Locking hubs

My jeep has International Harvester lock outs on the dana 27. While I have not blown a hub yet I was wondering if any of you have any experience with this style hub. They are a 3/4 turn to engage and have 6 hex head bolts holding them on the wheel hub. Will be installing a power lock in this axle this winter with 5.38 or posibly 4.56 gears .I don't really want to buy new lock outs as I do have an extra set of these. But if I'm gonna be blowing hubs alot with the planned axle upgrades I'll spring for a new set.

 

sounds like the warns on mine. might not be a bad upgrade for the premium hubs (only one warn makes now).

 

warn made the hubs with the IH name for IH
same hub except for the name on it

 

Are they the older style, or the newer kind with the little allen head bolts? You might check out Warns website and look at the "fuses" they make for their hubs. The fuses are made of plastic and will shred under a load that would strip metal parts allowing you to pop in a new set of fuses and be on your way.
I think Warn hubs are very strong and most times an axle will break before the hub. I have a couple of sets of the older style hubs and dont believe they are a part that breaks often.
If your hubs are the older style, if they are lock-o-matics, hang on to them.

 

They are the older style I guess as they don't have allen bolts.Just six 3/8 unc hex head bolts. I took apart one of my spares and they apear to be fairly well made. I don't have a digital camera so I'm not able to post a picture. They have a two piece aluminum housing with steel splines. The part that you turn to engage/disengage the hub is brass.The base of the hub is larger in dia. than the outer end which tapers down from the bolt heads to the end of the hub. How much lube should I have in these? They are full of grease.

 

Hey, I just checked warns web site. The hub knob on my hubs looks just like the ones on warns premium hubs but there are no allen bolts in my hubs and they say I.H. not warn. When I have time I'll see if I can find some part numbers on my spare hubs and see if they come up on warns site.

 

They "are" warn hubs, Just with IH stamped by warn. Don't waste your money, they are as good as anything new.

JB

 

better than anything new.

 

In my experience the ones you want are the ones you got. I will be replacing my superwinch hubs with a pair of the warn/IH hubs very soon. Don't worry, be happy!

 

While strong, early "direct engagement" style hubs have a major drawback when used with cluch style LS diffs. Since the cluch packs don't allow the axles to rotate independently of each other, engagement, and disengagement can be a PITA. If your LS has been used at all, the LS won't allow the axles to "relax" in relation to each other. This causes the hubs to bind on the axle splines. You will find yourself out there with a set of channel locks trying to rotate the hub dials. Unfortunatly, the easiest hubs to use are the later spring engagement style which allow you to rotate the dial to the desired selection and the springs will do the rest while you drive.

 

Thanks for the heads up on the limited slip. It is an old used power lock with 5.38 gears. I'm gonna rebuild it and was planning on adding extras for they best possible lock up/limited slip. Would a lock right still make the hubs hard to engage?

 

Don't get me wrong about the Powr-lok, it's a great diff, I've run one for about 15 years with no problems. To be honest, I'm not familiar with the lock right so I can't tell you. However, any LS that uses cluches or cones will be a problem. I switched out my hubs shortly after I installed my LS, and haven't had a problem with the new ones. Might be a cheaper solution than switching diffs.

 

I did not know that..... I got some IH/Warn hubs on the cheap, and will be replacing the superwinch hubs..... I have a lockrite in my D27.... I can post the results after the change out.

 

schardein: I have Wran premiums on my D27 with a lockright in it. They have gotten stiff to disengage once or twice. I just back up about 10' or so then they dissengage easilly. I also use one of those plastic "Hubber" thingys.

 

do you have to worry about the number of splines if you switch to the IH hubs on a pre 71? ie a dana 27?

 

I'm happy to hear that they are good hubs. Yippy!
Zed, I may be wrong but I think all 27's have 10 spline shafts so you will need 10 spline hubs.
Sorry I havent posted in a while been busy with the farm.
Thanks guys,Ken

 

Boy, does that sound familliar! :twisted:

 

I have never had to use channel locks on the locking dial of my hubs. If you lube them sparingly, as warn recommended they unlock much easier.
The gaskets are easy to make.
When I am back on dry pavement, I just back up a few feet, and they unlock with no effort whatsoever. PO of my jeep had pumped the inner section full of grease, and the second set I found, were the same way. The excess grease hardens and clings to areas where it isnt thinned by friction. You can lift it out with a screwdriver intact.
Do you guys know about the warn "lock o matics"? I would like to find a set. They were made for IH. Basically, you leave them locked all the time. Wheels still freewheel untill you put your tcase into 4wd.
I can post a link if anyone wants to find out more. Herm has an unused set in his collection with pics on his website.

 

i think i have heard of the lock o matics sometimes "unlocking" when you are going down steep hills in 4wd? i guess when there is no tension on them for a moment. could make compression braking a little risky if it's true.

 

Here you go maxx

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=33731&item=7927914563&rd=1