Northern Tracks Forum

Performance Forums => Drivetrain => Topic started by: bigbud on May 08, 2011, 12:02:39 am

Title: air locker
Post by: bigbud on May 08, 2011, 12:02:39 am
has any one ever put an air locker in their differrential in a bombadier,and did it work in the cold weather?
Title: Re: air locker
Post by: the old trucker on May 08, 2011, 04:07:48 am

   Bigbud I think it would work OK as long as you want go straight. I guess you'd have to squeeze a compressor in the engine area to run off the motor. Some big trucks have a four wheel lockup system that work good. Only problem I think you'll have is justifying the cost for the amount of time you'll use it. Are there different models for different diffs ??
                                                                                      OT.
Title: Re: air locker
Post by: dpaulson on May 08, 2011, 12:50:52 pm
I was doing some reading and it seems that may not shift until the diff oil is warmed up.  Possibly the use of synthetic oil would be beneficial.  I have to pull my diff out to change pinion and ring gear to a different ratio anyway as well as new seals and bearings.  It would be the time to try it if I decide.
Title: Re: air locker
Post by: the old trucker on May 08, 2011, 06:55:50 pm

   Dave what gears are in it now & is it a stock diff ? Thinking about putting in 3:90 or 4:11 ??
Title: Re: air locker
Post by: dpaulson on May 08, 2011, 08:01:58 pm
A ford 9" was installed in it prior to me purchasing it. I'm missing about 20% in rpm's.  I'm thinking that it's about 3.5. I haven't pull it out yet.  I haven't decided what I should put in yet.  I can either get 4.11 or 4.30 or a 4.56.  I was told that factory gearing in those years was 4.11 and later years were 4.56.  I don't know if  the 4.56 came out when the 318 auto was standard issue or not.  KPM had a bomber with posi and he said that it was real good so I'm thinking that  the air locker diff could be the ticket.
Title: Re: air locker
Post by: the old trucker on May 09, 2011, 07:40:19 am

  Dave I have a diff from a metal bomber that looks stock. I had it apart & it has 4.89's in it. Mike's 57 has the same gears in his. We have 3 other diffs from metal bombers that are original but never had them apart yet.
  My diff has stock 4.11's in it. I always thought the metal bombers came stock with the 4.89's. I know I can't put the diff from a metal bomber in my woody without changing the sprockets. Maybe someone can straighten us out.
                                                                       OT.
Title: Re: air locker
Post by: bigbud on May 09, 2011, 12:28:19 pm
what does it matter if it s a stock diff? mine has a dana 60 semi float with 456s,seems to be geared nice,more of a puller than a racer,tons of torque,.  the air locker (arb) operates between 80-110 psi so cold diff might be an issue.will crown and pinion from dana 60 semi float fit in to a dana 60 full float.will be putting the full float in this summer.i think the 489s would be to low,411s would be nice if you dont pull huge loads. the compressor is very small it will fit in the front or floor.the locker lets you choose between locked diff or unlocked diff by flipping a switch,so not turning is not an issue ..
Title: Re: air locker
Post by: bigbud on May 09, 2011, 12:32:23 pm
the compressor is a 12 volt electric ,so i dont need to hook a compressor to the engine,ARB makes air lockers for almost every diff made-check out their website   arbairlocker   
Title: Re: air locker
Post by: bigbud on May 09, 2011, 12:36:58 pm
i use my bomber for winter fishing ,so its a tax write off,if the locker saves me from walking home once,then it paid for itself. it will cost 1200 for the air locker.approx
Title: Re: air locker
Post by: bigbud on May 09, 2011, 12:49:32 pm
dave ,did you check oxbow tire for a price on the locker.they are very reasonable,if you find a good price let me know
Title: Re: air locker
Post by: dpaulson on May 09, 2011, 12:58:14 pm
Will do.
Title: Re: air locker
Post by: bigbud on May 10, 2011, 12:38:14 pm
hey dave what do you have for an engine,tranny.
Title: Re: air locker
Post by: dpaulson on May 10, 2011, 12:51:09 pm
I have a 318 with 727 auto.  It goes good down a packed snowmobile trail, but it really struggles going across fields.  I'm hoping to change that for next winter.
Title: Re: air locker
Post by: dpaulson on May 10, 2011, 07:42:45 pm
Hey Bigbud,  do you have a tach and speedo in yours?  What kind of rpm do you get at 25 mph?
Title: Re: air locker
Post by: dpaulson on May 14, 2011, 04:31:34 pm
Pulled the differential out today.  It is a Chrysler 8 3/4".  with 4.1 gears, so adding 20% I should need about a 4.89.  I cannot find a diff lock for it, so I may look for a different diff. that I can get a locker for. Any suggestions of what I should look for?
Title: Re: air locker
Post by: dpaulson on May 14, 2011, 07:26:03 pm
What vehicles have a dana 44?  It looks like the dana may be easier to get different gearing and different types of locks or limited slip.  There is another diff lock made by Ox.  This locker uses a cable to shift in/out.   Might be better than the air locker for air leakes etc.
Title: Re: air locker
Post by: the old trucker on May 15, 2011, 04:38:58 am

   Boys....here is a clip of durability of two different lockers. Thought you might like to see it.

    http://youtu.be/Z0WssPvl1Xc

 
Title: Re: air locker
Post by: the old trucker on May 15, 2011, 07:53:59 am
Pulled the differential out today.  It is a Chrysler 8 3/4".  with 4.1 gears, so adding 20% I should need about a 4.89.  I cannot find a diff lock for it, so I may look for a different diff. that I can get a locker for. Any suggestions of what I should look for?


   Dave would your 4.11 gears fit in my case ??? Cranman think this would work. Dave if you go with something else, would you consider selling the carrier if it fits in my diff case ?????? I have a friend driving home from Edmondton soon. Below are a couple of pics of my diff.

http://i333.photobucket.com/albums/m366/theoldtrucker/DSCF0393.jpg

http://i333.photobucket.com/albums/m366/theoldtrucker/DSCF0403.jpg


Title: Re: air locker
Post by: dpaulson on May 15, 2011, 08:01:34 am
It looks really close, but mine axles have 30 splines.  There are 3 types of Chrysler 8.75.  Mine is the 741 casting, using a 1-3/8 dia pinion. There is a 742 and a 489 case which have different dia pinions.
Title: Re: air locker
Post by: bigbud on May 17, 2011, 11:04:50 am
the dana 60 is a good diff for bombers,tough as nails,if possible get a full float, in regards to other lockers and posi traks they are junk,seen them blow up to many times,centrifugal posi s dont stand up  the air locker can use a stainless steel braided line so it wont leak if installed correctly. the dana 44 is just to small for the bombers
Title: Re: air locker
Post by: kpm on May 23, 2011, 10:03:58 am
the dana 60 posi...gear 4.56....in the 71 wide was real good...had stock 318 ind with 3 spd std.
....little hard to turn on a slick road(wants to go straight)...though once on the lake or pack trail steers fine..
              kpm
Title: Re: air locker
Post by: the old trucker on May 26, 2011, 07:49:48 am

  Dave I picked up my old diff parts yesterday & was talking about (the 59 New Build) bomber. Glen has rebuilt a V6 that is posted in his rebuild. He has 4.88 gears & thinks they are too slow. After talking to the fellow that was doing his diff, he suggested that Glen use an overdrive transmission. He says in drive it will be 1 to 1 ratio & overdrive is there when he wants to use it.
   I don't understand much about it but it sounds like it may be a good setup. For me he said to get an AOD trans with the flywheel out of a Ford Crown Vic. It should bolt to my 300 Ford. I don't know of this will be any help for you.

                                              OT.
Title: Re: air locker
Post by: kpm on May 26, 2011, 08:19:54 am
the overdrive trannys will not hold up in a bombardier....for any of the 3 speed automatics a shift kit is a strong IMPROVEMENT!!
                                    KPM
Title: Re: air locker
Post by: dpaulson on May 26, 2011, 08:28:23 am
I have thought the 350 motor/ transmission in my old 93 chevy 1/2 would be a good combination. 350 have good horsepower and the 4 spd auto with od would give you that option when your on a good hard pack road.  I just didn't want to go that route just yet being that my 318 and 727 tranny are pretty good.  Maybe the 4.56 gears are alright in an industrial engine ( I understand that they have better low end torque), but I believe that my 318 came out of a 1/2 ton truck and it needs some rpm's to produce horsepower.  I ran across a horsepower curve chart once (I haven't been able to find it since) and if I remember the hp at 2500 rpm is 120-130. Peek Hp (230) is at 4400 rpm.  When breaking trail, I'm lucky to get 2500 rpm, and will pull down to 2000.  Under 2000 rpm it really pulls down fast then  where I need to shift to first gear.  I can get all kinds on rpm in 1st gear, but speed is too slow that I rub snow along the belly pan which is getting close to being hung up and stuck.
Title: Re: air locker
Post by: the old trucker on May 26, 2011, 01:13:02 pm
the overdrive trannys will not hold up in a bombardier....for any of the 3 speed automatics a shift kit is a strong IMPROVEMENT!!
                                    KPM

   So....Kpm do I have a good combination in my machine ??? It's a 300 6 cylinder Ford with a C6 trans. the original diff is 4.11. I know very little about this... That's why I ask.
       
                             OT.
Title: Re: air locker
Post by: kpm on May 26, 2011, 02:23:33 pm
OT..the 300 ford is know for it's durability and low end torque...the c6..is one of the strongest trannys,if not the strongest ...tranny ford built....the 4.11 gears ...with this combination in your wooden should provide lots of power,and a top end speed of about 40 miles an hour...
                       kpm
Title: Re: air locker
Post by: the old trucker on May 26, 2011, 02:46:56 pm

   Thanks KPM. At least it sounds like I'm doing something right.   

                   OT.
Title: Re: air locker
Post by: dpaulson on May 26, 2011, 03:46:59 pm
I agree with KPM.  The 300 puts out 170hp at 3800 rpm.  The wooden machines weigh only 3400 lbs and having the same track and ski area as my r18 at 4600 lbs is a big advantage that you have.