Rear locker can save a front diff.

[mpeugeot]

I was a knucklehead today and forgot to lock the rear diff. Got in a bind close to the edge and hammered it enough to knock teeth off the front ring and pinion (190 with no locker). When I figured my brain fart and locked the rear diff it walked right out of the bad spot I had gotten it into. Both embarrassing and expensive. Limped it to a buddies shop and we had the diff out and tore apart in about an hour to see the damage.

Don’t be too hard on me. Hopefully someone can learn from my mistake.

Damn dude, that sucks. I really am surprised that it gave up the ghost that easily, as you weren't really beating on it. I suspect that there were already cracks formed from previous adventures and that this was the straw that broke the camels back.

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[mpeugeot]

Yes, I have to say I’m not real happy with a turbo on trails because of the lag, it’s nothing and then everything. The bounce definitely killed it.

That's where the 2.7 kind of shines. Glad someone is helping you out with a diff, I suspect I know who had one out there.

 

[swamp2]

My philsophy on lockers depends on what I'm doing that day.
If I'm just having a fun trail day, I like to try obstacles without them, because they're kind of a cheat code.

Same. They are definitely "cheat codes". Being so effective is of course why we have them.

 

[Fordified1]

Hopefully long enough to save up for a 210. I won’t bounce it off rocks like that again. I knew better this time. I should have insisted on winching. It really wasn’t a bad climb if I had just used the locker. Makes me want to try it in 2wd …. sort of.

Wonder how long the second abused front drive will last. I believe all the metal in the m190 comes from the spider gears being so sloppy in the cast center housing.

 

[CalvinT]

Yep. Now add Lockers in your walking even farther.

I always joke that my winchs got me into all the trouble that it they get me out of.

 

[GeoBig]

Yes, especially helpful in the uphill to the rocks after a good rain.
Those rocks caused a number of people to back up and re try 3-4 times.
I was locked front and rear, and made it up in one shot.

Was that the really rocky/craggy hill on the Emerald Forest trail? I did the same as you -- 4L with front and rear lockers engaged -- and made it up the hill in one go with really no issues. Huge confidence booster!

 

[swamp2]

I'm only a moderately skilled crawler and of course my rig makes me feel like a pro (Raptor). This is my first rig with a front locker. How about some of the experienced crawlers (@SierraBronco , @BigMeatsBronco , @5GENIDN) here provide some general tips/advice on how to help insure you don't toast your front diff? I've got some reasonable knowledge and suspicions but lets get the complete low down. Thanks in advance fellas!

 

[orion]

I'm only a moderately skilled crawler and of course my rig makes me feel like a pro (Raptor). This is my first rig with a front locker. How about some of the experienced crawlers (@SierraBronco , @BigMeatsBronco , @5GENIDN) here provide some general tips/advice on how to help insure you don't toast your front diff? I've got some reasonable knowledge and suspicions but lets get the complete low down. Thanks in advance fellas!

Easy on the skinny pedal, try to keep steering as straight ahead as possible, shut it off as soon as you clear the obstacle.

 

[SierraBronco]

I'm only a moderately skilled crawler and of course my rig makes me feel like a pro (Raptor). This is my first rig with a front locker. How about some of the experienced crawlers (@SierraBronco , @BigMeatsBronco , @5GENIDN) here provide some general tips/advice on how to help insure you don't toast your front diff? I've got some reasonable knowledge and suspicions but lets get the complete low down. Thanks in advance fellas!

I just buy bigger stuff and cross my fingers

And with that said, if you upgraydde to the UFDU and randomly your ride starts making a tinking sound that can’t be diagnosed, pull the passenger CV and have a gander inside the inner bell. If you can see inside to the cage, you might eventually have a bad time due to this mofo.

 

[swamp2]

I just buy bigger stuff and cross my fingers

 

[CalvinT]

I just buy bigger stuff and cross my fingers

Size matters.

 

[5GENIDN]

I'm only a moderately skilled crawler and of course my rig makes me feel like a pro (Raptor). This is my first rig with a front locker. How about some of the experienced crawlers (@SierraBronco , @BigMeatsBronco , @5GENIDN) here provide some general tips/advice on how to help insure you don't toast your front diff? I've got some reasonable knowledge and suspicions but lets get the complete low down. Thanks in advance fellas!

Just because I have done it for a while does not mean I am very good and it sure does not mean I haven't broken parts... I like Orion's answer... I use it as little as possible. Usually in about 5 foot increments. I try not to bounce. I challenge myself to crawl over things as slow as I dare. And yea... I just do not use the locker very often. Rear locker is a different story.

 

[Fordified1]

One thing I failed to mention about the preferred line on this hill is I had been up through there three or four times over the years in my side-by-side and knew it wasn’t really a difficult climb and didn’t require a ton of ground clearance if you hugged the trees and that damn drop-off close enough.

And yes I have broke the front differential on my RZR in this park, but while attempting something way more difficult. Maybe I’m just hard on stuff lol.

 

[crenca]

One thing I failed to mention about the preferred line on this hill is I had been up through there three or four times over the years in my side-by-side and knew it wasn’t really a difficult climb and didn’t require a ton of ground clearance if you hugged the trees and that damn drop-off close enough.

And yes I have broke the front differential on my RZR in this park, but while attempting something way more difficult. Maybe I’m just hard on stuff lol.

It seems from the video that you were pivoting rapidly (due to trying to use momentum) on your rail/another skid, getting a lot of side load on your front axle in particular. As you point out in an early post, the m190's internals apparently get deflected too easily. Yes you were past the point of "crawling", defiantly using throttle, so taking on risk, but I did not think you were in the "crazy" zone...in the yellow zone maybe? In any case I would not worry about it too much, that m190 is defiantly a weak point.

 

[Fordified1]

I want to thank Tyler the owner of Broncbuster for selling and delivering to me the original front diff out of Lil Homie (pictured below) at a very reasonable price and Chris at Off-road Shenanigans who just moved his shop to Marble Falls for getting me going in less than 24 hours after breaking it.

https://www.offroadshenanigans.com/

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