</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">Originally posted by YourMom:
<strong>Mike--my locker is from a '98 Limited and has no springs whatsoever. With the solenoid removed, I was easily able to slide the fork mechanism between the locked and unlocked states. I also operated the motor while it was detached from the diff--hit the diff lock button, the gear on the end of the motor would turn about 1/2 a revolution and stop--hit the diff lock button again and the motor would turn 1/2 a revolution in the other direction and stop. The process takes just under 1 second. You'll be sorry if you run the motor without the limit switches hooked up.

I also found that the diff lock indicator switch would light up the locked light when the locker was only about 3/4 of the way locked.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">Thanks for the info Ken. Yes, I am definitely using the limit switches. I am aware of the folly of doing otherwise. This diagram shows how I wired my locker. My question is: Why pulse the motor?

Before I installed my locker, I hooked it up and checked out how the mechanism moved. I didn't see any springs either, and I assumed that there was a fixed relationship between the position of the motor and the position of the splined sleeve that locks the side gear to the ring gear.

In actual use, however, the motor always runs to the limit switch and stops (I have an indicator light that shows the state of the limit switches, plus I can hear the relays click off), but, the locker usually doesn't lock/unlock (as indicated by the locked-indicator switch) until I drive a short distance. Sometimes it will lock/unlock instantly if the splines happen to be lined up correctly.

This tells me that the electric motor does not have absolute control over the state of the locker, and thus there must be some sort of spring-loading going on somewhere, whether by design or by abuse. Perhaps the way I have it hooked up is incorrect and I am abusing the poor motor. Karl's writeup mentions using resistors to slow the motor down so it doesn't jam. I haven't ever had my motor jam except for when I was first playing with it before I put it in and neglected to use the limit switches.

My locker is for a 97 4Runner. My locked indicator switch will only close when the locker is fully in the locked position (perhaps you are off a tooth or two). Perhaps there are variations in the design of these lockers?

<small>[ 10 April 2002, 10:56 AM: Message edited by: thecarterman ]</small>