L300 front locking differential solution, $300!

Post by **Growlerbearnz** » Sun Feb 21, 2016 2:20 pm

huh. I sent

"1991 Mitsubishi Delica P25W (chassis number P25W-0514654)"

and received the reply

"OK, Can you send me the FULL MMC model code. Similar to P25W-****"

No paypal request yet- but it is only just Monday morning there now.

lrp374 · Post by **lrp374** » Sun Feb 21, 2016 4:55 pm

I sent a picture of the info below the driver's seat which gives them everything.

eegii1982 · Post by **eegii1982** » Tue Feb 23, 2016 12:46 am

ive got email today, from Lokka, they said:

OK,
Sorry but this vehicle has a 28 spline inner axle.
The Lokka will not fit this one.
It must be 25 Spline.

Sorry
JD

At this stage, it's not on the schedule to be done. But if there was a group of 20+ we may be able to push it through to manufacturing. Otherwise, not enough interest at the moment.

Cheers

Post by **Growlerbearnz** » Tue Feb 23, 2016 5:45 pm

Stink! Looks like axle part numbers changed in March 1994. I guess now we know what changed.

lrp374 · Post by **lrp374** » Sat Apr 09, 2016 5:30 pm

Anybody had contact with these guys to see how they are progressing?

Post by **Growlerbearnz** » Sat Apr 09, 2016 7:56 pm

I emailed them about a week ago (below). Seems they've had an issue with the machine that makes the bits. Customer relations isn't their strong point I guess- if it were me, I would have emailed everyone who's paid for one to let them know about the delay.

---------------
30 march
Morning JD,
How are those Lokkas for L300/Delicas coming along? It's been a bit more than a couple of weeks since I last heard from you- just checking I haven't missed anything.
Cheers!
Grant

-----------------

31 March
Hi Grant,
Yes, we had a machine dump the program, so had to re-write it. They're about a week away, I'll let you know when shipping.
Cheers

winelover · Post by **winelover** » Tue Apr 12, 2016 11:19 am

I sent them $$ upfront as well, and have been patiently sitting on my hands waiting. They have been, IHMO, at least decent about responding to any requests for info. Time will tell, but I am excited to have a front locker.

lrp374 · Post by **lrp374** » Mon Apr 18, 2016 7:45 pm

I got notification today they are ready to ship!! Then I got notification from the shipper I can trace it. Great!!

Post by **Growlerbearnz** » Mon Apr 18, 2016 10:49 pm

Mine actually arrived yesterday, it's a lovely piece of engineering. The instructions are a bit randomly laid out, with the captions under a couple of the pictures transposed- which confused the hell out of me. Also, it's written by Australians trying to speak American, so you're going to have to look up some of the terms ("third member" means "differential housing").

Of course, today when I went to install it (while taking photos for a how-to post) I noticed this:

: coolant.jpg (49.05 KiB) Viewed 8150 times

Pretty sure my alternator isn't supposed to be leaking coolant, and all the usual suspects (radiator, overflow, hoses) are nice and dry. After a bit of investigation with a mirror on a stick I discovered that the water pump is pissing coolant out its weep hole. Not happy- it's only 40,000km old, and an allegedly high-quality GMB pump. So I have that to fix before starting on the Lokka install. Still, pulling the front diff will be easier with the radiator out of the way, I guess.

Post by **thelazygreenfox** » Tue Apr 19, 2016 6:44 am

GB & IRP
Can't wait to hear your stories after installing the locker.

GB
Too bad your WP is leaking

. I've left the original (low miileage) WP in my delica when I changed belts. "If it ain't leaking or squeaking don't change it."
MD

Post by **Growlerbearnz** » Fri Apr 22, 2016 12:22 am

Started installing the Lokka today. I'll do a full writeup/how-to once I manage to finish it, but for now I've run into a couple of issues:

The two axle gears in the kit are different to each other, and the instructions confirm that this is correct. They expect one axle to have a circlip and one not- but both my axles have circlips. I've emailed Lokka to ask for clarification about which axle gear goes where.

: gears.jpg (488.5 KiB) Viewed 8140 times

There appears to be a machining fault- the spacers have sharp edges, but the axle gears have a nice radius, which means the spacers don't sit flat as the sharp edge catches on the radius.

: sharp edge.jpg (48.27 KiB) Viewed 8140 times

: sitsup.JPG (46 KiB) Viewed 8140 times

: Diagram.jpg (434.6 KiB) Viewed 8140 times

This didn't give enough clearance for me to install my cross pin, so I fixed it (and ruined my warranty, probably) by grinding off the sharp edge on the spacers.

: Chamfer.jpg (46.73 KiB) Viewed 8140 times

: sitis flat.JPG (299.69 KiB) Viewed 8140 times

The thing that's really got me stuck is that it appears my front diff has been rebuilt at some time, and larger shims installed to compensate for gear wear. I have nowhere near enough clearance for the Lokka to work correctly, so I've put everything back together and ordered a shim kit (mitsubishi part number MB185519) as well as a new cross pin (MB241909). I tried grinding down my existing shims but they're super hard.

I'll try again once the shim kit arrives.

winelover · Post by **winelover** » Sun Apr 24, 2016 11:09 pm

Still waiting for mine, so thanks for the write up and the headsup to watch some of the parts. Good luck with yours!

lrp374 · Post by **lrp374** » Fri Nov 11, 2016 10:08 am

I'm ready to install the Lokka next week. When I took it out of the box to review the install ( and Growler's great write up ) I found it almost impossible to get the spacers on and off. I remember they were tight when I opened the box several months ago to see where the spacer needs to be modified but now they are really tight. They have been in my house all this time so it's not rust or anything as they look just like they did when I got them. My questions are:
1. How tight should they be?

2. Best method to make them fit?

Thanks
Larry

Post by **Growlerbearnz** » Fri Nov 11, 2016 1:11 pm

Mine were really tight, more so on the long/deep side. From memory the spacer went on the shallow side gear ok, but I used a vice to fit the other one.

If they go on even a tiny bit crooked they jam up. A bit of oil when fitting should help them go on straight.

lrp374 · Post by **lrp374** » Mon Nov 21, 2016 7:34 pm

Well the Lokka is really noticeable in 4X4. I knew it would affect the steering but it really surprised me how the much. Anyone got to give it a real test yet?

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