Okay, so to make this easy, this is the let me share the the letter I recently sent to Harrop Engieneering reagrdingt the front and rear lockers fitter to my 76 series crusier.
In saying that, I still think theyre a good locker. I'm yet to meet someone that has had airlockers installed for longet than two years and not had an issue!
To whom it may concern.
I’m just sending this letter to inform you, Harrop, of the unbelievable troubles I have had with my two sets of Eaton E-lockers, which I now feel is the installers fault, and not the product.
Let me assure you I did my home work before opting to install two Eaton e-lockers into my 2010 Landcruiser 76 series Wagon. Not a bad word is to be found when researching your product. Forum after forum, Facebook pages, 4x4 blogs, not a bad word written about the locker.
Let me tell you my storey so far. I opted to have an Opposite Lock store in Penrith NSW install my two new Eaton E-lockers. This happened early 2014.
Late October 2014 early November was the start of the dramas. Had not long returned from a trip, and the next day while reversing out of my driveway I came to a sudden stop. Long storey short, I removed the axles, dropped the tailshaft and removed diff. To my surprise I found a broken spider gear axle. The internal housing of diff has a huge score mark that had to be ground smooth, indicating this happened at speed. It just wasn’t until I stopped in driveway, broken pin has slid out and jammed the crown and pinion.
Opposite Lock Penrith weren’t particularly helpful, and eventually the centre was sent to
you guys in Melbourne where it received a full rebuild under warranty.
(I’m sure you guys have a record of this). I must mention this left me without a car or means of travel for nearly three weeks.
During the next two months, I was never particularly happy at the routing of the rear diff electrical wires, I often noticed the plug undone, and there was no give on housing, plug sitting hard upright on the housing. Opposite Locks answer to this was to install a cable tie spreading the two wires on both male and female plug sections, holding plug together. I feel this is a little rough.
Christmas day 2014 was my next event. Be it related to locker failure or not, my rear right short axle broke at the drive flange while travelling at 110km/h on free way.
To Opposite locks defence, they eventually did source me another axle, as they to, agreed it seemed odd my diff would fail then axle break not long after.
February was next major issue. While travelling in 4wd high range, my front locker decided to lock its self, scary stuff attempting a gravel corner at some speed with front engaged.
Drove rest of trip in 2wd as it was felt safer than a randomly locking front end. It then went back to Opposite Lock Penrith, who essentially didn’t believe me. Fortunately one of their mechanics over heard, took it for a test drive in a near by grassed area and had same thing happen to him.
They finally agreed to pull locker out and have a look. I’m not entirely sure of outcome, as they fitted another centre and I continued on my way. I’m sure you probably know about this one aswell. Storey has it magnet was melted or something. It was defintyl not caused by wrong oil, as this was double checked before being changed.
So I’m now at two out of two lockers failed and replaced. I must insist you realise that this is an extremely expensive vehicle, and is meticulously well looked after, and is used for touring. Lockers are just installed for the occasional tough section and peace of mind. I feel having two fail is ridiculous.
Today I noticed while on a slippery surface, one wheel spinning, I flicked on rear locker and to my disbelief the other wheel didn’t spin. I then jacked both wheels up, flicked locker on and double checked, no locked diff.
I drove to Opposite Lock Penrith to see if they could shed some light on the situation. They told me to check power. I said fuse was fine, and light on switch was coming on. I then insisted I believe problem is in the poorly mounted electrical connector.
After a short chat, Mike the guy I was dealing with essentially wiped his hands clean. I bought up I was disappointed at all the issues I have had since having lockers fitted. He then tried to turn blame onto me, insisting I had engaged lockers at high speed, causing front issues and that somehow the rear must have been my fault, as I’m the only one who has issues.
I then went home, and gently pried electrical connector apart. Used a multi meter to find there was indeed power at connector when switch is on.
I pray that there is just a connection issue with the connector. If not it looks like something else has gone wrong with my rear diff.
Just to clarify, I’m a trade qualified Fitter Machinist, I have both excellent mechanical and electrical aptitude. I know these issues seem left field, and I’m confident its installer related not product related.
I honestly think the Eaton E-locker is a terrific product, but it’s hard to recommend a product when I have had so many difficulties.
I genuinely thing that Opposite Lock are to blame here, the running of the wires is nothing short of slack and lazy. There lack of product knowledge combined with there “it’s your fault” attitude really gives you guys a bad name. That seems a real shame.
Fingers crossed my current problem is a small electrical one. But I’m now at a loss on what to do if its locker related not electrical. I don’t think Opposite Lock Penrith is capable of sorting it out. Do you recommend another dealer in the Penrith or Hawkesbury area to do what I would suggest is warranty work?
I appreciate your time in reading my concerns. I hope to hear back. And maybe you guys can shed some light on my horrific run with the Eaton E-l
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