...that center piece hat goes on the splines I had to hammer out...it was stuck...put another one in and smooth as butter....I can lock and unlock it with my fingers

So...everything's working now....4 wheel drive does not like pavement...
 
Does the axle end supposed to have play in and out and up and down when the manual hub parts are removed?
:dunno:
 
Chief Brody said:
So...everything's working now....4 wheel drive does not like pavement...
Click to expand...

Depending on if your T-case really has the part-time kit, bypassing the center, yeah, it'll tear the tires a bit. Unlocked hubs are your friend. :)

-- A
 
I'm not likely to have a real need for 4WD but I just wanted to know that it was there and was working
 
Spicer lock outs suck. They may be the strongest, but they also require you to be the strongest to turn them.

Martin
 
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