[srishiva]

Originally Posted by khan_sultan

mmmmmmmm.... should I be doing this or ?

Please do explain on what all can happen (in on/off road) and what are the other possibilities.

Cheers,

From the people who have used it on their Gypsies, did you come across anything that happened ? Isn't there a good number of users of this device ?

[DKG]

Originally Posted by khan_sultan

mmmmmmmm.... should I be doing this or ?

Shahnawaz just use your car and if no precautions are specified in the user manual no need to get too psyched up

Thousands of people have used this on Samurais worldwide, read through forums on any problems they would have encountered

I don't think anyone in India is really qualified to comment on the locker without ever using one. Any discussion on its merits demerits would be pure conjecture

[DHABHAR.BEHRAM]

I agree with you DKG - let's leave it at that for the time being. And Shahnawaz - you can be no need for . Chill man ! As for possibilities, think and you will get. I can see the enthusiasm in you.

Best regards,

Behram Dhabhar

[headers]

Originally Posted by DHABHAR.BEHRAM

Dear Shahnawaz - I studied all your photographs in complete detail and now I know how it works and what all can happen to it. There are other possibilities. Let's see. I will be watching your Gypsy's performance.

@ DHABAR.BEHRAM

Sir, one clarification - How does this gypsy react while on a straight road at a good speed and one turns in? Am talking rally style turns!

Will the locker have enough time to react and let the diff work or will the driver have to be careful?

[DKG]

Originally Posted by DHABHAR.BEHRAM

I can see the enthusiasm in you.

Dear Mr. Dhabar your observation as always is spot on. Isn't that so precious. What Shahnawaz has done is wonderful for the sport and I have no doubt so many will follow. In time I'm sure both you and Shahnawaz will ascertain all the pros and cons of the auto lockers. Until then its a joy that we have a hardcore offroader in the making and many more to join the tribe.

[khan_sultan]

Originally Posted by headers

...How does this gypsy react while on a straight road at a good speed and one turns in? Am talking rally style turns!

Will the locker have enough time to react and let the diff work or will the driver have to be careful?

arrrrreeeee Vikram, why would one want to do 'rally style' turns on a off-road spec Gypsy . I thought you were my well wisher. I for sure am not doing any testing of 'rally style' turns.

jokes apart, the locker works brilliantly and I have driven some 300+ kms now on high/low speeds. Today I tested for speed of 130 in 4th Gear on NICE road.

however, the driver has to be careful on turns and the manual clearly says so. nothing to worry or lose sleep over. Just some 'clunk-clunk' sound and at times some jerks on low speed turns (am talking U turns/90 deg turns)

but rally style turns -- NO way on this locker on my Gypsy :-).

[DHABHAR.BEHRAM]

Dear Shahnawaz - I have downloaded richmond information. Most of it is commercially worded and not of any technical use. If you by any chance have one more set, can you post photographs of both inner and outer "gears" immediately, taken from all angles, especially showing tooth profile. Also, did the kit have 4 pins and 4 springs? What was the OD of the pins? How many coils did the springs have? Please PM me. I am getting into some basic calculations, hence the request.

Best regards,

Behram Dhabhar

[headers]

Originally Posted by khan_sultan

arrrrreeeee Vikram, why would one want to do 'rally style' turns on a off-road spec Gypsy . I thought you were my well wisher. I for sure am not doing any testing of 'rally style' turns.

jokes apart, the locker works brilliantly and I have driven some 300+ kms now on high/low speeds. Today I tested for speed of 130 in 4th Gear on NICE road.


but rally style turns -- NO way on this locker on my Gypsy :-).

I am your well wisher, thats why i wanted to get all things clear. Its a wonderful concept, which i hope works on Rally style turns too.

Ofcourse, I am a speed crazy guy. On road, Off road, anywhere!

Hope Debhar clears up the necessary calculations and tells us the limit of adhesion. Or the start of the lift cheers:

[khan_sultan]

Originally Posted by DHABHAR.BEHRAM

...If you by any chance have one more set, can you post photographs of both inner and outer "gears" immediately, taken from all angles, especially showing tooth profile. Also, did the kit have 4 pins and 4 springs? What was the OD of the pins? How many coils did the springs have? Please PM me. I am getting into some basic calculations, hence the request....

No. I don't have any other locker set. Here is one more (and only) picture I have that could help you.



Yes, there were 4 pins and 4 springs. The 4 springs sets were double springs (one spring into another -- if that's what you meant by coil). Can't remember the OD/length of the springs. maybe an inch? and same for pins.

One observation, when the diff with locker was assembled(NOT installed and not put in casing with ring/pinion gearset), one could sense 'spring movement' up and down if pressed the locker from top/down (from where axles would come in). We checked it out and that's what allows the locker to unlock and wheels to differentiate during cornering/turns.

Can't remember the tooth profile -- maybe 1/4th of an inch? BUT the tooths of the driver/coupler locked literally watertight.

Hopefully this info helps..

Cheers,

I love this thread! 5 starred!
the main attraction of the gypsy is that it can be modified extensively, considering the parts that are available off the shelf.

About trouble at home, I feel your pain! every time I squirrel away some money and approach anything near a reasonable sum,my assests get frozen and nationalised by the home minister

BUT, new lockers for the gypsy and ICE for the S10 in the same week? brave man!

[khan_sultan]

Originally Posted by rippergeo

I.... considering the parts that are available off the shelf.

...What??? which world are you in buddy . At times even the regular parts can be difficult to source. One of my friends is looking for a steering box assembly and had a tough time sourcing it.

So forget about the OTR performance mod parts availability in India. NON EXISTENT.

Originally Posted by rippergeo

... BUT, new lockers for the gypsy and ICE for the S10 in the same week? brave man!

I know man. :-). Jokes apart, my wifey is also a passionate auto enthusiast in her own way. She doesn't understand the engines/technicalities or even the difference between brands etc, but just loves automobiles, driving -- especially the Gypsy. She even regularly watches ALL auto shows on TV.!!!! We both even watched F1 cars in action when they ran once in London (Regent Street)

So it's kind of easy for me in that respect. I just say that it is for her that I am getting all this done :-)

Cheers,

Originally Posted by khan_sultan

...What??? which world are you in buddy . At times even the regular parts can be difficult to source. One of my friends is looking for a steering box assembly and had a tough time sourcing it.

So forget about the OTR performance mod parts availability in India. NON EXISTENT.

I meant, imported parts. now, if i went looking for lift kits on an M540, where would I find them? anyways, let me get a 4X4 before talking.

Originally Posted by khan_sultan

We both even watched F1 cars in action when they ran once in London (Regent Street)

2006?cool! I was there too(small world eh?), alone! my wife refused to join me

[khan_sultan]

Originally Posted by rippergeo

...2006?cool! I was there too(small world eh?), alone! my wife refused to join me

No. 2004. '04 was the first time F1 had a street show race kind of thing in London IIRC.

[khan_sultan]

Ok Guys,

I had been itching to test the lockers in an OTR and luckily we planned an sudden OTR yesterday (Sunday). Saturday night, we the Bangalore jeepers, were in a teleconference and couple of jeepers decided to hit out the 'Soligere' trail on Sunday morning and try to do it 'the difficult way'.

We had a MM540, a MG410W and my MG413W and a total of 5 people in this OTR. (This was JUST perfect -- nearly optimum vehicle's and number of people for a wonderful OTR)

Must say that it was one of nicer OTR's, made more so by the performance of the Diff Locks. Guys, I didn't have any camera with me so no pictures here. Karthik (aquamaverick) , who took some pictures and he can post a detailed travelogue on this (this was his first OTR), and how we literally cooked 'Rajma' using engine heat, elephant scare and the 'Usian bolt's' record breaking run for life by everyone, a bloody nose, MG410's T-case failure etc etc..

The Soligere trail, from Muthathi side, is a upwards trail with cricket ball size loose rocks/gravels all the way up, steep climbs of fast deteriorating surface bushy paths and muddy/rocky ruts with very very sharp turns. Such kind of a terrain is quite challenging while climbing up and is relatively easy (compared to climbing) while coming down. We decided to do it the hard way as we just had 3 4x4's so time was not an issue.

So here is the first OTR report on the lockers:

• In this trail, I had decided NOT to use 4wd until absolutely necessary to just test out the lockers. Many places the Gypsy did cover in 2wd itself where I would have normally used 4wd and the MG410 did use 4wd

• At few places where the MG410 stopped in front of me and I had to stop on the rocky/gravel climb/incline, my Gypsy did not move in 2wd from there itself. Had to come back and gain momentum in 2wd and then it was easy climbing with momentum. (If you have momentum going, the lockers help a lot to get you further.)

• In the above situation when not moving with 2wd, with 4wd the gypsy just took off from there itself. No need to come back and gain momentum.

• Literally ZERO tyre slipping in 4wd. It just goes on and on -- over everything effortlessly. Just loved this part. I know how my rear tyres used to slip earlier even while taking on the terrain successfully.

• In 2wd mode on climbs over rocky/gravel surface it was the front wheels that did not have any power that led to both rear tyres spinning before the vehicle could not move any further in 2wd. However, the moment you put 4wd, it just takes off.

• One noticeable difference I feel in OTR now is that I can now make my Gypsy crawl a lot better than before (in relative terms to the MM's). This by itself is such a huge advantage that Gypsy OTR drivers can imagine. This helps as we don't have to rev the Gypsy to bring it into it's power band.

Few comments from the fellow jeepers who drove it for a little while:

'it feels like a diesel -- low end torque is too good'

'the diff-locks works brilliantly and make a big difference'

PS: To the 3 4x4's and the folks who were in this OTR. This was great guys. Had a blast. Let's do it again sometime soon with an overnight camping thrown in

Cheers,

[S@~+#0$#]

Nice Writeup Shahnawaz and the points made by you helps us understand what to expect from the diff-locks. Nice mod, great results cheers: .

Did anyone else carry a camera on this OTR? If so, please post pictures.