Tricks for rehab of automatic hubs?

My 71 CJ5 has the factory installed warn hubs, they worked on auto but could not be turned with out a wrench. I dissembled cleaned and replaced after coating inerds with wheel bearing grease. Now they turn and lock manual ok (small pair of pliers sometimes necessary) but they don't want to catch automatically. Suggestions on type of lubrication and any tuning that will ease them in turning manually and engaging automatically appreciated.

 

I would say go back and reclean all the parts again . then reassemble . just use a light oil on them . the packed in grease might be the problem . why things won't turn without a wrench . auto hubs use a drag nut to operate . Lock-O-Matic

 

Just a light wipe of grease, or some people use oil.

 

use a very light coat of grease if the rollers cant move the sprag will not work

 

Lock-O-Matics aren't the best hubs for real wheelin' when set to auto.

I'd run them manually locked on the trail.

When you start getting into real stuff you'll find autohubs bite you in the butt.

I cooked my pathfinder's factory autohubs because they disengage and re-engage when you travel in reverse/
I believe Lock-O-Matics do the same.

 

Warn automatic hubs were one of the best inventions available for older jeeps.

If your hubs will engage in the FREE (or AUTO) position and are hard to engage in LOCK, then you will most likely be able to solve the problem by only removing the outer section of the hub and leave the inner on the jeep.

But first, you probably ought to try moving the knob with the 4wd disengaged, and if still is hard to engage then take the outer section off. The outer section controls the movement of the knob, and you likely will find the problem there. If that component is moving freely then it is a pretty good bet that it'll work once reassembled

I like auto hubs 'cause if one is going off road he sets them to LOCK and has all the advantages of "normal" warn hubs. But when one has the hubs in the AUTO (or FREE) state and needs 4wd for a moment or two it is there without having to lock the hubs. Like when you back over a parking chock, or are turning out of one street to another on wet or slippery pavement .or if you have a trailer full of mulch that you have to move on grass around the property..

 

i agree sounds like the problem is with the outer half. your best bet is to completely dissasemble the outer half and clean everything up. its simple enough. your outer brass hub is probrobly why its hard to turn but it could also be a problem with the inside ring sliding in and out. sometimes the barells get corroded and cause problems. also the inner ring may be set wrong so that it doesnt come far enough out to properly engauge the inner half of the hub.